10 Female X-Men Heroes We Want To See Most In The MCU’s X-Men Reboot

Some of Marvel Comics’ most powerful mutant heroes are women, so these heroes need to be introduced in Marvel Studios’ upcoming X-Men reboot in the MCU. Shortly after Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox was finalized in 2019, Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige teased the appearance of mutants in the MCU. So far, the integration of mutants into the franchise has been slow, with only a handful, including Ms. Marvel’s Kamala Khan and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s Namor, being confirmed. However, this process will soon take huge strides forward, as Marvel Studios is developing an X-Men reboot for the MCU.

Marvel Studios confirmed that the hunt was on for writers for the MCU’s X-Men project in September 2023 (via Deadline), implying it won’t be too long before the X-Men team is reinvented for the MCU. More recently, Marvel Studios X-Men has been rumored to be focusing on lesser-used mutant heroes and on the X-Men’s powerful female members (via X). 20th Century Fox’s X-Men franchise focused primarily on Wolverine, Professor X and Magneto, so it would be great to see other heroes take center-stage, and there are many formidable female X-Men members in Marvel Comics who could lead the new franchise.

10 Jubilee Never Got The Attention She Deserved In Fox’s X-Men Franchise

Jubilee Made Several Minor Appearances In Fox’s X-Men Franchise

Jubilee is one of Marvel Comics’ most iconic X-Men members, but she has been underused in her live-action adaptations, making a true appearance in the MCU’s X-Men reboot paramount. Jubilee was portrayed by Katrina Florece, Kea Wong and Lana Condor at various points in Fox’s X-Men franchise, but she never once used her pyrotechnic energy abilities in live-action. Jubilee fought with the X-Men before founding the young mutant team Generation X, so her debut in the MCU could set up years of mutant stories.

X-Men ’97 Proves Jubilee Can Be Better In The MCU

While Jubilee was wasted time and again in Fox’s X-Men franchise, her appearances in animation have proven how brilliant she can be. X-Men: The Animated Series used Jubilee as the audience’s eyes and ears when being introduced to the X-Men, and X-Men ’97 has continued to give Jubilee substance. This should be the benchmark for Jubilee’s MCU debut, making her central to Marvel Studios’ X-Men team.

9 Illyana Rasputina’s Magik Deserves Another Shot After The New Mutants’ Failure

Magik Debuted In Fox’s Worst X-Men Movie

Despite being a fan-favorite character in Marvel Comics’ mutant-centric storylines, Illyana Rasputina’s Magik didn’t make her live-action debut until 2020’s The New Mutants. Anya Taylor-Joy did a good job at embodying the character, but the impact of this debut was overshadowed by the negative response to The New Mutants, meaning Magik didn’t get the attention she deserved. With her connection to Limbo and various mutant abilities, Magik would be a very exciting hero to debut in the MCU.

Magik Might Already Have A Connection To An Upcoming MCU Project

Magik’s family history wasn’t explored fully in Fox’s X-Men franchise, but it’s possible this could be better established in the MCU. In fact, Magik’s older brother, Piotr Rasputin’s Colossus, will make his MCU debut in 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine, portrayed by Stefan Kapičić, so Marvel Studios could also introduce Magik into the MCU’s Phase 5. Many hope Anya Taylor-Joy reprises the role in the MCU, though this hasn’t been confirmed.

Betsy Braddock Is The Sister Of Brian Braddock, A.K.A. Captain Britain

Psylocke received two adaptations in Fox’s X-Men franchise, first played by Meiling Melançon in X-Men: The Last Stand, and later by Olivia Munn in X-Men: Apocalypse, but neither delved deep enough into her character. Betsy Braddock has a rich history in Marvel Comics as the twin sister to Brian Braddock, the man who became Captain Britain. Betsy herself would also assume this title, but is better known as the powerful mutant Psylocke, a formidable member of the X-Men team.

