X-Men: Days of Future Past - Publicity Photo

In 2014, the seventh X-Men film will be released in theaters: X-Men - Days of Future Past. In 2000, director Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects) helmed the original theatrical release of X-Men to financial and critical (especially in the comic book community) success. He followed it up with the even better X2: X-Men United in 2003. The films were cornerstones of the resurgence of the comic book film and were responsible of making Wolverine (and by extension, Hugh Jackman) a pop-culture icon. However in 2005 Singer left the series to make Superman Returns and 20th Century Fox decided not to wait for him to complete the project and hired Brett Ratner to make the third film in the franchise, X-Men: The Last Stand. While a box office hit, Last Stand, failed to reach the level of quality of its predecessors. This was followed by X-Men Origins: Wolverine which also fell short artistically.  Then, in 2011, the series got a much needed boost in the form of director Matthew Vaughn's (Stardust) excellent X-Men: First Class which retold the origin of the X-Men and Magneto. However, this film contradicted events that took place Last Stand and Origins. Fans were confused until Fox announced plans for X-Men: Days of Future Past, the next film in the X-Men franchise (following this summer's The Wolverine), will adapt a famous X-Men comic book story arc featuring the element of time travel. Bryan Singer is returning to the world of mutants to direct the film and the film is heavily rumored to "correct" the continuity and rewrite the events of Last Stand and Origins.  Below is a publicity photo released featuring Professor Xavier, Magneto, Colossus and new character Bishop.  Xavier and Magneto are portrayed by their original counterparts, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan, however the film will also feature James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender as the younger versions of Xavier and Magneto that where established in First Class. Also returning: Jennifer Lawrence (Mystique), Hugh Jackman (in his 7th appearance as Wolverine), Nicholas Hoult (Beast), Anna Paquin (Rogue), Ellen Page (Kitty Pryde), Halle Berry (Storm), Shawn Ashmore (Iceman) and Daniel Cudmore (Colossus).