After the Disney-Fox merger last year, many have been anticipating the eventual debut of the X-Men in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It's anybody's guess on how the much-anticipated debut of the team will be portrayed in the MCU , but it's clear that Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige seems to have a plan in place.
Ever since Marvel Studios' acquisition of the rights to the X-Men characters, there has been no shortage of rumors and speculation on how the mutants will fit into the larger narrative. In conjunction with that, previous actors from Fox's superhero universe have already revealed their intentions of reprising their roles from past films. And now, as evidenced by a recent interview, another veteran actress from Fox's X-Men franchise has thrown her hat into the MCU ring.
NEWS
In commemoration of X-Men 's 20th anniversary, Jean Grey actress Famke Janssen spoke with Observer to reflect on the film's success while also admitting that she "would be very open" to reprise her iconic role should the opportunity arise:
“I think the question is more if they would have any interest in bringing me back. With Days of Future Past, there was a surprise way of reintroducing certain characters that had been killed off. In some people’s cases, it was to bring them back as well as the younger versions of their characters. I’d be curious to see what happens [with Marvel Films]. But, yes, I would be very open to it. ”
The conversation eventually led to the debut of the mutants in the Marvel Cinematic Universe where Janssen revealed her hopes for the franchise to feature "diversity across the board" moving forward:
“The one thing that we can say for the X-Men is that there were a lot of women in our films. Strong, superhero women. I think diversity across the board would be amazing. There’s no shortage in any of these X-Men of what you can do and what you can find in terms of diverse characters. I’m assuming that’s what they’ll do anyway, but that is where the work should be headed everywhere. ”
WHAT THIS MEANS
Not much is known about the mutant lineup that Marvel Studios will incorporate into their superhero universe, but it's a safe bet that Jean Grey will be included in it. It's worth pointing out that Janssen's definitive take on the character was well-received by fans and critics, and her recent interest to reprise her role for the MCU should keep her on Marvel Studios' radar. Whether it will be Jean Grey of an entirely different Marvel character, Janssen's addition to the MCU family should be good news for everyone involved.
The previous X-Men films from the Fox universe managed to feature a variety of strong women which include the likes of Janssen's Jean Grey, Halle Berry's Storm, and Ellen Page's Kitty Pryde. However, as evidenced by Janssen's remarks, it's clear that more on-screen diversity and representation will be needed for the MCU, maximizing the potential of the billion-dollar franchise. In a way, the mutants present a unique opportunity to do just that since it involves a plethora of characters that the franchise can explore.
Whatever the case, the reintroduction of the X-Men to the MCU will certainly open a new door for story opportunities while also providing various characters that can deliver inspiration to many fans.
