A conversation from the past has returned to add a new stitch to the narrative surrounding the widely debated third installment of the X-Men series,X-Men: The Last Stand. A recent revelation from one of the co-screenwriter behind the screenplay,Simon Kinberg, sets to rest years-long speculations about one particularly notorious line that made it to the final cut.
In a candid chat withPolygon, Kinberg clarifies that he was not the mastermind behind the contentious line, “I’m the Juggernaut, bitch”, which was delivered with vehement zest by the character Juggernaut, portrayed by Vinnie Jones. This line was thrown at Kitty Pryde, brought to life by Elliot Page. According to Kinberg, this meme-inspired dialogue was not part of the initial script drafted by him and co-writer Zak Penn. Instead, it materialized during the re-shoots, orchestratedunder the watch of director Brett Ratner, after the conclusion of the principal photography. This revelation opens up an intriguing chapter, depicting how the creative reins of a film can sway and deviate, sometimes leading to decisions that may not sit well with the original narrative blueprint or the franchise’s established tone.
It seems that this creative divergence was a bit of a stumbling block, not just for Kinberg but also for some of the star cast members. A case in point is Rebecca Romijn, who portrayed Mystique in the series. During a recent interaction, Romijn did not hold back in expressing her dissatisfaction about working with Ratner. This underlined discontent reveals an unsettling picture of the on-set environment, steering into the much larger and concerning realm of the #MeToo movement. Romijn discloses her distaste for Ratner’s comportment during the filming, highlighting a palpable disconnect between the director and some primary cast members. In sharp contrast, Bryan Singer, the director of the previous installments, received accolades from Romijn for his filmmaking prowess.
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The X-Men Chronicles: Singer’s Journey Marred by Allegations and Praise Alike
It would be remiss not to mention that Singer’s journey with the franchise was not without its share of disgruntlement from others associated with it. Despite Romijn’s favorable opinion, Singer was not free from allegations of unprofessional behavior on set, particularly in the later additions to the franchise which he helmed, namelyX-Men: Days of Future Past(2014) andX-Men: Apocalypse(2016). Jennifer Lawrence, who succeeded Romijn as Mystique, voiced her experiences of witnessing Singer’s volatile demeanor during filming, an aspect that seemed to mar the overall collaborative atmosphere to a certain extent.
Yet, not all share the same view about working with Singer. James McAvoy, who essayed the role of Professor X, remembers his time on the sets of Singer’s installments quite fondly. In a retrospective session about his career, he expressed that working on “Days of Future” and “Apocalypse” was a highly positive venture, going on to acclaim it as one of his finest experiences collaborating with a studio.
In this whirlpool of contrasting opinions and revelations, what stands clear is the testament to the complex tapestry that forms behind the scenes of blockbuster franchises. AsX-Men: The Last Standstreams on Disney+, one cannot help but witness the film with a nuanced understanding of the divergent forces at play during its creation. Each line of dialogue, each portrayal seems to echo the harmony and discords that reverberated off the sets, painting a rich and multilayered history of one of the most debated chapters in theX-Men cinematic saga.
