Ian McKellen Says Superman Is A Joke, But X-Men Is About Something

[Ain't That Something]

Ian McKellen Says Superman Is A Joke, But X-Men Is About Something

• Jamie Lovett
• - 07/16/2015
• 49 comments

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Ian McKellen has enjoyed a successful run playing the mutant master of magnetism, Magneto, in Fox’s X-Men film franchise for the past 15 years. So what possessed the storied English actor to play a supervillain in a Hollywood franchise, especially after the decline of the Batman movies had attached such a stigma to superhero movies as a genre?
Speaking to UPROXX, McKellen says it has to do with the core concept behind the X-Men, and the different level of commitment involved in signing up for such a film back then.
Well, [director Bryan Singer] persuaded me. X-Men was about something. Superman isn’t really about anything. It’s a joke. The nerd changes his underpants and becomes a Superman. That’s James Bond: “Shaken, not stirred,” silly, stupid, British twit… and then, Action Man! But X-Men is about the problems of being a mutant. And we’ve all felt we’re mutants on occasion. So, that was the hook for me. And don’t forget, I didn’t have to sign to do any more than one; I’m just doing a movie.
This explanation is in line with previous statements by McKellen, where he described X-Men movies as “superior.”
McKellen’s next film is Mr. Holmes, opening in theaters in the United States on July 17.

http://comicbook.com/2015/07/16/ian-mckellen-says-superman-is-a-joke-but-x-men-is-about-somethin/

@wire28
@MartyMcFly
@TheGodling
@Prodigal Syndicate
@Kill Dat Noize

What say ya'll

 

[King Crimson]

Non-story. He's defending his franchise.
That being said, he does have a slight point. X-Men does have the potential to stand for a lot more than the average comic book serial. It had for a long time as well. You could actually write a solid essay on the X-Men series.

 

[MartyMcFly]

Ian McKellen Says Superman Is A Joke, But X-Men Is About Something

• Jamie Lovett
• - 07/16/2015
• 49 comments

• 232
• share
• Newsletter

• Share on Facebook
• Tweet This
• Share on Google+
• Share on Reddit
• Pin to Pinterest

Ian McKellen has enjoyed a successful run playing the mutant master of magnetism, Magneto, in Fox’s X-Men film franchise for the past 15 years. So what possessed the storied English actor to play a supervillain in a Hollywood franchise, especially after the decline of the Batman movies had attached such a stigma to superhero movies as a genre?
Speaking to UPROXX, McKellen says it has to do with the core concept behind the X-Men, and the different level of commitment involved in signing up for such a film back then.
Well, [director Bryan Singer] persuaded me. X-Men was about something. Superman isn’t really about anything. It’s a joke. The nerd changes his underpants and becomes a Superman. That’s James Bond: “Shaken, not stirred,” silly, stupid, British twit… and then, Action Man! But X-Men is about the problems of being a mutant. And we’ve all felt we’re mutants on occasion. So, that was the hook for me. And don’t forget, I didn’t have to sign to do any more than one; I’m just doing a movie.
This explanation is in line with previous statements by McKellen, where he described X-Men movies as “superior.”
McKellen’s next film is Mr. Holmes, opening in theaters in the United States on July 17.

http://comicbook.com/2015/07/16/ian-mckellen-says-superman-is-a-joke-but-x-men-is-about-somethin/

@wire28
@MartyMcFly
@TheGodling
@Prodigal Syndicate
@Kill Dat Noize

What say ya'll

I mean on the surface I understand his point. X men does have a lot of deeper things going for it than something like superman. I wouldn't say that makes superman a joke but x men is an allegory for a lot of societal problems and started as an allegory for the civil rights movement

 

[Ain't That Something]

I mean on the surface I understand his point. X men does have a lot of deeper things going for it than something like superman. I wouldn't say that makes superman a joke but x men is an allegory for a lot of societal problems and started as an allegory for the civil rights movement

But doesn't superman also address a lot of socio political issues that plagued the world? How much power is too much power and so on?

 

[wire28]

he's right, xmen is one of the comics with the most levels to it

also the shot at superman is approved

cavill wont fire back so we wont get any fukkery but i salute sir ian

 

[MartyMcFly]

But doesn't superman also address a lot of socio political issues that plagued the world? How much power is too much power and so on?

It can be that definitely and I believe when it started it was about superman righting the wrongs of social injustice but that's not what it currently is and hasn't been for a while. While x men consistently has that undercurrent of discrimination and bigotry and ignorance

 

[Dominic Brehetto]

Old gay guy wanted to do x men because gay twink raping director told him mutants = fags in his version.


Sounds about right.

 

[radio rahiem]

Bryan Singer directed superman returns

 

[R=G]

X-Men is a symbol for racial discrimination and bigotry that relates back to the Civil Rights Movement.

 

[OG_StankBrefs]

X-Men is a symbol for racial discrimination and bigotry that relates back to the Civil Rights Movement.

And yet dere's only been one actual semi main black mutant character(Storm) in da whole 15 year film franchise.

 

[-DMP-]

Pretty sure superman is Jewish. Even fought nazis if I'm not mistaken

 

[R=G]

And yet dere's only been one actual semi main black mutant character(Storm) in da whole 15 year film franchise.

Bishop was pushed hard for a long time.....Synch was given a BIG push in the 90s during that Gen X stuff which almost topped the charts when comics were selling big time.

 

[hex]

And yet dere's only been one actual semi main black mutant character(Storm) in da whole 15 year film franchise.

To be fair she's the only black "main" character in the X-Men.

And before someone mentions Bishop he came waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay after Storm.

Fred.

 

[Nymbus]

And yet dere's only been one actual semi main black mutant character(Storm) in da whole 15 year film franchise.

Darwin
Bishop?

 

[OG_StankBrefs]

Bishop was pushed hard for a long time.....Synch was given a BIG push in the 90s during that Gen X stuff which almost topped the charts when comics were selling big time.

Da movies, breh.