There's nothing I love more than breaking news on a Friday afternoon. Entertainment Weekly is reporting that KICK-ASS director Matthew Vaughn is Twentieth Century Fox’s top pick to direct the next entry in the X-MEN franchise. X-MEN: FIRST CLASS is billed as an origin story that chronicles the early years of such mutants as Cyclops and Jean Grey.

Vaughn was once attached to direct 2005’s X-MEN: THE LAST STAND, before he left the project that was later taken over by Brett Ratner. The FIRST CLASS script has been penned by Jamie Moss (STREET KINGS) based on a treatment by Singer (after one brutally tossed script by Josh Schwartz of Chuck fame which did not suit Singer). Although Fox had hoped to have X-MEN and X2 director Singer back on for FIRST CLASS, he is only producing, as he is currently working on JACK THE GIANT KILLER.According to other sources, Vaughn is not sold on the project and Fox is still looking at other possible directors. Deadline is reporting that some other choices include Timur Bekmambetov, Louis Leterrier (excuse my snickers), David Slade, Daniel Espinoza, and Carl Erick Rinsch. A final pick should be announced next week, with a planned late summer or early fall start for filming.

Would you like to see Vaughn direct some crazy kids saving the world again (but this time, with real powers)? Or do some of those other choices strike your fancy?