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How will Bryan Singer’s legal troubles affect ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’?

The much-hyped “X-Men: Days of Future Past” heads into theatres on May 23, but some very serious legal trouble for the film’s director now threatens to overshadow the all-star mutant extravaganza. The Wrap reports that “X-Men” filmmaker Bryan Singer is being sued in a Hawaii court for allegedly drugging, raping, and using his power to exploit a 17-year-old boy in back in 1999.

According to court documents, Singer is alleged to have “manipulated his power, wealth, and position in the entertainment industry to sexually abuse and exploit the underage Plaintiff through the use of drugs, alcohol, threats, and inducements which resulted in Plaintiff suffering catastrophic psychological and emotional injuries.”

The allegations are serious, but Singer’s lawyers have categorically denied the claims made by the lawsuit.

“We are very confident that Bryan will be vindicated in this absurd and defamatory lawsuit,” Singer’s attorney said. “It is obvious that this case was filed in an attempt to get publicity at the time when Bryan’ s new movie is about to open in a few weeks.”

With "Days of Future Past" just weeks away from release, what do these legal woes mean for the film's potential box office?

At this point, most potential “X-Men” viewers have probably already made up their minds about seeing the movie; the personal issues of the filmmaker are unlikely to change whether a teenager or longtime X-fan goes to see Wolverine, Magneto, and Mystique do what they do best on the big screen. Before the news about Singer broke, industry watchers predicted an impressive performance for "Days of Future Past." The disturbing irony here is that the attention garnered by Singer's legal troubles may actually amplify the profile of "Days of Future Past," to the point where it might even perform better at the box office than it would have otherwise.

However, a minority of potential viewers might be put off by the news that Singer is openly gay, a fact that was never exactly a secret but one that is receiving a lot of attention due to the nature of the lawsuit. Those closed-minded viewers might have missed the memo though: Despite all its mutant powers and superhero set pieces, the “X-Men” franchise is a very clear allegory to the plights of oppressed minorities, particularly the gay community. It’s one of the primary reasons that Singer and series star Sir Ian McKellen took on the project in the first place.

Of course, these shocking claims will almost certainly make the promotional tour for “Days of Future Past” a minefield for the film’s sprawling cast. Questions will be asked about the allegations, but don’t expect Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and company to weigh in one way or another. Twentieth Century Fox is no doubt in full damage control mode at the moment, though the company is unlikely to throw Singer under the bus, as the case is a civil (not criminal) matter.

Other filmmakers, most notably directors Roman Polanski and Woody Allen, have faced allegations of sexual abuse in the past. Polanski pled guilty to charges that he raped an underaged girl and fled the United States, but he still enjoys a successful movie career in Europe (though he remains a divisive figure to this day). Similarly, allegations of child abuse have dogged Allen for years, but he denies the allegations, has never been charged, and continues to be a successful moviemaker.

Singer is a successful and talented filmmaker. It goes without saying that most "X-Men" fans hope that these allegations are untrue.

"X-Men: Days of Future Past" hits theatres on May 23.