As details of the upcoming X-Men: Days of Future Past were revealed to fans of the juggernaut film series, many were torn on this take of a classic storyline, particularly that of a different mutant taking on the quest to prevent the future.
In the original comic, Kitty Pryde – or Shadowcat as many know her – is the mutant tasked with the time traveling, but in the film, that honor goes to Wolverine. But why alter the reality of such a popular story? Writer Simon Kinberg explains the reasoning:
“We made the decision for a lot of reasons, some of them obvious and some of them more nuanced, to make it Wolverine who goes back in time. One reason is that he’s the protagonist of the franchise, and probably the most beloved character to a mass audience.
Probably the bigger reason is that when we started thinking about the logistical realities of Kitty’s consciousness being sent back in time, to her younger self, as opposed to her physical body being sent back. It was impossible. Obviously in the book it’s Kitty, but you’re talking about an actress (Ellen Page) who, in the age of Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy, would have been negative 20 years old. So we started thinking again, and the first reflex response to that was a character who doesn’t age. Wolverine is the only character who would looks the same in 1973 as he does in the future.”
As a huge follower and fan of the X-Men franchise, this explanation makes complete logical and marketing sense to me. Hugh Jackman has carried the film series with his stardom even amongst a group of seasoned veterans, but more importantly, Wolverine has remained the star mutant and poster boy of X-Men for decades. They really couldn’t have had anyone else take on the time travelling duties but him. It just wouldn’t have worked.
X-Men: Days of Future Past is set to be released on May 23, 2014. Are you fine with the fact that Wolvie is taking over for Kitty in the film? Let us know in the comments section below.
