According to CBR.com, 20th Century Fox has dubbed the day “X-Men Day” as a way to commemorate the X-Men characters being on the big screen for nearly 20 years. The day involves the debut of exclusive X-Men content, special events and advance ticket sales for the upcoming X-Men flick Dark Phoenix.
Stars from the X-Men franchise have already tweeted out their celebration of X-Men Day, including Hugh Jackman who called his role as Wolverine the “role of a lifetime.”
Ryan Reynolds, who stars as Deadpool, also tweeted out his excitement, writing, “Happy #XMenDay. Since the moment I first put on the suit, it’s been the greatest gig of my life. Even ‘Practice Deadpool’ in 2009.”
It’s no surprise Jackman and Reynolds have a strong allegiance to the franchise, considering they both have solo movies in the X-world, some of which have received critical acclaim. With the Dark Phoenix once again getting her shine on June 7, I thought this would be a good time to bring up other X-Men characters that would kill (or save) in their own solo movie.
Hit the flip for the mutants that should get that extra attention and let us know if you’d save up your coins for their release date!
Mystique
Most people can agree, Mystique is one of the most bada$$ characters not just in the X-Men world, but in the comic book world in general. Along with being an amazing hand-to-hand combat fighter, Mystique’s natural blue appearance groups her with the mutants who are visibly marked by their mutations. This creates room for some great stories about who suffers the most outside and within the mutant world.
Luckily, the face-changing character has gotten a lot of screen time over the years, but Mystique’s own action-spy-drama-thriller could put a new twist on an already compelling character.
Rogue
Source: Anne Cusack / Getty
Out of all the X-Men, Rogue probably has the worst-greatest power of all time. Sure it’s useful to be able to absorb any mutant’s power you want. But prolonged skin contact could result in unconsciousness or even death. Her romantic life is a movie in itself!
Part of Rogue’s dilemma was already covered in the first three X-Men movies, but a more adult-centered Rogue movie could bring up great themes about love, sex, and the attributes we wish we could swap with someone else.
Nightcrawler
Aside from his EPIC opening sequence in X2: X-MenUnited and some heroic moments in X-Men: Apocalypse, Nightcrawler tends to get relegated to the background when it comes to onscreen mutant sagas. The fact that he’s Mystique’s son in the comics is constantly evaded onscreen and his past life as a circus member could also use some dramatic shine.
Since his powers aren’t that epic, Nightcrawler doesn’t require an epic movie. Just a personal comic-of-age story with some amazing action sequences could do the trick.
Gambit should get his own movie for one simple reasons.
He’s so cool.
Not only can he touch things and make them explode, but he can also wipe the floor with mutant-haters using his cane-stick-combat thingy. And for the fighter game generation, don’t act like Gambit wasn’t one of your favorite characters to play on Marvel vs. Capcom. Add in that New Orleans charm and a romantic relationship with Rogue that’s yet to be translated to screen, and you’ve got a leading man that can bring in box office numbers. Hollywood’s already been trying for years to get this man to the big screen. So what’s the hold up?
Storm
Another mutant who should obviously get her own movie.
Born to a tribal princess of Kenya and an American photojournalist father, Storm can already bring in good storylines surrounding her African/Black American upbringing. The fact that she can control the weather in these intense times of climate change also adds to her relevancy as a Black woman who must understand the depths of her power.
Jubilee
Lastly, another X-Men who’s criminally overlooked.
In the comics, Jubilee is the daughter of affluent Chinese American parents who were killed by a hitman. She later spends time in an orphanage and in the streets, carrying out petty crimes to survive before she’s discovered by members of the X-Men. What follows is a sort of close relationship with Wolverine and her eventual adventures with the X-Men.
That’s the movie plot right there!
Mix in some “chosen family” drama and some creative ways to execute her explosive powers and once again, you’ve got a solo star ready for her debut.
