JANE GOLDMAN, the screenwriter behind Stardust and Kick-Ass, reunites with director Matthew Vaughn for her latest movie, X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, a superb addition to the comic book’s on-screen world.
**X-MEN: FIRST CLASS is in UK cinemas from 1 June.
MMM: How tricky was it to ensure this origins story fits seamlessly within the X-Men universe?
Goldman: I think it would actually be impossible to write any story that fits in with every single part of the X-Men universe because even the comics don’t do it in terms of different storylines and timelines and different writers do their own take.
The films have their own world as well. So, I don’t think there’s any script that could fit in seamlessly with the movie world and every iteration of the comic book world. I think the most important thing is to tell a good story but be respectful of the source material and be true to the spirit of it.
MMM: How much input did you have on casting?
Goldman: We certainly had conversations about it. Ultimately, of course, the choice is always the director’s but I stick my oar in whenever I can. [Smiles]
MMM: The film has a 12A rating and there’s some strong material in it. What’s the youngest age you’d be comfortable allowing your children to see it?
Goldman: I think it depends on the individual child. And I think only the parent can make that decision for their own child. I wouldn’t want to put a number on it. But as long as kids don’t think that the Cuban missile crisis had anything to do with Mutants! [Laughs]
MMM: But it’s all about bullying, isn’t it?
Goldman: Absolutely, and there are a lot of things in it that are exceptionally relevant to children.
MMM: How did you feel about an important historical event like the Cuban missile crisis being appropriated for this movie?
Goldman: Well, I wouldn’t want it to be a gimmick. It was a brilliant idea that Bryan Singer came up with to use the Cuban missile crisis as a backdrop.
By Jan Gilbert
