Every Mutant Introduced Into The Marvel Cinematic Universe
This year can undoubtedly be called the takeover of the Marvel Cinematic Universe by the X-Men. Currently airing is the animated series X-Men ’97, which has turned out to be the highest-rated streaming production by Marvel Studios (!). In July, the only MCU movie of the year will hit theaters – Deadpool & Wolverine, bidding farewell to the Fox X-Men universe and introducing Deadpool’s character into the new world. However, this is not the first year that mutants have appeared in the MCU.
Professor Xavier (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness)
The first mutant we could see in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was none other than the founder of the X-Men, Professor Charles Xavier. The character appeared in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and was part of the Illuminati, a group of the greatest Earth heroes from an alternate reality. Patrick Stewart reprised his role as Xavier, marking his twenty-second year in the role and the seventh opportunity to play this iconic character. This time, Professor X was much closer to the comic book or animated portrayal. He moved around in his characteristic yellow wheelchair, his telepathic powers had visual representation, and his first appearance was accompanied by the iconic music from X-Men: The Animated Series.
Ms. Marvel (Ms. Marvel, Marvels)
The first representative of the homo superior race in the main MCU universe turned out to be Kamala Khan, also known as Ms. Marvel. This was revealed literally in the final minutes of her series, and it was also supported by a brief variation on the musical theme of the X-Men team from the 90s animated series. Interestingly, in the comics, Kamala is also a mutant and was supposed to be one from the beginning. However, the corporation itself banned this idea, as they didn’t have the rights to X-Men characters at that time. Kamala returned in The Marvels movie, where the theme of her mutation was no longer addressed.
Mr. Immortal (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law)
The next Marvel series brought us another mutant, possibly. Comic book character Mr. Immortal indeed owes his powers to the X gene. In the series, we don’t know much about this character except that he’s a matrimonial fraud who literally kills himself (and then regenerates) to scam his partners.
Namor (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)
One of the earliest characters in the history of Marvel comics (which wasn’t called Marvel at that time) made his big-screen debut in 2022 in the sequel to Black Panther. Namor is the underwater ruler of the kingdom of Talokan, who wages war against Wakanda. Namor can breathe underwater, swim excellently, levitate, and also possesses superhuman strength.
Binary and Beast (Marvels)
In a scene during the credits of Marvels, Monica finds herself in a parallel universe where she encounters two mutants. One of them is Binary (who looks exactly like her mother; for Lashana Lynch, this was her third character in the MCU), and the other is Beast, one of the most well-known X-Men. Beast is portrayed similarly to Professor Xavier in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness: once again played by the actor who portrayed the character in the Fox films (Kelsey Grammer), but in a much more comic book-like rendition. Beast even mentions Professor Xavier awaiting an update on Monica’s situation, suggesting that the universe Monica finds herself in is the home of the entire X-Men group.
All the mutants from X-Men: The Animated Series and X-Men ’97
As I mentioned earlier, we can already watch X-Men ’97 on our TV screens, which is a direct continuation of the iconic animated series about this group. Therefore, we can assume that both series are part of the Marvel multiverse built after Avengers: Endgame, even if they have nothing to do with other branches of this cinematic and television world. In both productions, we will see Professor X, Wolverine, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Storm, Beast, Morph, Jubilee, Rogue, Gambit, and many other mutated allies and adversaries of the X-Men.
Deadpool, Wolverine, and the rest of the mutants from the Fox universe
The announced film Deadpool & Wolverine, set for release in July this year, is intended to serve as a bridge bringing the character created by Ryan Reynolds into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. At the same time, it will bid farewell to the Fox X-Men universe. Hugh Jackman will thus return to the role of Wolverine, and in the background, we’ll see episodically the entire lineup of mutants appearing in those films throughout the first two decades of the 21st century.
Filip Pęziński