The MCU’s X-Men Reboot Movie Needs to Take Inspiration from This 2000s Comic Run

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The X-Men‘s arrival into the Marvel Cinematic Universe is only a matter of time, and fans are anxiously awaiting the first hints of how their favorite mutant superheroes will be adapted for the popular film franchise. With the previous cinematic adaptations of the X-Men being more often acclaimed by fans and critics than not, the MCU’s version of the team has some big shoes to fill.

Though many of the X-Men’s most iconic stories have already been adapted in previous films, there is so much to mine from other corners of the X-Men universe. Days of Future Past, The Dark Phoenix Saga, and Old Man Logan have all been adapted into various films, and fans are looking for something fresh from this brand-new era of live-action X-Men stories.

Grant Morrison’s New X-Men Should Be The Blueprint

The Iconic 2000s X-Men Revamp Is The Perfect Foundation For The MCU’s Mutants

To avoid rehashing character origins and previously adapted material, the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s X-Men films would benefit immensely from drawing inspiration from Grant Morrison’s New X-Men run. Featuring a powerhouse lineup that included Jean Grey, Cyclops, Wolverine, Beast, and Emma Frost, New X-Men modernized the X-Men and left a lasting impact on comics as a whole. The book brought mature, weighty ideas back to the world of mutantkind after the X-books of the 1990s had become overcomplicated and shifted away from what made the X-Men great.

Taking a real-world stance in adapting these characters and their stories, Grant Morrison created a fleshed-out, wonderfully complex team of outcasts. Their interpersonal conflicts, their growing and changing relationships, and their dedication to the cause of mutantkind made the X-Men a force to be reckoned with in the Marvel Universe.

Morrison’s opening story arc, E Is For Extinction, remains a high watermark for any X-Men story since its release. The story is dark, topical, and absolutely gripping from start to finish. Though the shocking massacre of mutants on the island nation of Genosha has been previously adapted in the popular X-Men ’97 cartoon on Disney Plus, the arc and the remaining aspects of Morrison’s run would be perfect for the MCU.

In addition to bringing shocking storylines into the X-Men canon, the New X-Men book also brought a new spin to the roster of Marvel’s mutant team. Emma Frost, a character who had previously been portrayed as more of an antagonistic force against the X-Men, became a core player on the team. Her rapport with Scott Summers, as well as her rivalry with Jean Grey, were both incredibly impactful aspects of the X-Men and their stories for years to come. Emma Frost is one of the most iconic X-Men characters in contemporary comics, and a large part of that comes from Grant Morrison’s time fleshing out the character and bringing her onto the main roster of the X-Men.

Some of The X-Men’s Greatest Stories Came From New X-Men

Morrison’s Time On The Book Gave Fans Some of The Very Best X-Men Moments

From the opening salvo of intensity and despair that was E Is For Extinction to the shocking events leading up to Jean Grey’s apparent death at the hands of Magneto, New X-Men was a powerhouse X-book from start to finish. Reinvigorating the franchise in new and bold ways, the book took big swings and matched them perfectly with intimate character moments between the heroes.

The aftermath of the Genosha massacre remains one of the most heartbreaking moments in X-Men history, and the respect it gives to the characters and their mourning is something that is quite rare in the medium. Characters were allowed to show weakness, grieve, and get angry. The characters of New X-Men were almost never perfect. They were damaged, headstrong, and emotional, and that is exactly why they were so relatable.

Bringing gravitas and sincere intensity to the world of Marvel Comics, New X-Men was a game changer for mutantkind and their stories. It introduced iconic characters like the Stepford Cuckoos—clones of Emma Frost created by Mister Sinister—and Fantomex, the morally ambiguous mutate mercenary. Morrison’s run constantly reinvented the franchise, keeping fans guessing without relying on cheap shocks or rehashing past stories.

At a time when the X-Men books were at their most convoluted, New X-Men stripped them down to their essence, revitalizing the series while staying true to its core themes. This achievement remains a miraculous one and a clear blueprint for the Marvel Cinematic Universe to follow in crafting its own bold, definitive take on the X-Men.

Morrison’s New X-Men also introduced the idea of secondary mutations, something that has become a staple of the X-Men and their stories in the decades since the original creation. Emma Frost’s diamond form and Beast’s animal evolution are just a few examples of the impact secondary mutations have had on X-Men lore, and these mutations continue to appear in characters that have been around for many decades. The X-Men and their stories have always been some of the most forward-thinking and least stagnated books in Marvel’s entire library, and major changes in canon and continuity, like the arrival of secondary mutation, ns are some of the major reasons for that.

A New Era For X-Men Would Differentiate It From What Came Before

Taking Influence From Morrison Would Make The MCU’s X-Men Feel Distinct

The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s X-Men reboot should deliver fresh takes on characters and subvert expectations the same way that New X-Men did for the comics. Instead of completely doing away with what fans know and love from the past, the MCU’s mutants should be natural extensions and expansions of what fans are familiar with. Characters like Wolverine, Colossus, Gambit, and Nightcrawler shouldn’t be pushed to the side just because fans have seen them before. Still, different characters, like Emma Frost, Kitty Pryde, and Scott Summers, as well as characters who have never appeared in live-action films, should also be given time to shine.

The X-Men films were immensely popular over the years, so ignoring them completely would be a mistake. That doesn’t mean the MCU’s mutant stories should continue the previous universe, but they should build on what’s already known and established about these characters.

There’s no need to rehash Magneto and Professor Xavier’s relationship or revisit the origin of Wolverine’s adamantium claws—audiences know those stories and want something new. The same was true for the comics when Morrison’s New X-Men exploded onto the scene. Fans wanted change without a complete reboot, and the series delivered something fresh and exciting while still respecting the past. The MCU should take the same approach and evolve the X-Men for a new era without retreading old ground.

While the previous X-Men film franchise was certainly no stranger to the political and societal implications of the X-Men and their stories, there is so much more of that avenue to explore with future movies. New X-Men took advantage of the political nature of the characters to great effect, and the run is still considered one of the pivotal shifting points for modern Marvel comic books. That is exactly what the MCU’s X-Men needs to do. It cannot simply rest on its laurels and give fans the same old stories they’ve seen before. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has a chance to really change for the better with the addition of the Fantastic Four and the X-Men, and basing the mutant-centered stories on the iconic Grant Morrison era of X-Men stories is a recipe for immense success.

“}]] With the MCU’s X-Men not taking the origin route, the new interpretation of Marvel’s mutant heroes should heavily borrow from this classic comics run.  Read More