The Four Color Media Monitor

The Chicago Tribune says the third X-Men movie might not be the last one:

By the time the dust clears in the big finale of "X-Men: The Last Stand" -- and, no, we're not divulging the ending here -- fans of the movie franchise might be somewhat confused.

After three films chronicling the adventures of a band of mutant superheroes that first surfaced in comic-book form, is this, indeed, the last stand of the X-Men?

Twentieth Century Fox studio wants us to believe it is. Director Brett Ratner says it is. But in Hollywood, where decisions are largely based on box-office numbers, the door is always slightly ajar for more of a good -- if not profitable -- thing.

"Who knows?" said Hugh Jackman, who plays Logan/Wolverine in the "X-Men" films. "When we were shooting it, it was called `X-Men: 3' but the studio came up with the title of `The Last Stand.' I've been in some pretty high-level meetings where they have said that their every intention is to finish it here. However, anyone who has any kind of eye on business knows that things rarely stay that way. But there would have to be a compelling reason to do another."

I just hope the ending they're not divulging is a repeat, or a parroting, of what the old Phoenix story from 1979 was, with Jean Grey seemingly dying, until it was revealed in 1985 that it was all just an imposterous entity. In any case, what this here...

"Ultimately, some fans are going to be upset with this," Jackman said. "Some will disagree and some will love it. There are some shocks in this story. That's what we owed the fans. This is the end of a trilogy."

Supposedly. In the event that it is, it won't be the end of Wolverine.

Didn't think so. But even if not, what is it that we're going to be upset with here (or annoyed with)? Why should we be? After all, it's not the original comics we're talking about. That's what I find of concern for the moment, not the movie.

I hope Jackman isn't alluding to the "fanboy" stereotype. Because a few years ago, I think he and/or some other cast members did. And that wasn't nice.