“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” is now filming in Australia. The first spinoff from 20^th Century Fox’s successful “X-Men” film franchise is being directed by Gavin Hood. Hugh Jackman reprises his role as Wolverine, a mutant with a swift healing factor and a metal-laced skeleton that makes him the perfect killing machine. “X-Men Origins” will show us what it promises, namely the origin of Wolverine, how he came to be trained as a killer for the military, the process by which the adamantium metal was fused to his skeleton as well as other surprises including new and returning mutant characters.

“I think one of the reasons the X-Men took off is that it connected in a way nobody saw,” Jackman said recently about why the franchise was so big with people. “They’re mutants with powers. But they’re also outcasts for being, and everyone connects with that on some level. And who wouldn’t want the power to get back at the people who ostracized you?”

Jackman is also a producer on the new movie. If “Wolverine” is a hit like the three “X-Men” movies Fox already has a plan to spinoff the villain “Magneto” in his own film. Ian McKellen played the silver-haired foe throughout the “X-Men” series and is game for returning in another film.

Two spin off movies are now in development to continue on the “X-Men” franchise. 20^th Century Fox has just hired “Blade: Trinity” director and writer David S. Goyer to direct “Magneto”, a new tale about the X-Men’s most dangerous villain. Sir Ian McKellen may reprise his role as the mutant that has absolute control over magnetism but he would only appear in bookend sequences at the start and ending of the picture since most of the action takes place in the past. The new movie would show how a young Magneto was saved from a German concentration camp at the end of the war by a young Professor X (played by Patrick Stewart in the three “X-Men” movies) and how the war changed his outlook on justice and revenge. After being freed Magneto would use his powers to seek justice on escaped Nazis which would place him at odds with Xavier’s more compassionate teachings.

Also in development is a stand-alone “Wolverine” movie which would see Hugh Jackman playing the clawed crime fighter once again. Wolverine is the most popular of the X-Men and his solo movie would expand upon his mysterious origins and how he came to be molecularly bonded with the metal adamantium. No director has been hired so far for this project but Fox is hoping to make an announcement shortly.