Psylocke & Captain Britain Would Be Perfect For The MCU’s Multiverse Saga

Captain Britain has been heavily rumored to be debuting in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga due to his work with the multiversal Captain Britain Corps in Marvel Comics. This could see Betsy Braddock introduced alongside him, perhaps bringing the first official member of the X-Men into the MCU. Psylocke has been depicted as an antagonist in her previous live-action portrayals, but Marvel Studios could make this vibrant character a bona fide hero.

7 Polaris Was Wasted In Fox’s The Gifted Series

Polaris Deserves More Attention In The MCU

Lorna Dane’s Polaris was never featured in Fox’s X-Men feature films, but was portrayed by Emma Dumont in the alternate timeline of Fox’s The Gifted series. Unfortunately, The Gifted didn’t give Polaris the popularity boost she deserved, as she perhaps would have been better off in Fox’s live-action feature films. Her magnetic abilities would give the MCU’s X-Men the perfect defense against the legendary Marvel Comics villain Magneto, and Dane’s connection to the supervillain would be brilliant to explore.

Polaris Has A Connection To A Legendary X-Men Villain

While the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver were retconned to not be Magneto’s mutant children, there’s no doubt that Polaris is. Magneto’s family was never truly explored in Fox’s X-Men franchise, so this provides Marvel Studios with the perfect opportunity to distance the MCU’s X-Men from their previous portrayal. Polaris’ debut would also add layers of conflict and complexity to the X-Men reboot’s storyline, making the project more realistic, believable and impactful.

6 Kitty Pryde’s Shadowcat Could Build Connections To Other MCU Heroes

Kitty Pryde Has Been Given A Larger Role In Marvel Comics In Recent Years

Kitty Pryde had a larger role than most young mutants in Fox’s X-Men franchise, but she has been the focus of many major storylines in Marvel Comics that Fox didn’t even begin to scratch the surface of. In recent years, during Marvel Comics’ stories centered on the development of the mutant nation of Krakoa, Kitty Pryde became the Red Queen of the Hellfire Trading Company, and also became the leader of the Marauders, helping more mutants get to Krakoa safely. Kitty Pryde has a rich history in Marvel Comics that deserves to be detailed in the MCU.

Kitty Pryde’s Debut Could Explain Peter Quill’s MCU Future

While depicted as a side character in Fox’s X-Men franchise, Kitty Pryde has been shown to be a leading hero in Marvel Comics. Not only has she worked with the X-Men, been a member of Excalibur, and led a new team of Marauders, but Kitty Pryde also embarked on adventures with the Guardians of the Galaxy during her relationship with Peter Quill’s Star-Lord. Chris Pratt’s future as Star-Lord in the MCU is uncertain, but introducing him to Kitty Pryde could be the perfect next step in his MCU career.

5 Hope Summers Can Set Up Some Huge Storylines For The MCU’s Future

Hope Summers Is Cable’s Daughter From The Future In Marvel Comics

Hope Summers fits the rumored brief of both powerful female superhero and hero who hasn’t had a proper live-action adaptation. Hope Summers was the first mutant born after the devastating House of X and Decimation events in Marvel Comics, which saw hundreds of mutants have their abilities removed by the Scarlet Witch. The adoptive daughter of Cable, Hope Summers’ power manipulation abilities make her incredibly powerful, so her potential debut in the MCU’s X-Men reboot would create some truly cinematic moments.

Marvel Studios Can Adapt Phoenix’s Storylines Better With Hope Summers

Fox tried to adapt Marvel Comics’ iconic Dark Phoenix Saga into live-action twice, but both were poorly-received. While it would make sense for Marvel Studios to avoid adapting this story again, the Phoenix Force can still be introduced, as it also came for Hope Summers in Marvel Comics. This led to the epic Avengers vs. X-Men crossover event in 2012, which would be great to see in the MCU.

