X-Men: The Last Stand Co-Screenwriter Sets Record Straight on the Movie's Most Controversial Line

https://movieweb.com/x-men-the-last-stand-co-screenwriter-sets-record-straight-on-the-movies-most-controversial-line/

A conversation from the past has returned to add a new stitch to the narrative surrounding the widely debated third installment of the X-Men series, X-Men: The Last Stand. A recent revelation from one of the co-screenwriter behind the screenplay, Simon Kinberg, sets to rest years-long speculations about one particularly notorious line that made it to the final cut.

In a candid chat with Polygon, Kinberg clarifies that he was not the mastermind behind the contentious line, "I'm the Juggernaut, bitch", which was delivered with vehement zest by the character Juggernaut, portrayed by Vinnie Jones. This line was thrown at Kitty Pryde, brought to life by Elliot Page. According to Kinberg, this meme-inspired dialogue was not part of the initial script drafted by him and co-writer Zak Penn. Instead, it materialized during the re-shoots, orchestrated under the watch of director Brett Ratner, after the conclusion of the principal photography. This revelation opens up an intriguing chapter, depicting how the creative reins of a film can sway and deviate, sometimes leading to decisions that may not sit well with the original narrative blueprint or the franchise's established tone.

It seems that this creative divergence was a bit of a stumbling block, not just for Kinberg but also for some of the star cast members. A case in point is Rebecca Romijn, who portrayed Mystique in the series. During a recent interaction, Romijn did not hold back in expressing her dissatisfaction about working with Ratner. This underlined discontent reveals an unsettling picture of the on-set environment, steering into the much larger and concerning realm of the #MeToo movement. Romijn discloses her distaste for Ratner’s comportment during the filming, highlighting a palpable disconnect between the director and some primary cast members. In sharp contrast, Bryan Singer, the director of the previous installments, received accolades from Romijn for his filmmaking prowess.