"Gossip Girl" creator Joss Schwartz has been hired to pen the latest "X-Men" spin-off film, "X-Men : The First Class". Schwartz, who also created the sudsy series "The OC", has also been offered the chance to direct the Young Mutant movie but has resisted the temptation to control the megaphone so far.
Lauren Shuler Donner, who produced all three "X-Men" pics, as well as next summer's "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," is producing "First Class" alongside "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" scribe Simon Kinberg, says Variety.
Fox has been leaning toward using the younger characters introduced in the previous pics in future installments -- teenagers with powers taught at the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning.
Resulting film would likely draw from elements of the Marvel comic of the same name, launched in 2006, and enlist such characters as Iceman, Rogue, Angel, Colossus, Jubilee and Shadowcat, who have appeared prominently or made cameos in prior pics.
Its possible that some of the characters introduced in the previous "X-Men" movies - like Cyclops, Rogue and Colossus - could also return here, albeit played by different (younger) actors. And I assume Patrick Stewart will return as Xavier?
