Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re no doubt aware that Disney has purchased a large part of Fox, and with that comes a ton of Marvel-based characters that are now (finally) under one roof. It’s a rather exciting time to consider all of these heroes and villains who can now crossover, fight for or against and ultimately shape an even bigger and broader universe for fans to enjoy. Here’s just a few spotlighted characters, new and old, that will very soon be sitting alongside Doctor Strange and Iron Man.
WOLVERINE
The Captain Obvious choice is Logan, a hero that has dominated the Fox slate of mutant films since the X-Men debuted on the silver screen. Now there is a slight issue with this pick, namely that the man who has made him a household name in Hugh Jackman who has said on a number of occasions that Logan, the gritty finale to the Wolverine story that released earlier this year, was his last hurrah as the character. Or is it?
There are two options for Marvel and Disney; either convince Jackman of one last cameo to appease the many fans, or recast the character and begin from scratch. It would be incredibly difficult to see anyone else play the role but it wouldn’t entirely be out of the question, and it could lead to a number of other recasting options for characters in the X-Men universe.
Whatever happens, to see Wolverine duke it out with Hulk on the big screen would be a dream come true for many diehard Marvel followers, among many other potential encounters across the wide world of Marvel. But what of X-23?
MAGNETO
Of the many other X-Men, Deadpool included, Magneto holds the most intriguing options for Marvel going forward, especially when it comes to his children. We’ve already seen two very different versions of Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch on the big screen so far, with hints in the X-Men cinematic universe of the connection between Erik Lehnsherr and Peter ‘Quicksilver’ Maximoff during X-Men: Apocalypse.
Meanwhile, the MCU has since killed off their version of Quicksilver while Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch, lives on. So what would happen if these two worlds were to collide? Could Marvel toy with the idea of merging two different realities together to form a weird new family for Michael Fassbender to act opposite?
SILVER SURFER
Forgetting for a second the rather poor Fantastic Four sequel, bringing in the Silver Surfer could open up a host of amazing options for the MCU. Not only could he act as a bridge between the FF and, say, the Guardians of the Galaxy, but it could also herald the return of Galactus himself to wage war against the entire Marvel lineup in the future. As long as he isn’t a giant dust cloud this time around, we can all agree that would be an awesome sight to see.
But for the Surfer himself, it’s a chance to reignite interest in a character that has played such a vital role in the comics for many years, especially on the cosmic side of the universe. Dr Strange is a key part of that, but Surfer himself could provide some extra depth and intrigue as Galactus bares down upon the Galaxy.
DOCTOR DOOM
Let’s face it, a large part of the MCU’s villain lineup has been weak at best. That would change dramatically as soon as Doctor Doom arrives, regarded not only as one of the most well rounded villains in Marvel comicdom but also one of the most deadly. Besides his many battles against the Fantastic Four, Doom would be the perfect foil for the Avengers or perhaps a new Iron Man plot, but either way it’s incredibly important to have him involved as soon as possible.
Again, past films haven’t done much for his public image, but in the right hands he could be a force to be reckoned with and the next best option to replace Thanos once the current MCU story arc is complete.
KANG THE CONQUEROR
Speaking of villains, Kang has been on many a wishlist for some time and can now be used in the MCU if Marvel so wished (side note, he is the chief villain of the recent Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 game). The key here is his ability to time travel, something that hasn’t been used in the MCU (but has in the X-Men universe). By introducing Kang, we could have a villain fit for a long story arc of mucking about with the time stream in an attempt to take out the Avengers at any point in history, which could also lead to either a young cast of actors replacing those we already know.
Kang could also lead into the opportunity for certain cast members to go all Logan on their respective heroes, as the story jumps ahead in time to a darker or weirder future. Imagine a grey haired Tony Stark…
DEADPOOL
Everyone’s been saying it; will Marvel downgrade Deadpool in the MCU? So far the answer is no, Disney is willing to have R-rated Marvel films if it fits, but it’s far too early to tell for sure. Either way, having Deadpool in a true Marvel movie could lead to some memorable and amusing moments, especially if he gets to hang out with old friend Spider-Man. Plus, if Hugh Jackman does come back in some way or form, we could finally see that face off too… properly, this time.
