X-Men is a 2000
superhero film based on the fictional
Marvel Comics characters of the same name. Directed by
Bryan Singer, the film stars
Hugh Jackman,
Patrick Stewart,
Ian McKellen,
Anna Paquin,
Famke Janssen,
Bruce Davidson,
James Marsden,
Halle Berry,
Rebecca Romijn,
Ray Park and
Tyler Mane. It introduces
Wolverine and
Rogue into the conflict between
Professor Xavier's X-Men and the
Brotherhood of Mutants, led by
Magneto. Magneto intends to mutate world leaders at a
United Nations summit with a machine he has built to bring about acceptance of mutantkind, but Xavier realizes this forced mutation will only result in their deaths.
Development for
X-Men began as far back as 1989 with
James Cameron and
Carolco Pictures. The
film rights went to
20th Century Fox in 1994. Scripts and
film treatments were commissioned from
Andrew Kevin Walker,
John Logan,
Joss Whedon and
Michael Chabon. Singer signed to direct in 1996, with further rewrites by
Ed Solomon, Singer,
Tom DeSanto,
Christopher McQuarrie and
David Hayter.
Start dates kept getting pushed back, while Fox decided to move
X-Mens release date from December to July 2000. Filming took place from September 22, 1999 to March 3, 2000, primarily in Toronto. X-Men
was released to positive reviews and was a financial success, spawning the X-Men
film series and a reemergence of superhero films.