Twentieth Century FoxJosh Schwartz is well-versed in teen drama and genetically gifted frenemies, but how will he handle mutant superheroes and rabid fandom?
Twentieth Century Fox has tapped Schwartz, creator of Gossip Girl and The O.C., to pen X-Men: First Class, a reboot of the Marvel franchise featuring a new group of genetically enhanced youngsters undergoing instruction at the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning that would be the small-screen achiever's first foray into a major theatrical production.
The 32-year-old writer-producer is expected to inject the new addition to the X-Men canon—which soon will include X-Men Origins: Wolverine and another prequel focusing on the villainous Magneto—with his finely honed flair for showcasing teenage angst and modern coming-of-age sensibilities.
And while the possibility of directing the flick was posed to him, Schwartz has opted to stick to writing for now, according to Variety.
The trade reports that First Class could feature characters who have also been glimpsed in the previous X-Men pictures, such as Iceman, Rogue, Angel, Colossus, Jubilee and Shadowcat, as well as newbies like Angel, Beast, Cyclops and Iceman from the 2006 comic book series of the same name.