MCU: Best Mutants For The First X-Men Team

Highlights

Firestar can act as an entry point for new audiences, bringing a fresh perspective to the X-Men in the MCU.
Gambit deserves a chance to shine in the MCU, showcasing his gray morality as an ex-thief turned hero.
Storm's wealth of experience and ties to Wakanda make her a valuable mentor and a seamless fit into the MCU.

The X-Men and Mutants were Marvel properties belonging to 21st Century Fox, until Disney purchased the media company in 2018, paving the way for the Mutants to join the MCU. Yet, patience is a virtue, and despite hints of their arrival appearing in new MCU movies, the X-Men have yet to debut, and an X-Men movie in the MCU, filled with famous Mutants, seems years away.

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Some of the best characters in Fox's X-Men franchise should be given a second chance within the MCU.

Fans have already started to speculate about what direction Marvel Studios will decide to take this iconic team. Rumors have circulated about previous mutants from the Fox universe continuing in the MCU, and about whether this new team will even keep the name X-Men. However, it seems that there are a few characters from the comics that should definitely appear in this new iteration of the X-Men, no matter what form the team takes in the MCU for upcoming battles.

7 Firestar

A New Mutant For A New Audience

First Appearance: Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends (1981)
Created by: Chris Claremont & John Romita Jr.

Few members of the general movie-going audience would be aware of Firestar. She did not star in any of the Fox X-Men movies, and her most memorable appearance to date was in the animated 80s cartoon Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends before she was written into the comics. However, this anonymity is exactly what a new X-Men movie will need.

Firestar can act as a young mutant who acts as the vessel for new and unfamiliar audiences to first immerse into this world with Professor Xavier's School For Extraordinary Children. In the first X-Men movie, the role of the new and bewildered student was performed by both Wolverine and Rogue. Therefore, a small public incident involving her fire-based powers could bring Firestar into the X-Men fold, and reintroduce this new team into the MCU.

6 Gambit

A Mutant Left Out Of The Old Continuity

First Appearance: The Uncanny X-Men Annual #14 (1990)
Created by: Chris Clairemont, Mike Collins, and Jim Lee

Poor Gambit didn't get much of a fair shake in the Fox X-Men franchise. The mutant first appeared in a small role in the underwhelming X-Men Origins: Wolverine and an announcement about a solo Gambit movie starring Channing Tatum were made in 2016. Sadly, this movie never made it to the production stage before the merger, and so it was canceled.

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Now that Marvel is starting with a blank slate again, it only seems fair to give Gambit a chance to shine. He could even be played by Channing Tatum in this continuity and use some of the ideas from his previous Gambit project. The character, Gambit, also brings a gray side of morality to the team. As an ex-thief, he can show how the X-Men are the force for good for mutantkind in the MCU.

5 Storm

The Seasoned Weather Witch

First Appearance: Giant-Size X-Men # 1 (1975)
Created by: Len Wein and Dave Cockrum

Storm is one of the most powerful mutants to ever join the X-Men. Her ability to manipulate the weather has become one of the most popular and recognizable and popular mutants in X-Men history. That is why she was a central character in the 90s' X-Men: The Animated Series, and appeared in multiple X-Men movies made by Fox Studios.

However, Storm has a much bigger role to play in the team than just being someone that fans recognize. As a powerful mutant, she has a wealth of experience that could make her a mentor for the team and someone for Professor X to lean on. Plus, her ties to Black Panther and Wakanda also make it easy for Storm to be inserted into the MCU.

4 Jean Grey

One of Xavier's First Students, & A Mutant Of Vital Power

First Appearance: The X-Men #1 (1963)
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

Originally named Marvel Girl, Jean Grey debuted in the comics as one of the mutants on the first X-Men team. Therefore, this powerful telepath deserves a spot on the first X-Men team to show up in the MCU. Unfortunately, Jean Grey has not had a great run of success in her previous movies. Fox Studios decided to bring to life the Dark Phoenix Saga twice on the big screen, so casual fans only know Jean Grey from her time being controlled by the powerful Phoenix Force.

However, there is much more to Jean Grey than this one tragic story. She is a great leader and goes on to become one of the best teachers at Xavier's school. Hopefully, the MCU will stay away from the Dark Phoenix and let Jean Grey shine in this new iteration.

3 Rogue

A Southern Belle That Can Absorb The Energy Of Others

First Appearance: Avengers Annual #10 (1981)
Created by: Chris Clairemont and Michael Golden

Unfortunately, Rogue is another mutant that has had a poor showing in previous X-Men movies. In the comics, she is a character with the power of flight, super strength, and a no-nonsense attitude. However, her crowning moment often comes from her ability to temporarily steal the powers of others. The Fox X-Men movies used this part of her powers but made her a tragic character with no real ability.

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Luckily, the MCU can reboot Rogue and give her the powers and attitude that fans love. What's more, Rogue gets her strength and flight abilities from Captain Marvel. Therefore, the franchise already has a way to introduce this character properly.

2 Beast

A Mutant Fans Have Already Seen In The MCU

First Appearance: The X-Men #1 (1963)
Created by: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

Beast is a mutant that starred in the very first team of X-Men, but his appearance was very different back then. He debuted as a regular man with large feet and agility and has gradually changed forms over the years into a cat-like, blue politician.

Beast is one of the more popular X-Men in the franchise, but it seems that the MCU already has plans for this character. Beast appeared in his blue form in the post-credits scene for The Marvels, which is set in the MCU. It may have been in another universe, but the series has already laid the groundwork for re-establishing this mutant as a part of the X-Men. Plus, he has a similar level of experience as Storm, so he could act as a strong member of the X-Men in the field or be an old friend of Professor X.

1 Cyclops

The Leader Of The X-Men

First Appearance: The X-Men #1 (1963)
Created by: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

Before the X-Men in the MCU get any time to shine, the franchise needs to establish a leader for this new team. A new Captain America that the mutants can fall in line behind. The previous franchise used Wolverine in this role, but that isn't in that character's nature. Plus, the MCU may want to give that character a break before recasting the role after Deadpool 3.

Fortunately, the X-Men already have a mutant with the exact attributes for this role in their ranks. Cyclops has led the mutant team since its inception in the early 60s and rarely steers the team wrong. He is bold and brave, everything that a leader of this magnitude needs. Plus, he is always depicted as Professor X's second in command at the school, so let's hope this version of the character appears next in the MCU.