A couple years ago, I wrote a blog called “If I Wrote the Deadpool Movie.” I spoke of the Development-Hell status the movie was in after its tease in the post-credits of X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Since my blog, test footage had been leaked, showing progress of said movie. The footage was already a few years old, but the leak went viral. Fox saw the public appetite for the movie, and decide to go full-force on production. It was surprising that the studio was ignorant of the clamor for such movie. But now, reading about the vetoes Fox made against Josh Trank’s ideas for Fantastic Four, I’m not as surprised anymore. You would have thought employing Mark Millar done them some good.
In the blog, I suggested movies in Fox’s X-Men cineverse that should take place before and after Deadpool. Among those were Apocalypse and X-Force. Since then, an X-Force movie had been announced, and X-Men: Apocalypse has been set into production.
X-Force was announced first, attaching Jeff Wadlow as the director. Later, Bryan Singer announced Apocalypse as his next movie. At first, I thought this was details on X-Force, as Apocalypse is an antagonist in the recent Uncanny X-Force comic. But, we soon learned that this was the follow-up to X-Men: Days of Future Past, rounding out the trilogy of prequels. Rumors of details have emerged, but none were confirmed, nor denied by Fox, leaving little hope.
Fox has announced other spin-offs since, including Deadpool and Gambit. The latter will replace Taylor Kitsch from X-Men Origins: Wolverine with Channing Tatum.
7. New Mutants
Another announced spin-off includes New Mutants. Could this be the new status of the X-Force movie? After all, New Mutants were a precursor to X-Force.
In the comics, New Mutants were a new class of recruits for Professor X to continue his tenure. Soon, they were visited by a mutant from the future named Cable. The machine gun-toting mutant was the son of Cyclops and Madeline Pryor, a clone of Jean Grey. He warned the team of his possible future ruled by a mutant tyrant known as Apocalypse.
6. Uncanny X-Force
In my previous blog, I suggested the X-Force movie to be an adventure through time, as Cable recruits his team. But, after watching The Wolverine, I saw Yukio take Logan on a jet and tell him they can go anywhere he wanted. The alternate version of that scene includes the yellow suit of legend.
The post-credits scene then moves two years later and meets Logan back up with Professor X and Magneto. What happened in those two years? Where did he and Yukio go? What if they formed their own team? Uncanny X-Force was, in fact, a team that Wolverine had formed. Among its roster were Deadpool, X-23, and Daken, Wolverine’s son. It also saw Archangel inherit the title of Apocalypse, much like the title of Ra’s Al Ghul.
Rumors of the next Wolverine film, Hugh Jackman’s final outing, say Old Man Logan by Mark Millar will be the source material. Patrick Stewart seems to think he has a role in it. Ryan Reynolds has expressed interest to reprise Deadpool back alongside “Wolvie.” Unfortunately, there are many characters in the story whom fall under other studios, such as Hawkeye and Red Skull. Could Professor X and Deadpool fill their void? Maybe Anna Paquin can fill her expressed wish to fly, as Rogue is supposed to.
Whether or not we see those missing two years on screen, I forsee New Mutants as the setup for X-Force, maybe as the sequel. Cable could show up in the post-credits scene, to take them on whatever ride Fox has in mind. Though, who will be part of the team? Deadpool was introduced in the pages of New Mutants, and became a staple of X-Force. Its interesting to note, that his suggested DC counterpart, Deathstroke, also premiered in a junior version of his publisher’s powerhouse team. Or will the cinematic New Mutants be a reprisal of our new mutants in X-Men: Apocalypse? I’m sure they want to continue the adventures of young Jean Grey, Cyclops, Nightcrawler, and Jubilee. But if you’re going to recruit some New Mutants, and evolve them into the X-Force, how about these characters?
5. Wolfsbane
Evidently, lycanthropy is a mutant power. But religion states that the transformation is a demonic entity taking over your body. Reverend Craig strongly thought so. His aggressive, religious actions toward his foster daughter was what led Wolfsbane to Professor X.
4. Shatterstar
Born in Mojoworld, a dimension ripe with cinematic possibilities, Shatterstar was one of the mutants Cable brought upon his visit. As audiences are demanding for superheroes of minorities, his relationship with fellow teammate, Rictor, is one that would satisfy those masses.
3. Douglock
Douglock, also called Cypher, is actually the combination of two New Mutants: Doug Ramsey and Warlock. Not to be confused with Adam Warlock, though he does share paternal genetics with the cosmic, MCU-owned being. Warlock was not a mutant, but a member of an assimilating, cybernetic, alien race. Since Doug’s powers involved computers, they became best friends. The alien, then, joined their bodies to save the dying mutant.
2. Fantomex
Fantomex was a spawn of the Uncanny X-Force run. He was also a spawn of the famous Weapon X program. But the character really became interesting when he was cloned into three different characters: a reincarnation of himself, an evil version of himself, and Lady Fantomex.
1. Cannonball
Blasting out of the coal mines of Kentucky would be wild to see Sam Guthrie do on the silver screen. His origins include joining the ranks of the Hellfire Club, the Kevin Bacon-led secret society of mutants in X-Men: First Class. He also dated Lila Cheney, a rockstar mutant, like Dazzler, both awaiting their shine in live-action. On April 1st, 2013, Bryan Singer said he casted Lady Gaga as Dazzler. I’m still waiting.
In “If I Wrote the Deadpool Movie,” I suggested Cable to recruit Psylocke, played by her X-Men: The Last Stand actress, Mei Melencon. Psylocke will make her second live-action appearance in X-Men: Apocalypse, but she will be played by Olivia Munn.
Other X-Force members have also been in the movies. Both Warpath and Sunspot were among the X-Men of the Sentinel-controlled future in X-Men: Days of Future Past.
Judging by my track record, with Deadpool put into production shortly after blogging about its Development Hell, I’m going to keep my fingers crossed. Until then, I’ll just have to dive into the helping of other Marvel movies Fox is serving. Next year, we’ll see Deadpool, X-Men: Apocalypse, and Gambit. And the year after that, Wolverine 3 and Fantastic Four 2. Lets just hope that the FF sequel will be better than its predecessor. Fox refused to trade Silver Surfer and Galactus for Daredevil back. So maybe we’ll get to see another version of them. Though reportedly, Galactus was one of the characters whom were part of the original script, but Fox vetoed. Also, there’s rumors that, since the epic flop, Fantastic Four 2 will be traded out for Deadpool 2, where whispers of Cable are heard.
What’d you think of the list? Agree or disagree? Sound off below!