Marvel Studios and 20th Century Fox have hired BATMAN BEGINS scribe David Goyer to direct the X-MEN spinoff, MAGNETO, VARIETY reports. The script was written by Sheldon Turner (THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE BEGINNING).
The origin story will have Magneto learning his powers during WWII when him and his parents are prisoners at Auschwitz. During the liberation of the concentration camp, Magento becomes friends with Professor Xavier, the future leader of the X-Men. However, the two are torn apart when Magneto's lust for revenge takes over as he hunts down Nazi war criminals. Ian McKellen, who originated the Magneto character -- as well as Patrick Stewart, who played Prof. X -- will most likely be limitedly involved in the prequel because the character will be in their 20s.
This is not the only X-MEN spinoff that Fox and Marvel are hatching. WOLVERINE will debut first with Hugh Jackman reprising his role as the claw-wielding mutant. The script was written by David Benioff.
In addition to penning BATMAN BEGINS, Goyer helmed BLADE: TRINITY and THE INVISIBLE.
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