'X-Men' Producers Want Mystique, Gambit, And Deadpool Spinoffs

In a world where every studio is trying to build its own comic book mega-franchise, simple sequels and prequels aren't enough anymore. To really keep the brand running, you need spinoffs. And that's where Fox's X-Men series could be headed next.

So far, Wolverine is the only mutant who's had the opportunity to break out on his own, but in a recent chat producers Lauren Shuler Donner and Simon Kinberg suggested that Gambit, Deadpool, and Mystique could get their own movies as well. Hit the jump to read their comments.

For his part, Kinberg is keen on seeing spinoffs for Gambit and Mystique. "I love what Jen Lawrence has done with her, and I feel like because she is in such a crowded ensemble, there's so much more opportunity if you were to follow her solo," he said.

Of course, this isn't Fox's first attempt to spin off the X-Men. Around the same time that X-Men Origins: Wolverine was in the works, X-Men Origins: Magneto was also being planned. X-Men Origins: Wolverine turned out to be a dud, and some of the Magneto script concepts ended up in First Class, but Fox gave Hugh Jackman's clawed hero another chance to go solo with last year's The Wolverine.

Donner and Kinberg's new comments aren't any sort of official confirmation. But these two are pretty high up on the X-Men franchise decision-making ladder, so if they say they're seriously considering it, there's a good chance these spinoffs could actually come to fruition. Channing Tatum might want to keep his phone on.

Beyond May 23's X-Men: Days of Future Past, Fox has X-Men: Apocalypse dated for May 27, 2016 and The Wolverine 2 (or whatever the title winds up being) dated for March 3, 2017.