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Boyd Kirkland was best recognized for his work not only as the producer ofX-Men: Evolutionbut also for his incredible direction onBatman: The Animated Series. The late director once revealed in an interview that he would love to make his own universe with his dream team.
Kirkland was a veteran of animation whose name was highly regarded in the industry. Unfortunately, the famed figure passed away in 2011 while awaiting a lung transplant. Still, his legacy remains seen in his works featuring the X-Men.
X-Men: EvolutionProducer Wanted A Thor Animated Feature
While catching up withMarvel Animation AgeviaThe Dork Review, Boyd Kirkland responded to the question regarding his desire to build his own universe in the style ofX-Men: Evolution. The producer already assumed the interviewer meant characters from the Marvel realm.
“Well, as a kid, I was initially drawn to Marvel comics because of Jack Kirby’s art, so am partial to the Fantastic Four, including the Inhumans, as well as Thor and the Tales of Asgard. I have always been convinced that the story of Ragnarok would make a great big-budget animated feature!”
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It would have been something to see how Kirkland would put his own touch to an animatedThorfilm but with a hint ofX-Men: Evolution. The franchise has grown so much over the years, from its humble beginnings in 2011 up to its recent installment released in 2022.
Despite the mixed critical reviews, theThorfranchise is a raging success for Marvel Studios, acquiring over $2.71 billion as perBox Office Mojofor all four movies.Ragnarokwas the highest-grossingThorinstallment with$853 millionin worldwide ticket sales, so it’s no mystery why Kirkland was eyeing the story to craft as an animated feature.
In another conversation withMarvel Animation AgeviaAnime Superhero, Kirkland echoed his love forJack Kirby’s aesthetic. The artist’s work has been constantly noticed by many in the projects of the producer.
“I don’t remember specifically how that came about, but I had been a fan of the Kirby era X-Men, and thought it would be cool to pay tribute to that.”
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Thorwas created byStan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Larry Lieber so it’s quite evident that Kirkland has so much admiration for the artist that he wanted to bring one of his famous works to life through an animated film.
WasX-Men: EvolutionCanceled?
X-Men: Evolutionwas reportedlycanceleddespite its high viewership ratings due to management conflicts. An article fromKnows Whyexplained why the producer decided to end the series:
“Boyd Kirkland thought of canceling X-Men: Evolution because there was a conflict between the management and their financing partner regarding the finances involved in the production of the series. Although the show was able to attract a lot of viewers, especially teenagers and adolescents, the predicament faced by the producers and the management led them to cancel the show.”
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X-Men: Evolutioncomics were also reportedly halted as the sales were found to be significantly low. On the bright side, the series has become part of theX-Menanimated saga.
X-Men: Evolutionis available to watch on Disney Plus.
Ariane Cruz
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3531
Ariane Cruz is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 3,000 articles published. Her love for pop culture and the creative arts fuels her passion to deliver engaging and informative stories. Her daily consumption of films, shows, and books keeps her energized for the day, along with her mission to serve as the bridge between fans and their favorite franchises.
