Hugh Jackman, Michael Fassbender Preview ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2013/09/09/hugh-jackman-michael-fassbender-preview-x-men-days-of-future-past/

September 9, 2013, 2:00 PM

Hugh Jackman, Michael Fassbender Preview ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’

By Barbara Chai

Hugh Jackman and Michael Fassbender were at the Toronto International Film Festival this past weekend to present their films “12 Years a Slave” and “Prisoners,” respectively.

Both actors have been getting strong reviews for their performances in those films, but when we met with them individually we couldn’t help but ask about their latest project together, “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” directed by Bryan Singer and slated for release in May 2014.

Singer directed Jackman as Wolverine in the original “X-Men” film in 2000, about mutant superheroes, as well as the sequel “X2” in 2003. He served as producer on future “X-Men” films, including 2011’s prequel “X-Men: First Class.” With “Days of Future Past,” Singer returns to the director’s chair with a screenplay by Simon Kinberg.

“Doing ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ was incredible because it was part homecoming and reunion with all the cast from ‘X-Men,’” Jackman told Speakeasy.

“Days of Future Past” features the “X-Men” mutant superheroes from both the original series and the prequel, and includes Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, Jennifer Lawrence, James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult and many more.

“It was really extraordinary and I was the one lucky guy who traverses the future and the past, so I got to work with all of them,” Jackman said. “I really, really enjoyed it and I think not only fans but people who’ve never seen an ‘X-Men’ movie will really be taken by this one.”

Fassbender, who plays the younger Magneto (played by Ian McKellen in the original series), agreed.

“It was fresh because I hadn’t worked with Bryan before, so it was nice to go back to the beginning,” Fassbender told Speakeasy. “Just nice to see an old family again, with new members.”

Fassbender said Singer and Kinberg allowed the actors to bring new ideas to their performances, and said “on a big film, that can be rare.” He also singled out Jackman and called him an “impressive, amazing and inspiring guy and actor.”

At Comic-Con in July, Singer described “Days of Future Past” as “not a sequel or a prequel, but an inbetweenquel.” It has a budget of $200 million.

“It’s certainly the biggest of all of them and I think it has a really good chance of being the best,” Jackman said.