'X3' characters kept back for 'Wolverine'

The man behind the script for X-Men: The Last Stand has reassured fans whose favourite characters were missed out of the movie, revealing that some were saved for the new film that centres around Wolverine.

Screenwriter Simon Kinberg told iFMagazine.com: "We did talk about a couple of characters that they wanted to save for the Wolverine movie spin-off."

The film-makers agreed that it was better to save certain figures for more prominent roles in the spin-off, rather than wasting the impact of new characters in cameo roles in the third X-Men film.

"There was really only one we wanted to use for X3, and they said they're not going to have a big enough part to risk losing them for Wolverine," Kinberg added.

He also let slip that the character of Sabretooth will make an appearance in the spin-off, commenting that "[Sabretooth's] relationship with Wolverine is under explored".

Wolverine sees the return of Hugh Jackman to the role of the famous mutant, but also a new role as producer.