News broke this week that X-Men: First Class has selected actor Michael Fassbender to play the young Magneto, and X-Men fans are all a tizzy about who will be cast next in the mutant prequel. With Mathew Vaughn already announced to direct, and James McAvoy signed on as Professor X, all signs point to this installment launching on the right foot. But hold your horses… If 20th Century Fox has taught us anything, it’s that they know how to take a potentially great superhero flick and bugger it harder than the star of a gape film. So, with that in mind, allow me to give some helpful tips on how to restore the Marvel Comics franchise to cinematic greatness.

1. Don’t Feel Obliged to the Continuity of Previous Films

Although First Class is being touted as a prequel to the first the X-Men films, it doesn’t have to be. It could just as easily reboot the franchise. Why be held back by a film series that was half lousy? This is a chance to really get these characters and their stories right, and to do it from the beginning.

2. There Are Other Characters Besides Wolverine. Use Them.

Wolverine is awesome. Everybody knows it. Unfortunately, the first four X-films drove that point home at the expense of a great cast of characters. If First Class needs to give everybody’s second favorite Canadian superhero (after Dan Aykroyd) a cameo, then go for it. But how about some strong development for Jean Grey, Beast or Angel? Or, for example:

3. Give Cyclops A Break

James Marsden is a fine actor, but all he got to do for three films in the role of Cyclops was cry and die. The X-Men’s leader is one of the best developed characters in the books, and deserves more than a bit part in these movies. Recent “X-Men” comics by writers Grant Morrison, Joss Weadon, and Matt Fraction are a great showcase of what makes the visored one so cool. The First Class writers may want to check them out while writing Cyke’s origin for the big screen. And while they’re at it…

4. Go Easy on the Metaphors

Cringe worthy lines like “Have you tried… not being a mutant?” are about as subtle as an adamantium enema. The X-Men’s struggle against a society that hates and fears them is related to by many minority groups, and that’s what makes the books so great. But why stop your awesome action film dead in its tracks with message that does everything but point to the viewer and scold? We get the idea…now let’s make with the shape shifting, claw popping, optic blast violence, shall we?

5. Don’t Be Afraid To Cast Unknowns

Despite the faults of the first X-Men films, the acting was pretty solid throughout. The franchise discovered future stars like Hugh Jackman and Ellen Page, and utilized strong character actors such as Brian Cox and Ian McKellen. A big name doesn’t mean a good film, and on that note…

6. For the Love of Christ, Please Don’t Stunt Cast

Every scene with will.i.am in Wolverine makes me want to eat my fucking eyes. I’ve seen better acting from strippers. Many strippers, actually… Anyways, nothing will kill First Class faster than somebody like Miley Cyrus as Jean Grey. Casting flavor of the month non-actors doesn’t draw you an audience, and it will wreck the movie.

7. Be Faithful to the Source Material

Mathew Vaughn has shown with Kick-Ass that he can make a sharp superhero film without betraying the comic that birthed it. Vaughn doesn’t need to be slavish to any particular X-Men story, but as long as he maintains the tone and characterizations that have made the comics popular in the first place, he should have a hit. It worked for Christopher Nolan in the Batman films.

8. Keep Those Goddamn Studio Hacks Away

X-Men and X2 were pretty solid films. Some fans (while drinking) might even say great films. But X-Men: The Last Stand and Wolverine both sucked on Rye. What changed? The franchise lost director Brian Singer to Superman Returns, and Fox, instead of waiting for him and ensuring a great trilogy of films, rushed ahead without him. The next two X-films had an aimless, mercenary feel, and lousy scripts to boot. Add in Fox’s track record with other Marvel properties (Daredevil, Ghost Rider, both Fantastic Four movies) and you have a studio that is clearly lost. Please leave this one to returning producer Singer and new director Vaughn. The three Marvel Comics inspired movies they have between them may not be perfect, but they beat just about anything else Fox has made in the last decade.