There’s one iconic Marvel romance I want Marvel Studios to feature in the upcomingX-Menreboot in theMCU, and it doesn’t involve Cyclops and Jean Grey. There has recently been huge speculation about the casting of a new X-Men team, and, while I can’t wait to see the classic team back in action inAvengers: Doomsday, I’m very excited to see anew version of the X-Men team in the MCU. Marvel Studios has the opportunity to explore new mutant stories in the MCU, which makes me hopeful that one romance will finally be featured.
Marvel Studios has recently confirmed that severalmembers of the X-Men team from 20th Century Fox’sX-Menfranchisewill be returning inAvengers: Doomsday. This includes James Marsden, whose version ofScott Summers' Cyclops was involved in one of the franchise’s most notable romances, partnering him with Famke Janssen’s Jean Grey. While I reckon Marvel will revive this romance forAvengers: Doomsday, and I can seeCyclops and Jean Greyhaving a key role in the X-Men’s MCU future, I want a very different romance to finally be included in live-action instead.
I’m Bored Of Cyclops & Jean Grey’s Romance After Fox’s X-Men Franchise
Fox Focused Too Much On Cyclops & Jean Grey’s Love Story
James Marsden and Famke Janssen debuted as Scott Summers and Jean Grey in 2000’sX-Men, and they quickly established themselves as one of the foremost romances in Fox’sX-Menfranchise. This continued inX2: X-Men Unitedand came to an end withCyclops' death inX-Men: The Last Stand, but went nowhere and wasn’t developed at all prior toThe Last Stand.The most interesting thing about this romance was the tension that Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine caused, but I even found that this got old remarkably quickly.
Fox’s X-Men Return To The MCU Has Me Excited For The Summers Family Moment I’ve Waited 24 Years For
I’ve waited 24 years, since X-Men first introduced Scott Summers and Jean Grey, for one iconic moment that Marvel Studios could now adapt for the MCU.
Cyclops and Jean Grey’s romantic relationshipin Fox’sX-Menfranchise didn’t see any of the development that the pair’s love story in Marvel Comics did. They were never married, never had kids, never explored the Madelyne Pryor storyline and never really had any difficulties, aside from Wolverine’s intrusion. I have no doubt thatMarvel Studios will handle the relationship between Jean Grey and Cyclops much better, as this is one of Marvel’s most iconic romances, but I can’t help wanting other, underutilized couples to be explored instead.
Fox Never Brought Gambit & Rogue Together On-Screen In Live-Action
I Want To See Gambit & Rogue Team Up In The MCU
One couple that I would much prefer to be spotlighted in the MCU’s newX-Menstories is that of Gambit and Rogue, which was never featured even remotely in Fox’sX-Menfranchise. Anna Paquin portrayed a not-very-comic-accurate version ofRogue in theX-Menfranchise, while Taylor Kitsch played Gambit in his soleX-Menfranchise appearance in 2009’sX-Men Origins: Wolverine.The pair have never met in live-action, and a romance between the differently-aged mutants would have been pretty inappropriate anyway, but I would love for Marvel Studios to change this.
Gambit and Rogue’s romance has been explored in other media, including theanimatedX-Men ‘97revival series, which took a deep dive into their relationship. I have loved seeing this finally brought to the screen, and would be thrilled to get it in live-action, and, frankly, I find the relationship between Gambit and Rogue much more interesting and exciting than that between Cyclops and Jean Grey.I hope Marvel Studios takes the opportunity to finally depict this iconic romance on-screen, and I think we might be one step closer after a major new reveal.
Gambit’s MCU Debut & Return In Avengers: Doomsday Brings His Romance With Rogue 1 Step Closer
Channing Tatum Is Returning As Gambit After Deadpool & Wolverine
After almost two decades of lobbying to play the iconic Cajun mutant, Channing Tatum finally made his live-action debut asRemy LeBeau’s Gambit in 2024’sDeadpool & Wolverine.His depiction of Gambit received huge praise, leading to speculation that he’d return for a solo MCU movie or be featured in Marvel Studios’ upcomingX-Menreboot. While I don’t really think either of these two avenues would work for Channing Tatum’s Gambit, the fact that he’s returning to the MCU in 2026’sAvengers: Doomsdaymakes me hopeful that his and Rogue’s relationship can finally be adapted.
Deadpool & Wolverine(2024)
A number of classicX-Menactors will be joiningChanning Tatum inAvengers: Doomsday, and while Anna Paquin hasn’t yet been confirmed, her return as Rogue would confirm Gambit and Rogue coming together in live-action for the first time ever.Channing Tatum’s Gambit and Anna Paquin’s Rogue seem much more age-appropriate for each other, and, should the latter get a comic-accurate makeover, they would have fantastic energy together.Avengers: Doomsdaymight be the last chance to see Channing Tatum and Anna Paquin’s Marvel characters together, but the MCU could still set up a bright future for Gambit and Rogue.
Gambit & Rogue’s Romance Being Explored In The MCU Will Make Both Better Characters
Gambit & Rogue Have Been Routinely Failed In Live-Action
Marvel Studios is reportedly in the process of casting a new roster of stars for theMCU’s officialX-Menrebootand its related projects, which we’ve heard could include a series exploring Marvel Comics’Academy Xstorylines. Given speculation that Marvel is looking for a younger cast of mutants, I don’t see Tatum and Paquin reprising their roles permanently, since both are in their 40s. This means thatGambit and Rogue will likely be recast for the MCU’s future, which means their romantic relationship can be explored from the very beginning and grow more gradually.
Gambit’s Breakout Deadpool & Wolverine Appearance Makes Me Excited For Another X-Men Cameo In The MCU
Channing Tatum’s comic-accurate portrayal of Gambit in Deadpool & Wolverine suggests another mutant can have a similar MCU appearance soon.
Given the care and attention thatMarvel Studios has shown members of the X-MeninDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, The MarvelsandDeadpool & Wolverine, I’m hopeful that Gambit and Rogue will also get a comic-accurate makeover.20th Century Fox failed Gambit and Rogue repeatedly, but exploring their romance provides the perfect opportunity to make both more central to the development of the X-Men. This would also make them both more empathetic, humanized and lovable heroes, which would seriously benefit the upcomingX-Menreboot and the MCU generally.
