(01.13.05) MAGNETO Spin-Off To Be An X-MEN Prequel
Sheldon Turner is currently working on bringing the mutant known as Magneto
to the big screen in his spin-off film tentatively titled: MAGNETO! The
screenwriter previously talked to the folks over at Entertainment Weekly
Magazine last month about the premise of the new film in development:

Turner's intent for the film is to examine Magneto's "psychological roots". The
plot will also deal with the character's friendship turned sour with Charles Xavier.
The man who went on to form the team known as the X-Men.

"It's going to take place from 1939 Auschwitz up to 1955 or so," says Turner.
With that in mind, that would make the film, MAGNETO a 'period prequel' to the
X-MEN movies.

Since a major bulk (if not all) of the film will take place during this period, it is
doubtful that actor Sir Ian McKellen will return for the film, though there are still
possible ways of having the actor in portions of the film. The film will chronicle
the character's early life, and what turned him against humans.

No tentative date has been given for the project in development. X-MEN 3 is still
currently set for a 2006 release, and WOLVERINE is set for a
tentative 2007
release, according to executive producer/ producer, Avi Arad.

Source: Entertainment Weekly, Carlos W.