It’s hard enough to figure out the X-Men film continuity without factoring in the First Class trilogy, and its attempt to reset the timeline with Days of Future Past. But with spinoffs like Wolverine and Deadpool existing within the same universe, the filmmakers have to be conscious of the events of other films. That may hinder the creative process for some, but for James Mangold‘s Logan, he is sidestepping all of that, so to speak, by creating an alternate timeline. While that may be confusing to some, Hugh Jackman believes Mangold had a very good reason for making that decision.
Check out what the both of them had to say below.
In an interview with CBR, Mangold explained why this film took place so far ahead of Days of Future Past. During the interview, the director spoke about how he tried to make Logan personal, but also stay within the vein of the X-Men film universe:
“It’s year 2029 when the movie takes place”¦There’s an epilogue scene in Days of Future Past which is 2024, or 2023, something like that. I just wanted to get far enough past. My goal was real simple: it was to pick a time where I had enough elbow room that I was clear of existing entanglements.”
“Then, it’s impossible to do something fresh, meaning essentially you’re just a director on the 14th episode of a television show picking up where the last one left off and people are going to be really startled by any discontinuity or changes”¦The goal here was to somehow make a film that’s different: to be a filmmaker myself and go, “˜How would I bring myself to this? What would I do if I was starting from scratch? What would I explore? What have I seen not explored?’ Not only in the X-Men universe but in comic book movies in general.”
There is some truth to that statement. Marvel Studios has had huge success with their shared universe, however, they suffer from the same formulaic episodic structure. Still, they are all very entertaining films. Even so, The Wolverine was anything but unique. It was entertaining and probably far better than any of the other X-Men films out there, but it wasn’t really anything special.
Things get slightly more confusing with Jackman trying to explain to Digital Spy how Logan might not be set in the same universe as the X-Men:
“When you see the full movie you’ll understand”¦Not only is it different in terms of timeline and tone, it’s a slightly different universe. It’s actually a different paradigm and that will become clear.”
“We wanted to make something really different. Definitely tonally different”¦Early on we had the idea for the title not having anything to do with Wolverine in it but just being about the man. And what the collateral damage of being Wolverine your entire life would be.”
You could still have that same tone and Logan’s self-discovery, and be set in the same universe. Sure Days of Future Past made things a bit convoluted, but Jackman’s statement suggests that we shouldn’t really care about when or where it takes place, but rather focus on Logan’s final chapter. I suppose that’s what we should be more interested in. Despite appearances from Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), the film is about the title character. This isn’t about the X-Men or Deadpool, this is about Logan, who has practically been the face of this film franchise is the very beginning. If there had to be a final chapter, it should end the way that best services the character.
We’ll just have to wait and see for the results when Logan hits theaters on March 3rd, 2017.
[Source: CBR | Digital Spy]
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