X-Men: The Last Stand is the third film of the series. Bryan Singer wanted to shoot the third film back-to-back with a fourth. On July 16, 2004, he left to direct Superman Returns, having only completed a third of a treatment focusing on Phoenix, and introducing Emma Frost, a role intended for Sigourney Weaver and Gambit intended for Keanu Reeves. In addition, Singer also wanted to showcase more characterizations of Rogue, Iceman, and Pyro. Simon Kinberg and Zak Penn were hired the following month, and a studio executive read Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men story "Gifted", featuring a mutant cure, suggested it be the primary story. Matthew Vaughn came on board as director in February 2005, but left due to the rushed production schedule. Brett Ratner took over in June, and filming began on August 2, 2005.
Plot
The discovery of a cure for mutations leads to a turning point for Mutants (Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, Anna Paquin, Rebecca Romijn, Kelsey Grammer). They may now choose to give up their powers and become fully human or retain their uniqueness and remain isolated. War looms between the followers of Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), who preaches tolerance, and those of Magneto (Ian McKellen), who advocates survival of the fittest.
Cast
- Hugh Jackman as Wolverine
- Halle Berry as Storm
- Patrick Stewart as Professor X
- Famke Janssen as Phoenix
- Haley Ramm as young Phoenix
- Ian McKellen as Magneto
- Anna Paquin as Rogue
- Shawn Ashmore as Iceman
- Elliot Page as Shadowcat
- Kelsey Grammer as Beast
- Vinnie Jones as Juggernaut
- Rebecca Romijn as Mystique
- Aaron Stanford as Pyro
- Daniel Cudmore as Colossus
- James Marsden as Cyclops
- Dania Ramirez as Callisto
- Omahyra Mota as Arclight
- Ken Leung as Quill
- Mei Melançon as Psylocke
- Eric Dane as Multiple Man
- Ben Foster as Angel
- Cayden Boyd as young Angel
- Michael Murphy as Warren Worthington II
- Cameron Bright as Leech
- Shohreh Aghdashloo as Kavita Rao
- Bill Duke as Bolivar Trask
- Olivia Williams as Moira MacTaggert
- Kea Wong as Jubilee
- Shauna Kain as Siryn
- Josef Sommer as The President