X-Men: First Class is Coming.

It was announced earlier this week that Josh Schwartz, the creator of the TV teen dramas “The O.C.” and “Gossip Girl,” will be writing “X-Men: First Class,” another installment of the superhero franchise. Variety reports that the new film will focus on the young students of the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, rather than the adults like Wolverine and Storm.

On paper the deal seems to make sense: Schwartz is a writer with a proven track record for soapy high school angst; the comic book was originally envisioned by Stan Lee to be focused on mutant teenagers and their issues; and assembling the actors from the first three films has likely become too complicated and expensive to do again. But will the younger-skewing take alienate the true fans?

Debuting in 2006, Marvel’s “X-Men: First Class”  began as an all-ages series that focused on the first years of the original X-Men members: Cyclops, Jean Grey (Marvel Girl), Iceman, Beast and Angel. The series was an unexpected success and has since spawned several volumes.

Whether the studio’s plans for an “X-Men: First Class” film involve some of the younger mutants already introduced in previous films or a look at younger versions of the existing team leaders in the film has yet to be announced, but that’s likely to be the topic of much debate between now and when the final  decision goes public.

 

Debuting in 2006, Marvel’s “X-Men: First Class” began as an all-ages series that focused on the first years of the original X-Men members: Cyclops, Jean Grey (Marvel Girl), Iceman, Beast and Angel. The series was an unexpected success and has since spawned several volumes.