Once theX-Men franchise integrates into theMarvel Cinematic Universe, these mutants have to be at the top of the list for adaptation on screen. The MCU has the opportunity to offer the definitive movie depiction of mutantkind, and so choosing itsX-stars is a critical, make-or-break process that fans are eager to share their input on.
Most Marvel fans expect variants of all the classicX-Mento join the MCU, from Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Iceman, to Wolverine and Nightcrawler, who is already confirmed forAvengers: Doomsday.
Still, the MCU should also introduce some new mutants to the fold, and this list focuses on the names that come up often when readers fantasy cast the films.
Glob Herman (Robert Herman)
Physical Mutations Need MCU Representation Too
This list mostly covers heavy-hitters and rising stars, but Glob Herman represents another group of X-Men who deserve at least some screen time: the niche, deep-cut, fan-favorite characters. Since his debut in 2001, Glob has steadily made a name for himself in X-lore, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe could extend his unexpected appeal to an even wider audience.
Glob also stands in for the X-Men characters who have radical physical mutations. The MCU has the chance to put a definitive step on Marvel’s live-action depiction of mutants, and it would be an oversight not to include some of the more “out there” and visually evocative character designs, which Glob’s translucent pink “skin” and exposed skeleton certainly qualify as.
Rachel Summers
A Powerful Phoenix Alternative
Most fans expect Jean Grey’s Phoenix arc to once again be adapted into the MCU, but for better or worse, audiences already witnessed this character transformation in both prior cinematic incarnations of X-Men. However, there are alternative Phoenix candidates Marvel could explore if it wanted to go a more ambitious route, most notably Jean and Scott Summers’ time-displaced daughter Rachel.
Rachel is a highly-regarded character in X-Men canon. She’s also among the franchise’s handful of openly queer characters. Rachel’s inclusion would show that the MCU isn’t afraid to take on the challenge of adapting the X-franchise’s more complex mythology. At the same time, it would free Jean Grey from the burden of having to play the same role yet again.
Storm (Ororo Munroe)
A Classic Cinematic Mutant Who Is Owed An Upgrade
Halle Berry’s Storm is iconic in her own right, and she was instrumental in making the early X-Men films as successful as they were. That said, Berry’s Storm faced budgetary and technological restraints that meant the full scope of her powers was only really glimpsed in later sequels, notably Days of Future Past.
Now, the MCU has an opportunity to deliver a truly uninhibited Ororo Munroe. Storm is a longtime X-Men fan-favorite, but she has also started to gain crossover appeal, especially with her latest tenure as an Avenger. Many fans would agree that Storm should do more than just show up in the MCU: she should be the centerpiece of the new X-Men.
Dazzler (Allison Blaire)
The X-Franchise’s Resident Superhero Superstar
In addition to being a powerful mutant, Dazzler is also one of the Marvel Universe’s top pop stars. This unique character dynamic has made her a perennial fan-favorite for nearly fifty years, and it is why people are eager for her to debut in the MCU. Notably, rumors of a Dazzler movie stretch back all the way to her early 1980s origin.
So, in a way, an MCU Dazzler appearance would be the culmination of a crossover star Marvel has tried to cultivate for decades. Even if her role starts as a cameo and expands later, Dazzler brings a unique energy, literally, that the next era of X-Men movies should strive to capture.
Hellion (Julian Keller)
The MCU Shouldn’t Totally Neglect New Mutants For Classic Heroes
Introduced in 2003 as one of Marvel’s new cadre of New Mutants at the time, Julian Keller has been touted as a successor to characters ranging from Professor X to Magneto over the years, but has never quite ascended to that next level in terms of central importance to the franchise.
Still, he is a younger mutant character with a high ceiling of potential, both in terms of power, and potential mainstream popularity. Hellion is a prime example of a Marvel mutant whose heroic profile could be elevated by an MCU role, even as a supporting character. In turn, that might breathe new life into his comic counterpart.
Polaris (Lorna Dane)
A Beloved Second-Generation Mutant Who Deserves The Spotlight
Polaris is the daughter of Magneto, with powers and a costume that parallel the Master of Magnetism’s. Lorna is a popular character by X-fan standards, but a long overdue cinematic appearance would push her to the next level. With her connection to Magneto, Polaris has a built in dramatic arc that could anchor an MCU film in its own right.
