Simon Kinberg has been hired by Fox to pen the highly anticipated X-Men: First Class sequel.

The writer has been involved with a wide range of action films, scripting XXX: State of the Union, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and the original Sherlock Holmes. He also is involved with upcoming high profile pictures This Means War and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.

The X-Men: First Class Sequel is still in early development, but Matthew Vaughn is expected to direct the project and the original cast of James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Rose Byrne, January Jones and Jennifer Lawrence are expected to return.

We'll bring you more details as they unfold.