NOVEMBER 20, 2000
X-Men director Bryan Singer is apparently seeking a bigger budget for the sequel to his comic to film smash. According to the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly, Singer was unhappy with the $75 million allotted the first effort. Although he and producer Tom DeSanto are reportedly negotiating with the studio for more, Singer told EW, "everyone seems to be on the same page."
Word is that Anna Paquin is ready, willing and able to reprise her role as Rogue in the sequel to the X-Men movie. While speaking with the Toronto Sun, Paquin said, "If they make one I'm signed for it and I want to be in it."
Meanwhile, Patrick Stewart is also talking about returning as Professor X. Stewart told Anderson Jones of E! Online that he's "keeping fingers crossed that Bryan Singer's going to direct the sequel."
Stewart went on to say, "We were talking about it the Monday morning after the first great weekend. We were stunned--and, of course, thrilled. We never allowed ourselves to dream of something so successful."
Stewart also expressed some concern about the Writers Guild strike. "We're all wondering what impact that will have," Stewart told Jones. "At the moment, there's not even a storyline. I would be very surprised to see any production in the next 12 months."