Matthew Vaughn Reveals Reason He Didn't Direct X-Men: The Last Stand

Matthew Vaughn revealed the real reason he stepped down from directing X-Men: The Last Stand this weekend during New York Comic-Con.

The Hollywood Reporter said that during Vaughn's 45-minute panel, the director shared that one of the execs on the film had a fake script with the sole intention of enticing Halle Berry to return as Storm.

Vaughn recounted the story, saying, "I went into one of the executive's office, and I saw an X3 script, and I immediately knew it was a lot fatter. I was like, what the hell is this draft? He went, 'Don't worry about it,' and I'm like, 'No, no. I'm the director. I'm worrying about this draft,'".

Vaugh continued, saying, "He wouldn't tell me, so I grabbed it literally — it was like a crazy moment — opened the first page, and it said, 'Africa. Storm. Kids dying of no water. She creates a thunderstorm and saves all these children.'"

The Hollywood Reporter said that once Vaughn discovered the script was just to dupe Berry, he told the exec: "You're gonna do that to an Oscar-winning actress who plays Storm? I'm outta here.'"

Vaughn did end up writing X-Men: Days of Future Past, which Halle Berry starred in alongside Anna Paquin, Hugh Jackman, and Elliot Page. It was directed by Bryan Singer.