Even before Kick-Ass hit theaters in the Spring of 2010, there was talk of a sequel to the adaptation of Mark Millar's ultraviolent comic book series.  After the film debuted, sequel discussions continued, even as a follow-up looked increasingly improbable, if not impossible.  Often, reports of progress on the next installment in the Kick-Ass saga came from hyperbole-prone Millar himself, but apparently Kick-Ass 2 might actually, really happen soon.

Last summer's X-Men: First Class ended with a snap, crackle, and pop, as erstwhile BFFs Professor Xavier and Magneto ended up on opposite ends of the spectrum agitating for mutant rights.  While Xavier set about establishing his school for gifted youngsters, Magneto adopted his codename and helmet to bring the fight to the Man.  That doesn't mean, however, that Erik Lensherr will be twirling his mustache as an arch villain in the planned sequel, though.  According to screenwriter Simon Kinberg, Magneto will remain a conflicted character in the continuation.

2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine was commercially successful, but critics and audiences didn't exactly fall in love with the film and there was a general sense that the X-Men franchise might be running out of steam.  Then last summer, X-Men: First Class pulled a Batman Begins, basically rebooting the series and setting it in a promising new direction.  20th Century Fox has indicated it would continue with a sequel to the prequel and even hired a writer to do some work, but its been an open question whether or not Matthew Vaughn would return for another round. 

All the attention regarding cinematic Marvel superheroes is currently aimed at The Avengers, the big ensemble crossover brewing for next summer.  But what's the status of the Marvel heroes whose movie rights reside over at 20th Century Fox?  We know The Wolverine should go into production in 2012, but beyond that, plans aren't exactly clear.  Fans would love to see a continuation of the prequel universe established in X-Men: First Class, but it remains to be seen if that will come together.  Fox Filmed Entertainment co-chairman and Chief Executive Officer Tom Rothman recently offered a little clarification on the potential sequel's development, and also chimed in on the studio's reboots for both Daredevil and Fantastic Four.

Over the summer, the prequel X-Men: First Class pulled a Batman Begins, performing well, but not phenomenally, and establishing a new direction for a franchise that was probably running out of creative momentum.  It was something of a palate cleanser, a well-reviewed adventure with solid word of mouth to hook wayward fans back into the world of Marvel's mutants.  It also ended with a promise of continued adventures for Michael Fassbender's Magneto and James McAvoy's Professor Xavier, we've seen precious little indication that 20th Century Fox would continue the series.  An as-yet unconfirmed rumor suggests that a continuation of X-Men: First Class is in the works, with a writer familiar to the Merry Mutants at work on a sequel to the prequel.

Two years ago, Matthew Vaughn was the producer of Snatch and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels who, between Layer Cake and Stardust, made two wildly different, well-executed films as a director.  Now, though, he's very much associated with comic books properties, having directed last year's Kick-Ass and this year's X-Men: First Class.  Though creator Mark Millar still enthuses about the possibility of Kick-Ass 2 and many fans similarly can't seem to give up hope that Vaughn will return, the odds there are pretty much slim to none.  Still, Vaughn is currently developing two different Millar titles as possible directing vehicles, and Superior or The Secret Service could end up being his next project.  Maybe.

Legendary visual effects designer John Dykstra is best known for his work on Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope and Star Trek: The Motion Picture, the two films that began those beloved franchises, respectively. But Dykstra has also worked on several films adapted from comic books including Batman Forever and Batman and Robin with director Joel Schumacher, as well as Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2 with director Sam Raimi. Not to mention his work on other popular films such as Caddyshack, Stuart Little, Hancock, Inglorious Basterds, and the original Battlestar Galactica TV series. So it only makes sense that when 20^th Century Fox decided to make a prequel to their ridiculously popular X-Men franchise, X-Men: First Class … they called him.

The film, which was released this summer to rave reviews has gone on to earn over $352 million worldwide and was released on Blu-ray and DVD last week Friday. I recently had a chance to briefly speak with John Dykstra about X-Men: First Class, his history with super hero related films, the challenges of making this movie, and collaborating with director Matthew Vaughn and producer Bryan Singer. Here is what he had to say:

At the young age of twenty-one actor Lucas Till has already compiled an impressive resume of film work in movies such as Walk the Line, Hanna Montana: The Movie, The Spy Next Door, and Battle: Los Angeles. But it was his role as the energy-wielding mutant Havok in this past summer’s hit super hero film X-Men: First Class that has put the talented actor in the spotlight.

In the movie, which is a prequel to the original series, Till plays Alex Summers, the brother of X-Men leader Scott Summers (Cyclops), who was played by actor James Marsden in the first three films. While Havok was mostly portrayed as a hero in the comics there has always been an edge to the character and he quite often bumps heads with his older brother. In X-Men: First Class, Alex Summers is recruited by a young Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) to join his team of heroic mutants along with Magneto (Michael Fassbender), Beast (Nicolas Hoult), Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence), and Banshee (Caleb Landry Jones). The movie was directed by Matthew Vaughn (Kick-Ass) and based on a story by executive producer Bryan Singer who directed the first two films in the franchise. So far the film has gone on to earn over $350 million worldwide.

Lauren Shuler Donner has produced some of the most beloved films of the last thirty years including Mr. Mom, St. Elmo’s Fire, Dave, Free Willy, and You’ve Got Mail. But to comic book fans around the world she will always be remembered as the woman that successfully ushered the X-Men on to the silver screen.

Beginning with X-Men in 2000, Donner has produced every one of Fox’s mutant themed films including X2, X-Men: The Last Stand, and X-Men Origins: Wolverine. In addition, she recently reunited with Bryan Singer (director of the first two movies), and Matthew Vaughn (who almost directed the third) to make X-Men: First Class, a prequel to the long running franchise. X-Men: First Class tells the story of how Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lensherr (Michael Fassbender) first met, and includes surprise cameos from Hugh Jackman (Wolverine) and Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), which helped to solidify the film’s place in the overall franchise. The film opened this summer to glowing revues and so far has earned over $350 million worldwide at the box office.

Ever since supermodel Rebecca Romijn first slunk across the screen in blue bodypaint and latex scales as shapeshifter Mystique more than a decade ago in X-Men, the makeup and the process behind it have been a natural point of interest for audience everywhere.  That's only natural, and with Oscar nominee and fellow gorgeous woman Jennifer Lawrence having sported the scales as Mystique in this summer's X-Men: First Class, it's only natural to be curious all over again.

A new behind-the-scenes video excerpted from the upcoming Blu-ray release of X-Men: First Class goes into some detail about the arduous daily routine that turned the actress into a shapeshifting mutant.  It includes some interesting trivia, such as the fact that, though previous makeup artists had three movies to perfect the process, First Class did not benefit from any of their expertise, with the all-new makeup team starting all over.  Also, as surreal as Mystique may appear in her final form, it's far stranger to see Lawrence in partially-completed makeup.