[Update] Vinnie Jones on X-MEN 3: Juggernaut had bigger role under original director Matthew Vaughn.

Update: Director Brett Ratner has responded to Vinnie Jones’ comments re: X3. According to him, Jones’ comments are “inaccurate” and explains that he “was not able to expand the role of Juggernaut as per Vinnie’s request due to the extremely limited time I had to deliver the film.” We spoke with Ratner during the 2006 release and it’s widely known the production schedule was one of the most hectic in the X-Men film franchise, after losing two directors. Ratner had very minor involvement in the screenplay when he signed on.

In a new interview with Josh Wilding (via Comic Book Movie), Juggernaut actor Vinnie Jones said he did not enjoy his time working on director Brett Ratner’s X-MEN: THE LAST STAND due to the fact his role was seriously neutered from original director Michael Vaughn’s vision for the character.

“I loved the role, but hopefully you can put it f***ing right here, mate. I basically got mugged off. Matthew Vaughn signed me up, and it was a great role and a great script, and Juggernaut was a great character. I signed up for three of them, and that will show you how serious I was about it. Brett Ratner basically dissolved the character. I was in my fing trailer half the time. It’s one of the most disappointing jobs I’ve been on as far as, you know, ‘What am I doing here?'” “It wasn’t the same Juggernaut as I signed on for. They took his storyline away, they’d taken his character away, his dialogue. I had two big meetings with Brett about it, and he said, ‘Yeah, yeah, it’s coming. They’re writing stuff for you as we speak’ and it never f***ing happened,” Jones continued. “Disappointment wise, that was probably one of the biggest. What’s upsetting is some of the fans blame me! It was f***ing nothing to do with me! That role, I didn’t sign up for. The Juggernaut you saw was not the Juggernaut I signed on for with Matthew Vaughn, I’ll tell you that now. It upset me.” “I know what it means to the fans, and I felt like I was a bit of a scapegoat as no one ever told my side of it. Nobody ever stood up and said, ‘Hold on a minute, we completely whitewashed Vinnie’s character. Basically, I was an extra, mate. That’s how I felt. I was gutted, to be honest.”

If your memory’s a little fuzzy, Matthew Vaughn (Kingsman: The Secret Service) was originally going to direct X3 after Bryan Singer was removed from pre-production after signing to film Superman Returns for Warner Bros. Vaughn eventually left over creative differences, leading to Ratner landing the gig.

Click here to read more from the interview, including why Jones think his role was cut down, and if he’d be interested in reprising Juggernaut in the future.

Source: Josh Wilding via ComicBookMovie.com