Avengers: Doomsdayis introducing several Fox X-Men characters to theMCU, and it’s a perfect opportunity to redeem two mutants in the same style asDeadpool & Wolverine. The cast forDoomsdayfeatures plenty of familiar faces, such as Sebastian Stan, Chris Hemsworth, and Paul Rudd. However, it also includes plenty of surprises, especially from the Fox X-Men universe. Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Kelsey Grammer, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, and James Marsden are all returning to Marvel, presumably assuming the roles of their respective X-Men characters.
This isn’t the first time Fox characters have appeared in the MCU.Stewart returned as Professor XinDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, andDeadpool & Wolverinebrought back several Fox characters, including Jennifer Garner’s Elektra, Wesley Snipes' Blade, Dafne Keen’s X-23, andChris Evans' Human Torch. WhileDeadpool & Wolverine’s returning heroes could have been cheap fanfare, the film managed to give them great arcs, redeeming how their stories previously ended.Avengers: Doomsdaycan do the same thing with two X-Men characters who deserve closure and better endings.
Deadpool & Wolverine Was All About Redemption And Closure
Deadpool 3 redeemed several characters from the Fox universe.
Redemption and legacy are two of the main themes inDeadpool & Wolverine. Deadpool wants to prove himself as a hero by saving the world, leading to his interview with Happy Hogan to become an Avenger. However, he finds his purpose when he has to save the Fox universe from the TVA. Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine is still dead, but the film introduces a new variant of Wolverine who made a mistake in his world that led to the X-Men’s death. He doesn’t believe he’s a hero, but is worthy of the Wolverine name through his heroic actions in the film’s climax.
The same themes are present in Blade, Elektra, andChanning Tatum’s Gambit. Snipes' final appearance as Blade inBlade: Trinitywas a huge miss, and Garner’s Elektra was killed in 2003’sDaredeviland starred in an underperforming solo film. Tatum’s Gambit never happened after his solo movie was scrapped, makingDeadpool & Wolverinehis cinematic debut.All three of these characters had moments to shine in a fight against Cassandra Nova’s henchmenand restored their legacies after their unsatisfying or non-existent endings.
James Marsden’s Cyclops & Rebecca Romijn’s Mystique Deserve Better Endings Than X-Men: The Last Stand
Marsden and Romijn didn’t get the closure that their characters deserve.
X-Men: The Last Standwasn’t the best ending to the original X-Men trilogy. It made many misguided decisions with certain characters, including killing several mutants, including Cyclops, Professor X, and Jean Grey, and was laterretconned byX-Men: Days of Future Past, restoring the timeline soThe Last Standnever happened. However,The Last Standstill exists and was the final appearance of several mutants, not including their cameos inDays of Future Past. Jean Grey killed Marsden’s Cyclops offscreen, and Romijn’s Mystique betrayed Magneto after her powers were removed.
After Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday Cast Reveal, Here’s 10 Missing X-Men Actors We Hope To See Join The MCU Movie
Marvel Studios has already confirmed several X-Men cast members returning in Avengers: Doomsday, but there are more that we want to see in the MCU.
While Marsden’s Cyclops was often sidelined in favor of Wolverine and Professor X, Cyclops was still the X-Men’s leader.He didn’t deserve to get unceremoniously killed off by Jean, especially offscreen. Meanwhile, Mystique was an awesome shapeshifter, and taking away her powers was an underwhelming way of completing her arc. While McKellen’s Magneto does ditch her once she becomes human, it was out of character for her to betray Magneto and the other mutants by revealing the location of their base. Hopefully,Avengers: Doomsdaycan do for them whatDeadpool & Wolverinedid for Blade, Elektra, and Gambit.
I Hope Marvel Is Bringing Back More Of Fox’s X-Men For Avengers: Doomsday Or Secret Wars
Several X-Men characters are missing from the cast.
The Fox X-Men characters returning forAvengers: Doomsdayare Professor X, Magneto, Beast, Nightcrawler, Mystique, and Cyclops. However, several notable X-Men cast members are missing, includingHalle Berry’s Storm, Famke Janssen’s Jean Grey, Anna Paquin’s Rogue, and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. Wolverine did return recently inDeadpool & Wolverine, but could end up being saved forSecret Wars. Still, other Fox X-Men deserve to return inDoomsday, and I hope Marvel plans to bring the full team back.
Berry’s Storm returned inDays of Future Past, but Rogue and Jean Grey only had small cameos in that film, meaning their final significant roles were inThe Last Stand. Like Cyclops and Mystique,Rogue and Jean don’t have the best endings. Rogue voluntarily gives up her powers, arguably sabotaging her character arc, and Wolverine kills Jean after she loses control of the Dark Phoenix. IfAvengers: Doomsdayis bringing back Fox’s X-Men, it should fully commit and bring back everyone, delivering the ultimate X-Men sequence that audiences want to see.
