Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake, Stardust, Kick-Ass) was originally set to direct X-Men: The Last Stand in 2005, but backed out, leaving the film to the not so tender mercies of Brett Ratner (see “X-3 Loses Director”).  Since that brush with the X-Men, Vaughn has directed an adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s Stardust and the film version of Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr.’s Kick-Ass. 

Last week the Hollywood trades were reporting that Vaughn was in discussions to direct the new X-Men: First Class franchise reboot for Fox. After it appeared on Friday that negotiations had broken down, both parties evidently rethought the issue, since Variety is now reporting that “Vaughn is in final discussions to helm origins pic X-Men: First Class for Twentieth Century Fox.”

According to Variety, it is Vaughn’s ability “to weave action with complex characters” that has impressed studio execs.  But having made Kick-Ass independently with no studio interference, will Vaughn make it all the way through the tortuous process of directing a major studio tentpole film.  Time will tell.