Just a few weeks ago, X-Men: First Class director Matthew Vaughn was set to direct its sequel, X-Men: Days Of Future Past. Then, somewhat surprisingly, he dropped out, to be replaced by X-Men and X-2 director Bryan Singer.

When we spoke to Mark Millar, Fox's newly-appointed Chief Creative Consultant for their Marvel properties, for the Empire Podcast, the news of Vaughn's departure had not yet landed. Intrigued – to say the least – by the unexpected news, we picked up the blower and spoke to Mr. Millar once again about what had happened.

In the latest issue of Empire – out tomorrow, Thursday November 28 – you can read that very interview, but just as a teaser, here are a couple of choice titbits from it for you online folk.

Empire: Matthew Vaughn recently left X-Men: Days Of Future Past, to be replaced by Bryan Singer. What happened there?

"We had two high-end projects at the same time. We had the most ambitious X-Men yet, but at the same time we had The Secret Service (an adaptation of Millar's comic book, which Vaughn will direct), which we came up with ourselves, and some copycat projects were starting to get off the ground. If we didn't do it now, it would probably never get done. Matthew had a really difficult choice, and he had a lot of great ideas for X-Men, but Bryan's back in the fold, and he's brilliant."

Empire: Were you worried about a potential conflict of interest?

"In my Fox job, I wanted X-Men to go ahead, and in my Millarworld capacity, I hoped Matthew would do Secret Service. A win-win situation."

These details come as a storm of rumour, counter-rumour, double-speak and general internet message board waffle storms about the web saying that Matthew Vaughn is going to direct Star Wars Episode VII, so, um, that's something to bear in mind in the furthest corner of your brain.

For more from Mark Millar, have a listen to the podcast and be sure to pick up the latest issue of Empire tomorrow, November 28.