X2 (film): Difference between revisions

Producer [[Lauren Shuler Donner]] had hoped to start filming in March 2002,<ref name="xcons" /> but production did not begin until June 17, 2002 in [[Vancouver]] and ended by November.<ref name="greg">{{cite web |last=Schmitz |first=Greg Dean |title=Greg's Preview – ''X2: X-Men United'' |publisher=[[Yahoo!]] |url=https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/preview/1808406654 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080109062934/http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/preview/1808406654 |archive-date=January 9, 2008}}</ref> Over sixty-four sets were used in thirty-eight different locations.<ref name="X2" /> The film crew encountered problems when there was insufficient snow in [[Kananaskis Improvement District|Kananaskis, Alberta]] for them to use for some scenes. A large amount of [[fake snow]] was then applied.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.movieroomreviews.com/x2-x-men-united/motw-why-x2-one-best-superhero-movies-148962 |title=MOTW: Why "X2" is one of the best Superhero Movies. |publisher=Movie Room Reviews |date=June 3, 2013 |access-date=August 24, 2015 |archive-date=June 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604083843/http://www.movieroomreviews.com/x2-x-men-united/motw-why-x2-one-best-superhero-movies-148962 |url-status=live}}</ref> The idea to have [[Jean Grey]] sacrifice herself at the end and to be resurrected in a third installment was highly secretive. Singer did not tell [[Famke Janssen]] until midway through filming.<ref name="update">{{cite news |last=Allstetter |first=Rob |title=''X2'' Update |publisher=Comics Continuum |date=December 1, 2003 |url=http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0312/01/index.htm |access-date=February 18, 2008 |archive-date=May 4, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080504160036/http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0312/01/index.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> While filming the scene where Xavier and Lehnsherr play chess, Stewart and McKellen had no clue how to play chess so a Canadian grandmaster was called on set for a day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://blackfilm.com/20030502/features/patrickstewart.shtml|title=May {{Bare2003 URL&#124; inlineblackfilm.com &#124; features &#124; interviews &#124; x2 (x-men united) : an interview with patrick stewart|datewebsite=August 2024blackfilm.com}}</ref> Cinematographer [[Newton Thomas Sigel]] and two stunt drivers nearly died when filming the scene in which [[Pyro (Marvel Comics)|Pyro]] has a dispute with [[police officer]]s.<ref name="singeraudio" /> [[James Bamford (stunt coordinator)|James Bamford]] worked as [[Hugh Jackman]]'s stunt double for rehearsals until he suffered an injury; due to Bamford's looks, Singer asked him to play the role of [[Gambit (comics)|Gambit]] for a [[cameo appearance]], but Gambit's scene was deleted from the film's final cut.<ref name="BamfordX2">{{cite web |last=Sauriol |first=Patrick |date=April 28, 2003 |title=X2's Gambit tells his story |url=http://www.mania.com/38444.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201062254/http://www.mania.com/38444.html |archive-date=December 1, 2007 |access-date=September 21, 2021 |website=Mania Movies}}</ref> According to Alan Cumming, Singer began berating the cast which lead to Halle Berry saying to Singer "you can kiss my black ass".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/halle-berry-bryan-singer-kiss-my-ass-b1942962.html | title=Halle Berry told X-Men director Bryan Singer to 'kiss my Black ass' | website=[[Independent.co.uk]] | date=October 21, 2021 }}</ref> Cumming would also later say that working on the film was a "bad experience".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/alan-cumming-x-men-dangerous-abusive-164435956.html | title=Alan Cumming: The 'X-Men 2' set was a 'dangerous, abusive' situation | date=November 12, 2021 }}</ref>