io9 got the opportunity to talk to Thor writers Zack Stentz and Ashley Edward Miller about the work they contributed to Bryan Singer’s return to the X-Universe in X-Men: First Class. In the interview they talk (vaguely, of course) the direction they are taking the script and how working on TV projects such as Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Fringe have helped them with their scripting.
What were your first meetings with Bryan Singer like?
AEM: Bryan is a great collaborator. He’s very smart, he knows what he wants and he’s great with the back-and-forth of designing cool scenes and moments. And when you get into the superheroics, he wants to understand how and why things work.
ZS: In TV terms, it was like meeting with a great showrunner — he absolutely knows what he wants, but is interested in your opinion and enjoys means-testing all of the ideas that come out.
How difficult was it to settle on the story to tell? There are so many firsts the X-Men had…how do you choose just one?
AEM: Step One: You can’t think of it that way. You have to let go of all of that.
ZS: Yeah, that way lies checking boxes on a list instead of just finding a great story.
AEM: So you ask the same questions you’d ask on any other script: Who are these characters? What do they want? What’s in their way?
True. but with so much to choose from, are there conscious decisions of the things you know you want in there?
AEM: Sure, but it has to feel organic. If it doesn’t emerge naturally, you should never ever force it. (And yes, that’s what she said.)
You can read the full interview here
Frankly, it appears like some of Marvel’s best characters are in some very enthusiastic and capable fan-boyish (in a good way) hands. Seems like these writers are devoted to the Marvel Universe and all that entails – hopefully that shines through in Thor, and if it does I can’t imagine not having some high-hopes for First Class.