''It's going to take place from 1939 Auschwitz up to 1955 or so,'' sayswriter Sheldon Turner of his just-announced ''period'' prequel to Fox'sX-Men franchise. An exploration of villain Magneto's ''psychologicalroots,'' Turner's script will also shed light on the youthful mutant'sfriend-then-nemesis Charles Xavier. Just don't look for Ian McKellen,65, to get his helmet on.—Michelle Kung

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GIFT GUIDE

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