Logan Director Explains How The Film’s Cheesiest Easter Egg Happened

There are few things which go together better than movies and a hearty meal. For some, picking up take-out food and a Tarantino marathon is the key to a happy night. But, for others, it looks like Logan and Taco Bell works like a charm. When the gritty superhero flick debuted earlier this year, fans found themselves craving the fast-food joint thanks to the funny nods which Professor Xavier gives to the chain. Now, the director of Logan is explaining just why the telepath was so obsessed with quesalupas, and the answer isn’t what you’re expecting.

Recently, James Mangold sat down with The Huffington Post to promote the release of Logan‘s Blu-ray and DVD. It was there the site asked Professor Xavier spouted off nonsense about the Taco Bell delicacy when the film was set during a time when the chain has surely nixed the promotion.

Apparently, the dialogue came out of a moment of creative desperation.

“The funny story of why that dialogue’s in there is, I was actually offered a Taco Bell commercial while we were in prep,” Mangold confessed, spill the (refried) bean to the site.

“And while I was writing the scene, I was looking for Charles to say things — random things — that indicate that he’d been watching TV too much, and I literally had this Taco Bell commercial script on my desk for the new quesalupa from Taco Bell, and in my desperation to get pages done, I just took it and plugged it right in.”

Clearly, the cheesy pop culture nod did its job as fans took note of the quesalupa nod. Mangold went on to confirm Professor Xavier’s dialogue was ripped from a Taco Bell commercial script, but the director was not sure if it ever made it to TV.

So, if you were one of the many who had hoped Professor Xavier was a Taco Bell fiend, then you may be disappointed. When it comes down to it, the quirky rambling was simply the product of Mangold’s creative urge to get the script for Logan done. Still, that doesn’t mean the mutant can’t enjoy a burrito or two. To be honest, the refined professor seems like a nacho kind of guy…

MORE: Logan Director Shares His Idea For An X-23 Movie / Logan: Hugh Jackman Was Originally Hesitant To Play X-24 / Logan Director Has Spoken To Fox About X-23’s Return

In 2029, the mutant population has shrunk significantly and the X-Men have disbanded. Logan, whose power to self-heal is dwindling, has surrendered himself to alcohol and now earns a living as a chauffeur. He takes care of the ailing old Professor X whom he keeps hidden away. One day, a female stranger asks Logan to drive a girl named Laura to the Canadian border. At first he refuses, but the Professor has been waiting for a long time for her to appear. Laura possesses an extraordinary fighting prowess and is in many ways like Wolverine.

She is pursued by sinister figures working for a powerful corporation; this is because her DNA contains the secret that connects her to Logan. A relentless pursuit begins … In this third cinematic outing featuring the Marvel comic book character Wolverine we see the superheroes beset by everyday problems. They are ageing, ailing and struggling to survive financially. A decrepit Logan is forced to ask himself if he can or even wants to put his remaining powers to good use. It would appear that in the near-future, the times in which they were able put the world to rights with razor sharp claws and telepathic powers are now over.

Logan stars Hugh Jackman (Logan), Boyd Holbrook (Donald Pierce), Patrick Stewart (Charles Xavier), Dafne Keen (Laura Kinney/X-23), Stephen Merchant (Caliban), Elizabeth Rodriguez (Gabriela), and Richard E. Grant (Dr. Zander Rice).

James Mangold (The Wolverine) directed, based on a screenplay he co-wrote with screenwriters Scott Frank and Michael Green.

Logan is coming to Blu-ray and DVD on May 23.