Brett Ratner Offers X3 Update

Warning: Spoilers

Director Brett Ratner revealed these details about X-Men 3 in an interview with Wizard magazine (some of which are not news to many fans):

• In terms of the story, with Ratner on board, fans can expect a love story between Storm and Wolverine, at least three mutant deaths and a theme that revolves around a "mutant cure" developed by Warren Worthington to cure his son-- the high-flying Angel.
  
• According to producer Avi Arad, if he "were a betting man....yes, you will see Phoenix in this movie."
  
• Halle Berry is back as Storm and fans can expect a larger role she's been asking for since the first film.
  
• Hugh Jackman is also a producer on this film
  
• Alan Cumming's Nightcrawler character will not be back
  
• The new mutants include Beast (Kelsey Grammer), Kitty Pryde, Angel and Gambit-- not clear whether or not the latter character would be on Xavier or Magneto's side
  
• All of the new characters will have shortened origin arcs or retellings, but the biggest secret origin will lie within the current roster: what Xavier did to Jean Grey the first time they met (and why Magneto was there), as well as the history between Juggernaut and Xavier.
  
• Former soccer pro Vinnie Jones will play Juggernaut.
  
• The current script does "reportedly" contain a short scene of Iceman and Kitty Pryde training in a World War II scenario inside the X-Men's famed training facility called the Danger Room (it can recreate any environment).
  
  
  
• Arad says that fans "may" see more Colossus, but Daniel Cudmore (the actor who portrayed him in X2) may not be cut out for the bigger role.
  
• Release date: Memorial Day weekend 2006. Begins shooting: August 2005.
  
• The film will not be rated R, it will be rated PG-13, just like X-2
  
• What's up with the Magneto and Wolverine spin-off movies? Both films are in the script stage, but with Jackman's "name value", expect his project to be put on the fast track after X3 wraps production.
  
• Ironic note: director Bryan Singer left X3 to cover SUPERMAN RETURNS, while director Brett Ratner at one point was going to direct SUPERMAN RETURNS, but is now helming X3.