Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios president has recently confirmed that Deadpool 3 is going to be part of the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe). The character as portrayed in the first two Deadpool movies exists in the same universe as the X-Men, but not the MCU. This has been made possible by Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox. It will be impossible to weave the existing X-Men into the MCU, the continuity would be impossible to reconcile. Looking at the X-Men movies in their entirety, you may say what continuity! But as Deadpool exists on the fringe of the X universe rather than at its heart, this can still work. But is does lead to the question, will the X-Men make their way into the MCU. The answer is that they more than likely will. [WandaVision – SPOILER WARNING] For as moment it looked like it had already happened when it appeared that Evan Peters who portrayed Peter Maximoff/Quicksilver in three X-Men movies appeared in WandaVision as Pietro Maximoff. It transpired that he wasn’t , in effect preventing the actor from future MCU appearances [end of spoilers].
How will this happen? There had been suggestions that the X-Men have existed in their own timeline, and will merge with the MCU via events in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), the TV show Wandavision (2021), or even the time travel antics of Avengers Endgame (2019). One of these has proved not to be the case so far. Existing in their own timeline, then merging would explain why we haven’t seen them before in the MCU, and why they didn’t help out in the small matter of Thanos. Let’s not forget “The Twins” Wanda Maximoff (Scarlet Witch), and Pietro Maximoff (Quicksilver) gained their abilities from experiments with an infinity stone. In the comic books, they are mutants, and furthermore, the children of Magneto (they first appeared in The X-Men #4 (March 1964)). Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) and X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) both featured versions of Quicksilver. The only other option would be to totally reboot them, and suggest that mutants have only just started gaining their abilities, again this would likely be connected to events in an existing property. However they do it, some kind of reboot to the X-Men is inevitable. With Logan (2017) marked the end of Hugh Jackman’s tenure as Wolverine, the other original X-Men had pretty much handed over to the new cast from First Class (2011), who in turn had fizzled out making two excellent films: First Class, and Days of Future Past (2014); followed by two terrible ones: Apocalypse (2016), and Dark Phoenix (2019). The latter was the first movie in the franchise to be a fanatical failure, with Deadline Hollywood sighting it as the biggest box office bomb of 2019.
While the X-Men and the avengers don’t spend much time together on the page, they do exist in the same universe and do crossover from time to time. Their first appearance came on The X-Men #1 (September 1963). As with other properties, their histories, origins, and outcomes have changed as new writers come onboard, and storylines play out. Sometimes there are huge contrivances to make the plot fit, then you have the comic book favourite, alternate universes, and just plain reboots and retcons. Nothing is sacred, and even canon isn’t really canon!
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby are credited with the invention of the X-Men. Years later Lee explained he came up with the idea as an easy way of introducing an infinite number of powered characters with a variety of abilities: “I couldn’t have everybody bitten by a radioactive spider or exposed to a gamma ray explosion. And I took the cowardly way out. I said to myself, ‘Why don’t I just say they’re mutants? They were born that way.'” There is one MCU character who has a significant crossover with the X-Men in the comic books. Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel first appeared in Marvel Super-Heroes #13 (March 1968). At this time she did not have her Kree powers and was a United States Air Force officer and colleague of the Kree superhero Mar-Vell aka Captain Marvel. She was accidentally subjected some MacGuffin she mutated on a genetic level into a Human/Kree Hybrid superhuman going by the name of Ms. Marvel. Rogue then permanently absorbed Danvers powers leaving her in a coma. She eventually recovered , regained her powers and took the name Captain Marvel.
This presents two opportunities. So far in movies we have only seen Anna Paquin’s Rogue temporarily absorbing powers and crippled by the guilt of putting her first boyfriend in a coma. While a great performance, it lacks the fun, and attitude of the character from the comic books. It isn’t clear if this was an artistic choice, or one made in a universe that didn’t include Danvers. Whatever the reason, it would be fun to see a very different Rouge in future. It is also worth remembering she started out as a villain in the comic books before joining the X-Men. The second opportunity relates to Captain Marvel, like Superman, she is too powerful to be interesting. This gives her the chance to sell an interesting story without having to find a advisory with similar power.
A final thought, if the X-Men can join the MCU, so can the Fantastic Four. I’m sure it is due for another reboot, if not, from his Captain America duties, Chris Evans could return as Johnny Storm / Human Torch. Unlikely, but worth it for the moment Wade Wilson mention’s how much he looks like Cap!
Fandango Groovers Movie Blog 