New X-man joins Xavier

X3 has found a new writer after Brian Singer left to take control of a new Superman project.

16:45 01 October 2004

Brian Singer, the critically acclaimed helmsman behind the first two blockbuster X-Men films, has confirmed he is to trade one set of superheroes and supervillains for another.

Mr Singer, the man behind Oscar winning thriller the Usual Suspects, will be taking revered writing team Dan Harris and Michael Dougherty with him when he begins work on the latest cinematic incarnation of Superman.

Fear not comic geeks for help is at hand with studio executives confirming they have chosen relative unknown Simon Kinberg to assume writing duties.

Kinberg, a self-professed comic obsessive and lifelong aficionado of the exploits of Wolverine, Charles Xavier et al, has already begun to carve out a name for himself among some of the biggest movie houses in Hollywood, with writing credits on a number of comic-based projects from Marvel and Fox.

He has already undertaken rewriting duties on Daredevil spin-off Elektra, starring Jennifer Garner in the title role, and forthcoming Marvel favourite Fantastic Four as well as writing the sequel to Vin Diesel's low-brow spy film xXx: State of the Union.

"I had a great experience with Fox and Marvel on the other projects and when they came to me and asked me if I had any interest in X3, I was ecstatic," Kinberg told industry magazine Empire.