As for the rest of the Deadpool-verse, the X-Force had been considered by Fox before this acquisition, but we’ll have to see whether any current projects are put on hold or cancelled, possibly on how well Deadpool 2 goes in a few months time.
PROFESSOR X
The linchpin for a good X-Men/Avengers crossover, if it were to exist within the MCU, could very well be the Professor himself. Xavier has been well represented on the big screen, but his role as a mentor and friend to all mutants would be a good foil for any Avengers character or future villain with an axe to grind. More importantly, it puts us one step closer to the Illuminati on the big screen, so long as fellow Fox-owned character Reed Richards does come across and Namor the King of Atlantis (currently owned by Universal) makes his presence known. One day, perhaps.
Similarly to Wolverine, recasting Professor X would be an incredibly difficult choice. We’ve already had the perfect casting call in Patrick Stewart and his current replacement in the universe, James McAvoy, has made the role his own ever since. Remaining as is seems a better choice to appease fans, why mess with something that’s already spot on?
SUSAN STORM
Fox tried on multiple occasions to build up the Fantastic Four into their second major franchise, outside of the X-Men. On all occasions, they just couldn’t quite get it right, either being too colorful and funny or too dark and bland. Placing Invisible Woman and her family into the heart of the MCU could create multiple story threads for almost every major Marvel character, be they strange scientific discoveries or the rather big rogue’s gallery that have since spread out against more than just the F4.
The biggest gripe fans have with the MCU is the lack of female heroes. A shift in mentality will no doubt play a big part in the next phase of the films, especially with Captain Marvel already in production, but Susan Storm could play a major role in shaping the future of the brand as the heart of the F4 and her abilities could be vital for any team she appears on.
CYCLOPS
As the true leader of the X-Men for many years, Cyclops has had a rough ride on the big screen. His roles in the original trilogy, especially X2 and X3, were abrupt and lacking the many character traits from the comics, while he’s still just a young up-and-coming character in the current arc (set to continue in 2018 with a return of the Dark Phoenix saga). But by bringing him into the MCU fold, there’s the potential for Marvel to help him reach much greater heights with his potential, especially when it comes to his powers and his respect for all mutant kind.
His role and an eventual crossing of paths with the Avengers could could also lead to a Mutant Revolution story arc. In the comics, Cyclops teamed with Magneto and a group of former X-Men to lead a revolution and save mutant kind. Before that, the X-Men and Avengers fought on an island called Utopia over his daughter, Hope, and her connection to the Phoenix Force. These stories could easily be adapted to the screen, depending on whether the Earth of the X-Men films becomes the Earth of the Avengers, and could present a rather bolder take on the character in the process.
GAMBIT
Gambit is also a rather unique story in terms of what we’ve already seen in the MCU and X-Men films. With the Thieves and Assassin’s guilds at war with each other on the streets of New Orleans, young Remy LeBeau finds himself at the center of it all and must learn his place. Of course, things don’t go as planned and he is exiled from the city, leading him down the path of crime until his eventual crossing of paths with Rogue and the X-Men. Whether Channing Tatum will finally take on the role? That’s a question for the Disney Gods to decide.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
Oh, you didn’t know? Disney now owns the rights to Buffy and the Scooby gang, along with a number of other Joss Whedon productions (hello Firefly!), and what better way to introduce the world of the MCU to vampires, werewolves, and creatures of the night than the ass kicking superhero herself. Yes, Marvel has previously produced the Blade films, but when you suddenly bring in a much revered character from pop culture into your portfolio, why wouldn’t you want to use her to the fullest? There’s also no reason why Blade couldn’t be involved too, but we do need more female led films as it is, so let’s get on this, Disney.
Which former Fox owned characters are you excited to see in the MCU? Shout out in the comments below.
