X-Men: First Class (2011)

Main article: X-Men: First Class

The film is a prequel set primarily in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis and focuses on the relationship between Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr and the origin of their groups — the X-Men and the Brotherhood, respectively.^[20]
Producer Lauren Shuler Donner first thought of a prequel based on the young X-Men during the production of X2, and later producer Kinberg suggested to 20th Century Fox an adaptation of the comic-book series X-Men: First Class.^[21][22] Singer signed on to direct the film in December 2009; however, in March 2010 it was announced that Singer would be producing instead of directing.^[23] Vaughn, who was previously attached to direct X-Men: The Last Stand, became the director and co-wrote the final script with his writing partner, Jane Goldman.^[22] The film superseded a planned X-Men Origins: Magneto, and the Writer's Guild of America arbitration still credited Magneto writer Sheldon Turner for the film's story.^[24] Principal photography began in August 2010 in London, England, and ended in December. The film was released on June 3, 2011.

The Wolverine (2013)

Main article: The Wolverine (film)

Set after the events of X-Men: The Last Stand, the film features Wolverine heading to Japan for a reunion with a soldier named Ichirō Yashida whose life he saved years before. Wolverine must defend the man's granddaughter Mariko Yashida from all manner of ninja and Yakuza assassins.^[25][26]
Christopher McQuarrie, who went uncredited for his work on X-Men, was hired to write the screenplay for the second Wolverine film in August 2009.^[27] Darren Aronofsky was chosen to direct the film, though bowed out, stating the project would keep him out of the country for too long.^[28] James Mangold was later chosen to direct the film.^[29] Mark Bomback was then hired to rewrite McQuarrie's script.^[30] Principal photography began in August 2012 in Sydney, Australia, and ended in November.^[31] The film was released on July 26, 2013.^[32]

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

Main article: X-Men: Days of Future Past

Set years after the events of The Wolverine, the film features the cast of the original X-Men trilogy and X-Men: First Class.^[33] The story, inspired by Chris Claremont and John Byrne's X-Men comic book storyline "Days of Future Past", features Wolverine going back in time to 1973 to prevent an assassination that, if carried out, will lead to the creation of a new weapons system called the Sentinels that threatens the existence of mutants — and potentially, all of humanity.^[34]
Matthew Vaughn was attached to direct the film but left in October 2012 to focus on the film Kingsman: The Secret Service.^[35] Singer, who directed the first two X-Men films and produced X-Men: First Class, replaced Vaughn as the director of the film.^[36] The screenplay was written by Kinberg.^[37] Principal photography began in April 2013 in Montreal, Canada, and ended in August.^[38] The film was released on May 23, 2014.^[39]

Deadpool (2016)

Main article: Deadpool (film)

In the film, former Special Forces operative Wade Wilson is subjected to an experiment that leaves him with new abilities. He adopts the alter ego Deadpool to hunt down the man who nearly destroyed his life.^[40]
In May 2000, Marvel Studios attempted to produce a Deadpool film as part of a distribution deal with Artisan Entertainment.^[41] However, by 2004, Marvel was developing the film with New Line Cinema. David S. Goyer was set to write and direct and courted actor Ryan Reynolds for the lead role, but lost interest within months in favor of other projects.^[42][43][44] 20th Century Fox acquired Deadpool the following year after New Line placed it in turnaround and was considering the spin-off in the development of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, with Reynolds being cast for the role.^[42] After the opening weekend success of X-Men Origins: Wolverine in May 2009, Fox lent Deadpool out to writers with Donner acting as a producer.^[45] Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick were hired to write the script in January 2010.^[46] Robert Rodriguez was sent a draft of the screenplay the following June but did not pursue it, and Adam Berg emerged as a top contender to direct.^[47][48] In April 2011, visual effects specialist Tim Miller was hired to direct.^[49] Principal photography began in March 2015 in Vancouver, Canada, and ended in May.^[50][51] The film was released on February 12, 2016, to both critical and commercial success.^[52]