In the glamorous and often enigmatic world of Hollywood, secrets have a way of unveiling themselves in the most shocking and surprising ways. Join us as we dive deep into the sensational revelation that took place at New York Comic Con at the Javits Center in the heart of New York City, where filmmaker Matthew Vaughn dropped a bombshell regarding his untold 2005 departure from the film “X-Men: The Last Stand.” Brace yourselves for a thrilling journey into the deceitful intricacies of Tinseltown, where even Oscar-winning actresses like Halle Berry are not immune to the conniving maneuvers of the silver screen’s political power players.
This jaw-dropping revelation came to light as Vaughn, the mastermind behind films like “The King’s Man,” “Kingsman: The Golden Circle,” and “Kingsman: The Secret Service,” unveiled the sordid tale of Fox executives playing a duplicitous hand in their efforts to lure the iconic Halle Berry back into the “X-Men” franchise, where she portrayed the formidable Storm/Ororo Munroe. Sit tight as we unravel this captivating narrative, revealing the lengths to which the Hollywood machine will go to manipulate its stars.
The first shocking revelation from Vaughn was how the Fox executives, who would later sell their entertainment properties to Disney, concocted a counterfeit script specifically designed to pique the interest of the Academy Award-winning Halle Berry. Berry, known for her stellar performance as Storm, was a vital component of the “X-Men” saga, and retaining her for the third installment was crucial. Vaughn unveiled this sordid affair while speaking at the New York Comic Con panel, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
The esteemed filmmaker was deeply disturbed by the underhanded tactics employed to secure Berry’s return to the franchise. Vaughn disclosed, “I thought, if you’re going to do that to an Oscar-winning actress who plays Storm, I quit; I thought, I’m mincemeat.” What audacious trick had the Fox executives used to keep their treasured star onboard?
In a shocking turn of events, Vaughn revealed that Fox had concocted an extensive script that placed Berry’s character, Storm, at its epicenter. This falsified script contained a massive sequence at the start of the film, featuring elements integral to the storyline but never intended for inclusion in the final product. Vaughn’s revelations shone a glaring spotlight on the devious maneuvers at play within Hollywood.
Vaughn’s narrative continued, as he recounted his encounter with this nefarious script. In an executive’s office, he was handed an extra-thick script and, inquisitive, he asked, “What is this draft?” The response was both vague and unsettling, as they simply replied, “Don’t worry about it.” What Vaughn discovered inside this script left him bewildered and intrigued.
As he began flipping through the pages, his eyes landed on a remarkable sequence devised to entice the “Monster’s Ball” star into reprising her role in the franchise. It was a scene set in Africa, where children were suffering due to a lack of water. Storm, Halle Berry’s character, would create a thunderstorm to save the children. Vaughn admitted, “I thought it was a pretty cool idea.” This revelation left the audience at New York Comic Con spellbound.
The plot thickened as Vaughn probed further, demanding to know the truth behind this misleading script. The response he received was astounding: “This is the Halle Berry script, because she hasn’t signed on yet. This is what she wants it to be. And once she signs on, we’ll throw it in the bin.” The audience at the panel was undoubtedly in awe of the manipulative tactics employed by Hollywood executives to secure their coveted star.
It’s important to note that Halle Berry did ultimately sign on for the movie, adding her star power to an ensemble cast that included Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Famke Janssen, Ian McKellen, Kelsey Grammer, and Elliot Page. Vaughn himself was initially brought in to replace Bryan Singer, the director of “X2,” and ultimately, he was replaced by Brett Ratner for the 2006 film.
Financially, “X-Men: The Last Stand” was a success, reaping $234 million in domestic box office earnings and an impressive $460 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo. Berry would return to the franchise with “X-Men: Days of Future Past” in 2014, and later collaborated with Vaughn on “Kingsman: The Golden Circle.”
However, Vaughn’s decision to walk away from the film did not come without its challenges. His future in the industry appeared to be in jeopardy. Still, a twist of fate led to his return to the franchise for “X-Men: First Class” in 2011. Vaughn attributed his triumphant return to the success of his 2010 film, “Kick-Ass,” which helped him regain favor with the studio.
As Vaughn recounted, “The man who said, ‘You’ll never work in this town again’ watched ‘Kick-Ass,’ and, to his credit, he called me up and said, ‘I didn’t mean it when I said that.'” Vaughn’s triumphant comeback highlighted the mercurial nature of Hollywood’s power dynamics.
This startling tale of Halle Berry’s deceptive script and Matthew Vaughn’s tumultuous journey in the world of filmmaking exposes the political intricacies and manipulative maneuvers that often underlie the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. Join us in unraveling the secrets that lie beneath the surface, as we venture deeper into the enigmatic realm of Tinseltown.
