With the critical and commercial success of
X-Men Days of Future Past, the X-Men franchise is back on track burying memories of
The Last Stand and
X-Men Origins: Wolverine. With the franchise spanning 14 years and not looking to be slowing down soon, many members of the X-Men have appeared over the course of the films whether its front and centre with the likes of Wolverine and Storm or in cameo appearances like Jubilee and Warpath. This leaves a small pool of untapped X-men potential to be explored in future instalments. This is my list of strictly X-men and who should feature in an X film in the future.
5.
Cannonball – Potential Film: New Mutants Spinoff
Cannonball (Samuel Guthrie) is a Kentucky born mutant with jet like flying abilities which make him near unstoppable whilst in flight. Cannonball is one of the original New Mutants members serving as co-leader. Producer Lauren Shuler Donner, has previously stated that she would like to explore a new mutants film. With the franchise being re-set in Days of Future Past, a New Mutant’s spinoff would allow original trilogy mutants to appear to assemble the team and feature without being the main focus which may confuse movie goers if the original and prequel trilogies run alongside each other. After seeing how Quicksilvers powers were handled on screen, it would be good to see how Cannonballs are tackled. With many great young actors at the moment, a New Mutants spinoff could be great and Cannonball has a rich history with the team and amazing abilities, so there is a real potential.
4.
Northstar – Potential Film: Alpha Flight Spinoff
Bryan Singer has stated numerous times that the X-men represent all neglected and mistreated groups off society. But is the film industry ready for an onscreen openly gay superhero? Northstar is a Canadian superhero who appears as a member of Alpha Flight, a government funded superhero team. Northstars’ abilities include speed, flight and light manipulation which make him visually interesting. Wolverine, once served as a member of Alpha Flight and with the continuity being changed, Wolverine may have appeared in the group over the unexplored 50 years. If Northstar and the rest of Alpha Flight starred in a film, Hugh Jackman could cameo as this would help fill the 50 year hole. Northstar’s sexuality would be ground-breaking if it was explored on screen and would add a new layer to the X-Mens links with societal issues.
3.
Psylocke – X-Men: Apocalypse
At this point in the X-men franchise, it seems Psylocke remains one of the few characters yet to be explored. In X-Men: The Last Stand, a villainous character names Psylocke appears as part of Magnetos Brotherhood. That character was so far from the Psylocke of the comics, audience members could not tell the difference if the character was handled on screen more truly to her roots. The half-sister of Captain Britain, Psylocke possesses a range of Psychics and telepathic abilities. The character also has long ties to Apocalypse, once appearing as one of his horsemen. This would be a good introduction for the character that could appear as a horseman and feature in other X films down the line. Psylocke undergoes such an interesting transformation in her comic book run, that the character has spinoff potential too.
2.
Dazzler – X-Men: Apocalypse
With X-Men: Apocalypse to be set in the 1980s, was there ever a better time to introduce the singing mutant. Dazzler is a public mutant singer and with the exposing of mutants in Days of Future Past, Dazzler could take that one step forward by being a mutant celebrity. This would help to end the neglect faced by mutants and would serve as an interesting story point in the sequel. The 80s are famed for the music it produced and with the 60s and 70s having a profound effect on First Class and Days of Future Past, Dazzler would be a really cool way to continue the trend. Who knows, a singer could also star as Dazzler in the film, as long as they can act.
1.
X-23 – Wolverine 3
With Mystique taking Wolverine at the end of Days of Future Past, his full history with the Weapon X project remains to be seen. Introducing X-23, a female clone of Wolverine would be intriguing to see Wolverine react to someone of his own kind. This could be explored in the third Wolverine film, which could explore the 50 year history that was created at the end of Days of Future Past. Mystiques’ intentions and how Wolverine came to be would make an amazing story and allow Jennifer Lawrence or Rebecca Romjin to feature in the film.
Are there any X-men you would like to see appear in the franchise? Cable seems to be a popular choice but there are many more. Do you think any of the proposed ideas above could work and who could play these parts? Sound off below and thanks for reading.