4 X-Men ’97 Proves Rogue Needs A Comic-Accurate Live-Action Adaptation

Rogue Was Sidelined Completely In Fox’s X-Men Franchise

Anna Paquin portrayed Rogue in Fox’s X-Men franchise, but delivered a very unfaithful adaptation of the character compared to Rogue in Marvel Comics. Rogue’s power was seriously limited in her previous live-action adventures, making her a practically pointless addition to the X-Men team, but Marvel Studios can change this. Rogue is one of Marvel Comics’ most powerful female heroes, and she has a rich and complex backstory that would be brilliant to see unfold in the MCU, especially because of her connections to other characters.

How Rogue Can Be Different In The MCU

In Fox’s X-Men franchise, Rogue didn’t show any signs of having nefarious intentions. However, Rogue began her Marvel Comics journey as a member of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants after being adopted by the villainous shape-shifter Mystique. Rogue’s relationships with Mystique, Nightcrawler, Gambit and Carol Danvers have never been explored in live-action, so Marvel Studios’ X-Men reboot can give this powerful villain-turned-hero some much-needed attention.

3 Emma Frost Is One Of Marvel Comics’ Most Powerful Characters

Emma Frost Was Poorly Depicted Twice In Fox’s X-Men Franchise

For some reason, Emma Frost appeared to be one of the hardest characters to get right in Fox’s X-Men franchise, as both Tahnya Tozzi and January Jones’ portrayals of the iconic femme fatale failed to capture her true essence. Over the years, Emma Frost evolved from a powerful supervillain into one of the X-Men’s most crucial members. With telepathic powers rivaling those of Professor X, the beautiful ability to transform her body into diamond, and a keen eye for the latest fashion, Emma Frost is a must for the MCU.

Emma Frost Should Be Central To The X-Men Team In The MCU

Emma Frost was initially the White Queen of the villainous Hellfire Club. However, after the Genoshan massacre in 2001’s E is for Extinction, Frost joined the X-Men, took up a teaching position at Xavier’s School, and began a relationship with Scott Summers’ Cyclops. Frost soon became one of the X-Men’s most formidable leaders, making her inclusion in the MCU paramount.

Jean Grey Was One Of Marvel Comics’ Original X-Men Members

Despite being a main character in Fox’s X-Men franchise, Jean Grey has never been done justice in live-action. Jean Grey was introduced to Marvel Comics as Marvel Girl, an original member of the X-Men. She was later revealed to be an Omega-Level mutant, and became more powerful after bonding with the cosmic Phoenix Force. Jean Grey was killed off repeatedly in Fox’s X-Men franchise, but continues to be a powerful fixture in Marvel Comics’ stories, so deserves more in the MCU.

Marvel Studios May Avoid Adapting Jean Grey’s Biggest Story

The Dark Phoenix Saga saw Jean Grey bond with the Phoenix Force and transform into the evil Dark Phoenix. The complex storyline inspired X-Men: The Last Stand and Dark Phoenix, but both failed to adapt the massive event faithfully. Bad blood between audiences and these adaptations perhaps means Marvel Studios will avoid adapting it again, though it would be great to see it unfold properly in the MCU’s future.

1 Fox’s X-Men Franchise Failed Storm Twice

Storm Is One Of Marvel Comics’ Most Formidable Superheroes

Ororo Munroe’s Storm was also sidelined in Fox’s X-Men franchise, despite being one of Marvel Comics’ most powerful superheroes. Storm was the first major female character of African descent in any American comic, marking an incredible milestone that made her deserving of more respect in live-action. Marvel Studios would benefit massively from giving Storm more substance in the MCU, as she has become one of the most recognizable and beloved superheroes of all time.

Storm’s Backstory Was Completely Wasted In Fox’s X-Men Franchise

Storm’s backstory was teased in X-Men: Apocalypse, but Marvel Studios needs to give it more attention. Born to a Kenyan Princess and American photographer, Storm’s early life would be fantastic to see in the MCU’s X-Men. This could also tie her into Marvel Studios’ Black Panther franchise, as Storm eventually married T’Challa, though she also operated in the Avengers and Fantastic Four teams, so Storm could play a major role in the future of the MCU.