Simon Kinberg talks X-Men: Days of Future Past and Fantastic Four

Writer/producer Simon Kinberg talks Days of Future Past, Fantastic Four and the future of the X-Men.

Kinbergs big breakout was the screenplay forMr.

Den Of Geek: You have your hands in a lot of the Fox Marvel stuff, particularly theX-Menfranchise.

Simon Kinberg:It sort of evolved.

I mean it wasnt the plan.

What story do we want to tell as the origin of the X-Men?

I was in Baton Rouge two days ago and we start shooting in a couple weeks.

Whats been the biggest challenge then of taking the original cast and weaving them together with theFirst Classcast?

We sort of stumbled into that.

And then very quickly I was like, Now weve got to tellDays of Future Past.

And Matthew was like, We absolutely have to do that.

But Ian and Patrick made themselves very available.

And how did you sell that to the actors?

I mean, the truth is the core main portion of the movie is theX-Men First Classcast.

It takes place in 1973.

But its something that resonates emotionally and they can play dramatically.

So Im there going Oh, I want more for Storm.

So I have to be true to what services the main story this movies telling.

Does this set up the next movie,Apocalypse?

And how closely related will that be to theAge ofApocalypsestory in the comics?

Were drawing elements fromAge of Apocalypse.

And partly I cant say because were still figuring it out.

Do you have someone in mind youd like to see play Apocalypse?

I have someone in mind but its only my own taste.

Lets talk aboutFantastic Four.

We start shooting in two weeks.

Were definitely telling a younger Fantastic Four story than the original films did.

It depends on which books you look at.

There are some, like the Ultimate books, that tell this story.

So theyre older then high school, but theyre not yet grown into the world.

If anything this is a coming of age story.

Theres archetypal imagery of how they get their powers for sure.

And it does involve some sort of scientific travel.

Youre also a producer on Neill Blomkamps next film,Chappie.

Where is production on that?

I saw a cut of it.

Hugh needed to shoot this year so we shot Hughs whole portion of the movie in January.

It is the most outrageous, original, unique movie Ive ever seen.

It is Neill at his most genius.

It was amazing to watch him make it and its a really, really neat movie.

Theres nothing like it thats ever been made.

X-Men: Days of Future Pastis out in theaters May 23.

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