Followers of the Marvel Cinematic Universe had been buzzing world wide on March 26, as Marvel Studios slowly (and painfully) unveiled the forged of the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday.” The eagerly anticipated sequel will shift Robert Downey Jr. into villain mode, because the “Iron Man” actor is taking over the brand new MCU position of the villain referred to as Physician Doom. Although most well-known for tangling with the Incredible 4 in Marvel Comics, he is additionally ceaselessly been on the heart of nefarious plots which have caught the eye of the whole Avengers roster, and that is precisely what is going on to occur in “Avengers: Doomsday,” which may even set the desk for “Avengers: Secret Wars,” bringing an finish to the Multiverse Saga.
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Whereas even Marvel’s most loyal followers would in all probability agree that the Multiverse Saga has had many extra missteps than the massively profitable Infinity Saga that preceded it, loads are nonetheless greater than thrilled to see this huge forged of superheroes (and a few villains) get again collectively for one more blockbuster romp on the massive display. In truth, talking as somebody who has fallen out of affection a bit with the MCU lately (although I nonetheless see each film and TV collection), I discovered myself happy to see a sure choice of names among the many lengthy line of chairs revealed within the Marvel Studios announcement of the “Avengers: Doomsday” forged, if just for one cause.
Becoming a member of most of the ongoing superheroes from earlier Marvel films (in addition to the upcoming “Incredible 4: First Steps”) had been “X-Males” franchise stars Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Kelsey Grammer, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, James Marsden, and even Channing Tatum, who made a shock debut as Gambit in “Deadpool & Wolverine” in 2024. Although we’re lacking some key expertise, like Halle Berry as Storm and Famke Janssen as Jean Gray, Marvel Studios is clearly going all in on X-Males nostalgia. And if there’s one factor that I am joyful to see the Multiverse Saga ship within the MCU, it is a correct ending for Marvel’s mighty mutants.
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The X-Males fizzled out on the massive display
The “X-Males” franchise sputtered out moderately spectacularly with “X-Males: The Final Stand,” a trilogy capper which ruined every part good in regards to the infinitely superior “X2: X-Males United.” Simply 5 years later, the franchise received a prequel reboot within the type of “X-Males: First Class,” which might peak with the time-hopping crossover “X-Males: Days of Future Previous” that allowed a lot of the unique “X-Males” franchise forged to adapt probably the greatest Marvel Comics tales ever informed. There was additionally a Wolverine spin-off franchise that ranged from being downright terrible with “X-Males Origins: Wolverine” to offering probably the greatest superhero films ever in “Logan.”
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However after that, the X-Males went down in flames, actually and figuratively, with “X-Males: Apocalypse” in some way “studying” zero classes from its predecessors and “X-Males: Darkish Phoenix” fumbling the beloved Marvel Comics arc specializing in Jean Gray for a second time. After that, “New Mutants” tried to take the reins, however by that time, largely because of the acquisition of twentieth Century Fox by Disney, the X-Males had been just about executed on the massive display.
Since then, “Deadpool & Wolverine” has served as our solely MCU chapter that reached into the messy previous of Marvel films that existed earlier than “Iron Man” kicked off an interconnected collection of superhero franchises and sparked one of many greatest cinematic crossovers of all time.
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To refresh, Kelsey Grammer has already been re-introduced because the mutant referred to as Beast (AKA Hank McCoy) by means of the post-credits scene from “The Marvels.” In the meantime, Patrick Stewart made his MCU debut as a multiverse model of Professor X amongst many different cameos in “Physician Unusual within the Multiverse of Insanity,” although he was dispatched fairly rapidly by the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen). However not like Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), Johnny Storm (Chris Evans), Elektra (Jennifer Garner), Blade (Wesley Snipes), X-23 (Dafne Eager), Gambit (Channing Tatum, making good on a long-promised Marvel look), and Pyro (Aaron Stanford), not one of the different X-Males got their due within the MCU.
With the upcoming double dose of “Avengers: Doomsday” and the multiverse-spanning “Avengers: Secret Wars,” all the X-Males can lastly be given the ending they deserve.
Lengthy reside the X-Males
Will the return of the 2000s-era X-Males see the mutants dealing with off in opposition to the Avengers in a battle orchestrated by Physician Doom, attempting to distract each factions of heroes as a part of his evil plans? Or will the mutants make a correct final stand in opposition to Doom earlier than he finally defeats them and achieves a pivotal purpose, making him an actual menace for the Avengers to take care of? Regardless of the way it performs out, bringing as lots of these characters as potential into the Marvel Cinematic Universe is strictly what they deserve.
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Moreover, the return of the unique X-Males will truly mark fairly a powerful full circle second for Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, whose early profession included working as “X-Males” producer Lauren Shuler Donner’s assistant earlier than turning into an affiliate producer on the film (through which he additionally has a small cameo). Ultimately, Feige would change into Marvel’s president of manufacturing in 2007, resulting in the primary “Iron Man” film, and the remainder is Hollywood historical past.
Nevertheless, the query is whether or not this can actually be the unique iteration of the X-Males from that 2000s run of flicks, or if this will probably be one other multiverse model that merely makes use of the identical forged. In spite of everything, the Professor X from “Physician Unusual within the Multiverse of Insanity” appeared in his signature yellow hover chair, and Channing Tatum (additionally confirmed in right now’s casting bulletins) was a model of Gambit in “Deadpool & Wolverine” that was totally impressed by “X-Males: The Animated Sequence,” one who by no means made it into these unique films. So maybe we will get a full-on live-action model of the ’90s X-Males, realizing two completely different mutant desires in a single huge film earlier than Kevin Feige reboots the superhero workforce another time.
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Rather a lot might be mentioned about how directing duo Anthony & Joe Russo have fared cinematically since delivering “Avengers: Endgame,” with the “Electrical State” as the newest mark in opposition to them. However with all these items in play from previous franchises, simply as they had been for “Avengers: Infinity Battle” and “Avengers: Endgame,” possibly they will carry a few of that film magic again with the assistance of some marvelous mutants. We’ll hold our fingers (and adamantium claws) crossed.
“Avengers: Doomsday” hits theaters on Could 1, 2026.
