Might Hugh Jackman’s X-Men spin-off WOLVERINE be filming in Australia? According to the Herald Sun, Jackman says “We are working very hard at that. I hope I’ll be able to make an announcement about that very soon.”

20th Century Fox houses studios in Sydney, so this could very much be a possibility. This would mark the first time an X-Men related film has filmed in Australia.

Sources: Herald Sun, Silvermoth

Nine MSN talked with Wolverine and Magneto producer Avi Arad about upcoming Marvel films that he hopes to film in Australia. Could Hugh Jackman’s spin-off be on that list? Not sure, but I’m betting Hugh and family would love that! Click here for the full article.

Thanks to ‘Advanced Dark’

A couple days ago, we posted updates on WOLVERINE, and The Hollywood Reporter has just come out with a report that confirms the film’s status. Looks like Hugh Jackman’s spin-off may still get that 2008 release, and a speedy production:

At Fox, 2006’s “X-Men: The Last Stand” appears to have concluded the franchise — at least in its present form. Instead, the studio is developing two possible spin-offs: “Wolverine,” starring Hugh Jackman, and “Magneto,” which would follow the character portrayed by Ian McKellen as a much younger man.

The studio has been so eager to get “Wolverine” out next year that it has committed to go into production the instant Jackman finishes Baz Luhrmann’s epic romance “Australia,” which Fox is tentatively set to release next year. “The idea is, they can finish him out in September or October and put this one on the fast track so they can get it out next summer,” says one source.

Confirming on what we reported earlier, X-Men producer Lauren Shuler Donner also says that there is no activity on an X-Men 4:

For the time being anyway, it seems that “Wolverine” is the best hope for continuing the “X-Men” movie franchise. “There is no script for an ‘X-Men 4,’ and there is none in the works,” avers producer Lauren Shuler Donner.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Magneto producer, Avi Arad talked a bit about the X-Men spin-off film to MTV.com! “Think of meeting him in [the first “X-Men” movie] as a young boy in a concentration camp. What happens to his life after the war?” Arad teased of the film’s plot. Arad quickly answered his own question, telling MTV News that the flick will follow Magneto discovering “if [his powers are] real or not and the whole journey of [his] survival as a young man.”

When asked if the film will show him forming the Brotherhood alliance with such mutants as Sabretooth and Mystique, Arad coyly says “[Some] amazing surprises that happen in his life [are in store].” The film is expected to detail Magneto’s first meetings with the mutant Charles Xavier.

Magneto will be directed and co-written by David Goyer, with an anticipated 2009 release. Source: MTV

Producer Ralph Winter talked with InFuze about the upcoming 20th Century Fox release Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, and talked a bit about the X-Men franchise.

The big question many fans have is why did they choose to kill-off Cyclops? “In terms of the story, killing Cyclops was about demonstrating the enormous power that Jean Grey came back with, and this conflict that was raging inside her.” said Winter. “I can’t recall any discussion we’ve had about Cyclops coming back. But hey, it’s science fiction, it’s fantasy. Anything could happen.”

Click here for much more, including what he has to say on future spin-off films, and characters in the X-Men universe!

WOLVERINE’s Hugh Jackman talked to JoBlo.com about his upcoming film THE FOUNTAIN, and revealed his thoughts behind the production of the film. The actor revealed that “I think we’ll go for beginning of 08. That way, I need to have my idea for WOLVERINE. I wanna have four months cleared before I start shooting because I wanna be in the shape, the physical shape that I’ve never been before for that movie.”

You may recall an earlier interview at IESB with producer Lauren Shuler Donner, where she stated that while Hugh wants a beginning of 2008 start, they’re thinking of Fall 2007. Who will win in deciding the official start date? Will WOLVERINE make his Spring/ Summer 2008 debut? Stay tuned!

IESB chatted with X-MEN producer, Lauren Shuler Donner about the future of the X-Men franchise. Some small bits are below, but for the full interview, click here!

“[On MAGNETO] We have a really great script, we have a director that is interested and he’ll do a rewrite on the script. But, it’s young Magneto and it’s a young Xavier.  Not “kid young,” but you know, when Magneto got through the Holocaust and when he, Erik Lehnsherr, became “Magneto.”

Shuler Donner also notes that WOLVERINE is tentatively planned to start production in the Fall of 2007, and they’re currently in talks with an interested A-list director. Keep checking back at IESB, as they promise an even more in-depth interview with Lauren Shuler Donner in the near future!