At least when Trask seems to recognize him in X2, we will know why.

Though this does limit any cameos or appearances of any other XMen since he didnt seem to know any of them beforehand either.

This idea is restrictive, and I too would prefer a solo story for Wolvie AFTER X3, perhaps one where he bonds with Nightcrawler. They were always close buddies.

Screw that. Lets do a Nightcrawler movie with a more confident, fun flirty Kurt!

Sequel or prequel, both have advantages and disadvantages. If the director is talented any way would/could work. If I have to chose, I would select a prequel. It's nice to have somewhat of a fresh start and introduction to his life before and after the claws. We did get brief scenes in the X-Men movies.

As I read earlier, Juggernaut could be the villian. C'mon think about it, Wolverine doesn't have a chance. Even if he does cut/scratch/stab Juggernaut, the damage would be a waste of effort. One blow, doesn't have to be strong, could kill/destroy Wolverine.
Sabertooth is quiet popular and could be a good choice. There are other foes in the comics, but are not coming to me.

The fact that Wolverine doesn't know Sabertooth, Lady Deathstrike, or a few others in the movies makes for a somewhat awkward prequel if you ask me.

I'll still be first in line to see it though.

I was really jazzed about the whole thing until I heard "prequel". I thought about the possibilities. They are:

1) You could bring Stryker back- and not even recast the actor Brian Cox from X2. Skeptical? See Brian in "Red Eye" where he dropped 15 to 20 pounds, surprising Wes Craven and the producers of that movie. There could be also Lady Deathstrike cameo-but my bet would be on a X villian named Cyber.

2) Wolverine had been something of a drifter. You could do a "Shane" like story, where he walks into town, a couple of mutant bad guys or some creature hang around (Proteus?Silver Samurai? Gideon?) and he cleans up the neighborhood.

3) In relation to #2: think not the Hulk but the Wendego.

4) The name of the film is Wolverine. That'll pack the folks in.

5) The Reavers could be involved

6) Depending on what is done in X3, if Juggy comes back, give us Black Tom as well.

7) Gambit, or any of the other mutants under the register not seen in X3 can appear. (see below)

8) Omega Red (see below)

Now, the downside.

1) You cannot see Sabretooth return, unless his name is NOT mentioned to Logan (see first X Men when Logan asks the sillyness of nicknames)

2) You cannot have Logan cross paths with anyone who is not part of Xavier's school for the gifted. The possible exceptions is that there may be mutants who haven't been there/know little of it or may have been detained by Stryker before Magento or Xavier can get to them. Gambit is such a character. ("Remy LeBau" is listed on the 'mutant resigration' in X2)

3) There have been early reports that a character named 'Omega Red' was in the film; an alleded still of the actor as the character, was pulled. The character may have been a casualty in the mutant mayhem, or it didn't work or Red is being 'saved' for the Wolverine film. If he's in X3, he won't be in Wolverine...I think. But it would make sense if one mutant cameo in X3 turned out to be a supporting role in Wolverine (or X4...more on that in a moment)

4) The downside to Stryker and Wolverine? Stryker knows who Xavier is. He would have to have given Logan the claws shortly after Jason's dismissal from School For The Gifted. Stryker mentions of the 'bad things' Logan did as Weapon X before he became 'Wolverine'.
What sort of a time span are we talking? Sounds nice, but...most of this was covered in X2 and left to imagination and speculation. Also, since Stryker also knew Eric Lensherr/Mags, that doubles the possible threat of continuty error.

5) The 'Magneto' spinoff is just fine as an X-Men prequel, and it opens up more doors for possibilities. Do we need two prequels to X-Men?

6) The name of the film should nbe actually be 'Weapon X', but that's just a technicality.

-Sealer

Oh, one last thing: Marvel had a "prequel" to the the first X-Men film in comics form. In those special issues, Wolverine did face off against the Silver Samurai.

Oh, did I forget about X4?

Yes, I did.

"Patrick Stewart spoke briefly about X-Men on UK talk show 'Richard and Judy' (3/21), stating that he thinks labeling the third film as "the last one" could be just a tease to draw audiences to the theater. Stewart also said that Wolverine and Magneto films are in the works; while the latter will feature Magneto and Xavier, he believes they will use younger actors to tell stories from their past.

Im telling ya

You could fill a Wolverine prequel with mutants and none of them from Xavier.

APLPHA FLIGHT BABY!!!

That would own, and that way they dont have to cover up the fact that they're filming in Canada, lol

Or maybe go WAY WAY back, like Samurai wolverine, that would be badass.

nord

When has continuity in comics and comic movies been important. Look at the masterpiece that was "Catwoman".

Nevermind.

i would love to see cameos of alpha flight, but i don't think that's going to happen, maybe with the exception of jim hudson (guardian/vindicator) but not as a superhero.

first thought for a prequel.....NINJAS and i can't remember his girlfriends name (mariko???)

gotta run to a meeting

I would rather it be a sequel. I don't really like prequels that much either. I like to see a continuation of the story and a prequel isn't really much of that. I'm sure it will be good though, but I really wish it would be a sequel.

I don't know if people will want to see a Wolverine-only movie. I'd like to see it myself, but the general public? I don't know.

I wonder if this bit of information is at all related to the fact that, in the comics, Marvel recently restored all of Woverine's lost memories.

Personally, I would also prefer a post-X3 story, but I can see reasons for not doing it that way. For starters, by setting the story after X3, you're putting the same troublesome limitations on X4. By setting it in the past, you don't have to worry about all those pesky questions of how the Wolverine movie fits in with the X-movie timelines.

Also, you have to remember that Wolverine has been around for... I'm not even sure, but I think it's close to a century. As cheesy as it might seem to non-comic nerd fans, they could set the movie in World War 1 or 2, the old west, 19th century Japan... Point being, I don't think they're limiting themselves as much as you might think.

After all, the court of public opinion can be far more effective than any UN investigative body...

There may be more room in a prequel. Wolverine's problem in X-1, and the comics, was a total loss of memory. He could still meet Sabertooth - Victor Creed - without the silly nicknames.

Or maybe it could be set in Wolverine's long past. Possibly WWII; with a cameo or help from Marvel's next franchise, Captain America (read The Avengers).

Marvel knows how to milk movie popularity.
Check the 70's.
Anyone for a Doctor Strange remake?

I think there should be a Nightcrawler spin off or prequel or something!! Nightcrawler rules!!!!

..... and also doing a Nightcrawler film, we could see his past and maybie why he has the scars in X2..