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A few days ago at WonderCon, I sat down with Dark Phoenix writer-director Simon Kinberg and producer Hutch Parker for an extended interview. During the wide-ranging conversation, they talked about where they are in the post-production process, the challenges of making an ensemble movie like Dark Phoenix, balancing the tone between a grounded, naturalistic film with the cosmic forces, taking advantage of the excellent cast, how they decided to split the characters into pro- and anti-Jean Grey factions, how they wrestle with the lengthy continuity of the X-Men movies, and more. In addition, with the two of them involved in many other projects, I got updates on The New Mutants, Jessica Chastain’s spy thriller 355, Multiple Men, how things work now at Fox after the Disney merger, and if there have been discussions about a second season of The Twilight Zone.

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As most of you already know, the next X-Men sequel adapts the famous Dark Phoenix comics arc, with Sophie Turner filling the role of Jean Grey/Dark Phoenix while Jessica Chastain plays a mysterious (and perhaps otherworldly) character. The film also sees Michael Fassbender return as Magneto alongside Storm (Alexandra Shipp), Red Lotus (Andrew Stehlin), Beast (Nicholas Hoult), Nightcrawler (Kodi Smit-McPhee), and Selene (Kota Eberhardt). Main players Charles Xavier (James McAvoy), Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence), Quicksilver (Evan Peters), and Cyclops (Tye Sheridan) return. Dark Phoenix arrives in theaters on June 7th.

Check out what they had to say in the player above and below is exactly what we talked about followed by the official synopsis.

Simon Kinberg and Hutch Parker:

  • What they decided to show from Dark Phoenix at WonderCon and how they decided what to show.
  • Where they are in the post-production process.
  • The challenges of making an ensemble movie like Dark Phoenix, and balancing the tone between a grounded, naturalistic film with the cosmic forces.
  • How they decided to split the characters into pro- and anti-Jean Grey factions.
  • Investing in the character work and taking advantage of the excellent cast, and notable scenes between Hank/Charles and Jean/Magneto.
  • How they wrestle with the lengthy continuity of the X-Men
  • dark-phoenix-sophie-turner
    Image via 20th Century Fox
    If they’ve asked for an annual pass to Disneyland now that Fox and Disney have merged.
  • Their favorite rides at Disneyland.
  • An update on New Mutants, but its distribution fate remains uncertain.
  • An update on Jessica Chastain’s spy thriller 355.
  • An update on Multiple Men.
  • How things are working now at Fox now that they’ve merged with Disney.
  • If there have been discussions about a second season of The Twilight Zone.

Here is the official synopsis for Dark Phoenix:

In DARK PHOENIX, the X-MEN face their most formidable and powerful foe: one of their own, Jean Grey. During a rescue mission in space, Jean is nearly killed when she is hit by a mysterious cosmic force. Once she returns home, this force not only makes her infinitely more powerful, but far more unstable. Wrestling with this entity inside her, Jean unleashes her powers in ways she can neither comprehend nor contain. With Jean spiraling out of control, and hurting the ones she loves most, she begins to unravel the very fabric that holds the X-Men together. Now, with this family falling apart, they must find a way to unite — not only to save Jean’s soul, but to save our very planet from aliens who wish to weaponize this force and rule the galaxy.

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Image via 20th Century Fox
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Image via 20th Century Fox
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Image via 20th Century Fox