When "X-Men: The Last Stand" hit theaters in 2006, fans were united in their dislike of the movie. What irked most X-Men loyalists was the mishandling of the iconic Dark Phoenix Saga surrounding Jean Grey's character. What had once been arguably the most popular X-Men story of all time had become a punchline in the hands of director Brett Ratner.
Even Bryan Singer, who left the franchise after the first two "X-Men" movies to direct "Superman Returns," agreed. He has said numerous times that he would have approached the story differently. Perhaps he'll soon have his chance.
May's "X-Men: Apocalypse" will introduce a young Jean Grey in the form of Sophie Turner ("Game of Thrones"). Given the new timeline created by "Days of Future Past," Singer and company could take another shot at the famous arc once more. Writer and producer Simon Kinberg commented on that possibility to IGN.
"I think everything that hasn't been told from First Class and Days of Future Past is up for grabs going forward, so it would absolutely be a story we could tell in a different way," said Kinberg. "We definitely explore how powerful [Jean Grey] is in this movie, and that can be something that is empowering and something that is dangerous."
Singer tacked on that he would be interesting in breathing life into "the full Phoenix story." While he isn't 100 percent on board with recycling material, he does admit that "the idea of that brewing within her" intrigues him and that audiences "may find a piece of that in this movie."
Fans were teased with Phoenix at the conclusion of the underrated "X2," before Ratner fumbled the idea in "The Last Stand." Would they be up for a second go-around? Let us know your thoughts on bringing back the Phoenix saga in the comments below.
"X-Men: Apocalypse" will hit theaters on May 27.
