Mark Clark outlines his hopes for X-MEN 4!
Try and picture the scene, though in truth its not that hard; Im exiting the cinema after sitting through X-Men Origins: Wolverine, the fourth in a diminishing line of X-Men movies (ok, after the first 2), and the one thought in my head is so, I guess thats that then!. I mean it takes some skill to turn one of the most fantastically entertaining bad-ass characters in the history of comics into a near parody, and a legacy of storytelling into a 1 hour and 45 minute dirge. Of course as a comics fan one has to appreciate the introduction of cool new characters like Deadpool and Gambit, but the films entire purpose seemed to be as a mini movie catalog hey, look what good stuff we can offer for your future entertainment. Well, thanks but no thanks. 
Nine years ago when Bryan Singer skillfully brought the X-Men to movie screes), anything seemed possible for the future of the X-universe; and when he followed it up in 2003 with the sequel defying greatness of X2the genre entertainment immortality of the Singer X-Men trilogy was assured. We can always dream. What we did get was the not completely terrible, but certainly classic trilogy crushing mayhem of Bret Ratners X-Men: The Last Stand. A movie that made such a lot of box office moolah ($234,150,411 in the US alone give or take the odd dollar) that further installments were always on the cards, whoever was handed the directors chair. 
Which brings us back to X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and the move to the 21st Century cinematic habit of going back to the beginning. But to devote an entire movie to it seems retrograde when what would have really worked, and what I would have done, was the superhero equivalent of Godfather Part II. (Of course Wolverine would have to have been in both time lines, as a sub-story about Logans old man swanning about in his 20s may not have been that fascinating). And as theyve now gone to the trouble of giving us a tagline title X-Men Origins, going backwards is seemingly all part of the plan. But what are they going to do, give us a succession of X-Men start-ups? Wolverine may have made north of $351,103,742 worldwide and parts of it were cool (Deadpool yes, Im a fan), but surely what we the audience want is something going forward. Personally I want to know what happens next. And as the X-Men universe is so monumental they could give us new characters and stories until were having immersive movie streams injected into our cerebrums. So where do they go from here? Well, putting to one side the already greenlit Ryan Reynolds Deadpool flick Ive got a few suggestions. 
First off, no more Origins (at least full length movie ones); they want to package their movies, come up with something else. Or better yet, just drop it altogether as straight-jacketing productions is not a good idea. The other Marvel tent-pole, The Avengers, can work because the movies (Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America) should stand as singular pics, fan baiting cameos notwithstanding. An Avengers movie gathering together all those principals would be a fantastic bonus, but a lack of one wouldnt destroy its predecessors. Next, produce a full-on sequel for the original X-Men team, continuing the Jean Grey / Dark Phoenix storyline. And with Bryan Singer more than implying that hed relish a return to the X-Men helm, we could get the team up weve been waiting for. Whether hed do a Superman and only follow on from the first two is unlikely though as he might not want to tread on the toes of his friend Ratner. Still, as long as Scott Summers/Cyclops and Professor X make a return I could live with a Singer/Ratner directing sandwich. 
Third, start an entirely new X-Men stream, or in fact two of them. The first would focus on X-Men Villains, so poor old Magneto would at least get some more quality screen time. The X-Men (or the odd representative) may appear but the primary storyline would concentrate on the universes dark side. With perhaps five or six principal baddies the fun and chaos would be engaging to say the least. My choices for Magnetos minions would be Emma Frost, Mister Sinister, Proteus, Mystique (you cant keep a blue, shape-shifting woman down), hell, maybe the entre Hellfire Club. With a little Dark Phoenix Im already waiting to buy my ticket. The second would concentrate on the Juniors with the YoungX-Men, perhaps taking its cue from the recent 12 issue comic series of the same name. I realize the idea of kiddie X-Men adventures may not instantly appeal but I think it would provide another interesting layer. A view of the drama and carnage of their adult counterparts while enjoying/suffering trials of their own. 
In an ideal world perhaps, the completion of all three would then herald the mother of all X-Men mash-ups as the X-Men, Villains, and Juniors all come together in one apocalyptic smack-down. Last but not least and in complete separation from the above my personal favourite for movie greatness would be Captain Britain. Paul Cornell has written some of the best comic stories in the Marvel Universe with the above hero recently; from battling the Skrull invasion on these shores, to having to fight the good fight against a vampiric takeover of power. The man himself and his supporting cast (particularly Pete Wisdom) would make for a cracking couple of hours in the cinema. Of course its all so much wish-fulfillment as American money is unlikely to pay millions to portray the arse-kicking hero of Avalon. Still, if the studios like my ideas, Ill take a guaranteed cheque. Agree? Dont agree? Give it your best shot.. ;)