In X-canon, Polaris has been through her share of ups and downs, and the MCU’s filmmakers could draw on several different eras of her history, depending on what portrayal of the character they settled on. She is also a former lover of Cyclops’ brother Havok, giving her an iconic, though troubled, romantic angle the films could explore as well.
M (Monet St. Croix)
Everything An MCU Hero Needs To Succeed And Then Some
For starters, Monet boasts a genius-level Marvel intellect. She can also fly, possesses superstrength, and she’s a formidable telepath to boot. In other words, she’s the “complete package,” when it comes to casting MCU mutants. She is a beautiful woman, but also harbors a terrifying body horror secret: her “Penance” alter-ego.
All this, plus her caustic, at times anti-heroic attitude make her a no-brainer for the MCU as it integrates mutants into its on-screen canon. Monet is another hero who has an enduring legacy amongX-Menfans, but who could define herself as a mainstream icon with a memorable turn in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Forge
A Mutant Genius With Shades Of Tony Stark
Forge is essentially the X-franchise’s Iron Man. Forge has a fascinating mutant ability, which gives him a near-unparalleled mastery over technology and technological innovation. In other words, his mutant is that he is one of Marvel’s most brilliant creators. For a film franchise still badly in need of an heir to Tony Stark, Forge could unexpectedly fill that role perfectly.
Forge has already established some familiarity with audiences beyond comic fans; anyone who has watched an X-Men cartoon in the last thirty years should know him by look, if not by name. A live-action version would be an extension of that, with the massive budget of the MCU giving Forge a chance to showcase his abilities like never before.
Magik (Illyana Rasputin)
A Magical Mutant Who Has Earned Her Chance To Be An MCU Star
Magik is another beloved X-Men character who is tailor-made for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She is a young, powerful hero, one with ties to the already-well-established magical side of the MCU. She is also the sister of Colossus, who gained a new generation of fans with his role in the Deadpool movies.
Most importantly, though, Magik is an absolute badass. She is one of the X-franchise’s most fun characters right now, as she enjoys a moment in the spotlight after decades of being sidelined. The next step in her ascent to dominant X-hero status would be to carve out an integral role for herself in X-Men’s MCU era.
Kid Omega (Quentin Quire)
A Complex Mutant Hero With High Dramatic Potential
Kid Omega is another “rising star” whose X-Men franchise history is particularly ripe for use as MCU source material. The character started out as a student at Xavier’s Institute, but quickly broke bad. He became an antagonist for the X-Men, though never quite a full-on villain, and eventually, his powerful psychic abilities led him to ascend and depart from physical reality entirely.
Once he came back, he undertook a redemption arc that turned him into a reliable member of the X-Men. Still, his capacity to go dark remains, and this complex history is something the Marvel Cinematic Universe could play with, while positioning him as a defining member of the X-Men’s next generation of on-screen characters.
- Movie(s)
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X-Men (2000), X2, X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), X-Men: First Class (2011), The Wolverine (2013), X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Deadpool (2016), X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), Logan (2017), Deadpool 2 (2018), Dark Phoenix (2019), The New Mutants, Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
- First Film
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X-Men (2000)
- TV Show(s)
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X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men, X-Men (1992), X-Men: Evolution (2000), Wolverine and the X-Men (2008), Marvel Anime: Wolverine, Marvel Anime: X-Men, Legion (2017), The Gifted (2017), X-Men ’97 (2024)
- Video Game(s)
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X-Men: Children of the Atom (1994), Marvel Super Heroes (1995), X-Men vs. Street Fighter (1996), Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter (1997), Marvel vs. Capcom (1998), X-Men: Mutant Academy (2000), Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (2000), X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 (2001), X-Men: Next Dimension (2002), Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (2011), Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (2011), X-Men Legends (2005), X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse (2005), X2: Wolverine’s Revenge (2003), X-Men (1993), X-Men 2: Clone Wars (1995), X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse (1994)
- Character(s)
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Professor X, Cyclops, Iceman, Beast, Angel, Phoenix, Wolverine, Gambit, Rogue, Storm, Jubilee, Morph, Nightcrawler, Havok, Banshee, Colossus, Magneto, Psylocke, Juggernaut, Cable, X-23
- Comic Release Date
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213035,212968
