Simon Kinberg has been confirmed to be making his directorial debut with X-Men: Dark Phoenix, the sequel to X-Men: Apocalypse that will focus on Sophie Turner’s Jean Grey as it features the iconic story of the Dark Phoenix saga.
Kinberg, who co-wrote X-Men: The Last Stand — the franchise’s first attempt at the Dark Phoenix saga — was reported several months ago to be in talks to not only write the Apocalypse sequel but to direct the film as well. 20th Century Fox has yet to make an official announcement, however, a new listing on the DGA website confirms Kinberg will indeed direct.
As for the cast of X-Men: Dark Phoenix, Deadline has confirmed that Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Tye Sheridan, Kodi-Smit McPhee, and Alexandra Shipp are set to return. Jessica Chastain has also been revealed to be in talks to join the film.
In addition to directing, Kinberg will produce the film with Hutch Parker and Lauren Schuler Donner. Kinberg himself has been involved with the franchise for just over a decade, having written the main installments of the ongoing film series since The Last Stand with the exception of X-Men: First Class. He is also producing Deadpool 2 and X-Men: New Mutants.
Production on the film is expected to take place from the end of this month until early to mid-October in Montreal.
X-Men: Dark Phoenix is currently slated to hit theaters November 2nd, 2018.
Source: Deadline, DGA (via Omega Underground)
