Summary
My dream version of Marvel Studios' first mutant superhero team in the upcomingX-Menreboot doesn’t feature Wolverine, and for very good reason. Since Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox was finalized in 2019, several mutant characters from Marvel Comics have debuted in theMCU, but these have been variants of notable mutants, or returning characters from Fox’sX-Menfranchise. The prospect of theMCU’s official X-Men teammaking its debut has me very excited, but only as long as Marvel Studios gets the team’s first line-up right.
The X-Men team have gone through several incarnations in both Marvel Comics and Fox’s live-action franchise. In the latter, theoriginal team of 2000’sX-Mencomprised Professor X, Wolverine, Cyclops, Jean Grey and Storm, while the likes of Rogue, Iceman, Colossus and Kitty Pryde joined later, only to be completely revised followingX-Men: First Class. However,the original line-up of X-Men from Marvel Comics has never been adapted into live-action, but I think this would make the perfect roster for theX-Men’s debut in the MCU.
12 Most Important X-Men For The MCU To Introduce, Ranked
The MCU’s X-Men are coming, and Marvel Studios could introduce any of the mutant characters from Marvel Comics, but some are more crucial than others.
Marvel’s Original X-Men Line-Up Was A Very Strong Version Of The Team
Marvel Comics' X-Men Team First Appeared In 1963’s The X-Men #1
There has been some discussion about which mutants should be included in the first version of the MCU’s X-Men team. There are many powerful and exciting mutants in Marvel Comics to choose from, butI am of the opinion that Marvel Studios should keep the team’s first roster simple, introducing only six mutants - those who comprised the original X-Men team from Marvel Comics. This version of the team first appeared in 1963’sThe X-Men #1, kick-starting the team’s long-running feud withMagneto and his Brotherhood of Mutantsin a series of simple yet exhilarating adventures.
Warren Worthington III’s Angel & Archangel
Ben Foster & Ben Hardy
Debuting only this handful of mutants in the MCU’sX-Menreboot would allow Marvel Studios to tell a more personal and intimate storyline. I’d love for this to focus on thekey themes of the X-Menin Marvel Comics: racism, discrimination and the philosophical battle between good and evil. This would also make for a formidable line-up, as each of these heroes are supremely powerful.This roster has become legendary in Marvel Comics, so it would be fantastic for them to have the same level of fame and respect in the live-action MCU.
None Of The Original X-Men Members Got The Development They Deserved In Fox’s X-Men Franchise
20th Century Fox Wasted Some Of Marvel’s Most Powerful & Most Popular X-Men Members
Some may turn their nose up at the prospect of the MCU’s first X-Men team being comprised of only these six heroes - five as Professor X takes a behind the scenes role in Marvel Comics. However,I think this could actually be the best choice for Marvel Studios, since none of these heroes got the development they deserved in 20th Century Fox’sX-Menfranchise.Fox sidelined some of the most significant mutantsin Marvel history in its live-action movies, particularly the likes of Iceman and Angel, who saw very little attention and growth.
10 Great Marvel Characters Failed By X-Men Movies
The X-Men are some of Marvel’s most iconic characters, but their original film franchise failed their heroes and villains in multiple ways.
Even the bigger names, like Cyclops and Jean Grey, were wasted. James Marsden’s Scott Summers was unceremoniously killed off inX-Men: The Last Stand, and was confined to a simple and boring love-triangle storyline beforehand, while both Famke Janssen and Sophie Turner’s Jean Greys were taken out of play in lackluster adaptations of Marvel’sDark Phoenix Saga.Only Professor X and Beast saw any meaningful development, but even these could have been taken further, so I’d love to see Marvel Studios finally do all these characters justice.
Wolverine’s Absence Would Leave Space For New Stories In The MCU’s X-Men Reboot
Hugh Jackman Has Played Wolverine In Ten Live-Action Movies Spanning Over Two Decades
Most crucially, my dream line-up for the MCU’s X-Men team doesn’t include James “Logan” Howlett’s Wolverine. Don’t get me wrong, I love Wolverine as a character, and Hugh Jackman’s long-running portrayal of the clawed mutant has filled me with joy for many years. However, it wasWolverine’s prominence in Fox’sX-Menfranchisethat meant other notable heroes went unnoticed and ignored, soI think it would be a great idea to omit him from the first X-Men team in the MCU, allowing other mutants to get some attention.
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Deadpool & Wolverine
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Wolverine didn’t join the X-Men until 1975’sGiant-Size X-Men #1, after he’d already had dealings with Sabretooth, fought alongside Captain America in World War II, settled and married in Japan, joined Team X, been enhanced with adamantium, and battled the Hulk.I think this rich history deserves to be seen independently of the X-Men, allowing the backstories of other mutants to be explored in greater detail. Hugh Jackman is leaving big shoes to fill, soMarvel Studios shouldn’t rush to recast WolverineforX-Men, and should instead focus on developing a more stripped-back roster of powerful heroes.
Marvel’s X-Men
Marvel’s X-Men is the tentative title for the future debut of the legendary Marvel mutant superhero team in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
