With principal photography set to begin Aug. 2, X-MEN 3 has now lost its director for the second time, reports the trades. Replacing Bryan Singer, director of the first two X-MEN films who left to helm SUPERMAN RETURNS, LAYER CAKE director Matthew Vaughn is now stepping down, citing personal reasons. The director had hoped to commute from his home in London to the shoot in Vancouver, but when that seemed impossible he decided that leaving the film was a better choice than uprooting his family.
AIN'T IT COOL NEWS reports that Vaughn had been excited about the chance to bring more depth and controversy to the X-MEN story. The website also reports that Fox will soon have an announcement regarding who will replace Vaughn and who will be playing the pivotal new role of Angel.
X3 is still set to be released May 26, 2006.
Rick DeMott
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