To say that the X-Men film series produced by 20th Century Fox is divisive would be an understatement. On the one hand, the series includes well-received films like First Class and Logan — plus, it provided fans with Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, Patrick Stewart’s Professor X, and Ian McKellen’s Magneto.
However, not all characters were that lucky. For every X-Man who was faithfully brought to life on the big screen, dozens more were practically unrecognizable from their comic counterparts, who fans first fell in love with. This left some disappointed in the series as a whole. Here are just a few examples of beloved X-Men who will hopefully fare better someday in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Storm
Arguably the most popular X-Man behind Wolverine, Storm’s original live action portrayal helped turn Halle Berry into a household name. It may be surprising to see her on this list considering her prominent role in the original X-Men trilogy. But though Berry does the best with the material she’s given, Storm isn’t given much in the way of character development or plot relevance. Meanwhile, under the pen of Chris Claremont — the legendary comic scribe that reinvented the X-Men in the 70s — Storm is quite literally a force of nature.
In the comics, Storm is one of the most multifaceted members of the team. She’s kind and nurturing by nature, but she’s equally capable of being a fierce, ruthless warrior when her teammates are in danger. Though introduced as a regal, elegant figure, Storm gradually grows tired of suppressing her emotions and gives herself a tough-as-nails punk rock makeover. She later loses her powers temporarily due to a villainous scheme and falls into a deep depression over losing such a crucial part of herself — however, she soon regains her resolve and rejoins the X-Men.
Storm eventually even replaces Cyclops as team leader, struggling to balance her compassion and idealism with the cold pragmatism that’s sometimes necessary for leadership. However, Storm never truly loses her way. She’s a powerful, heroic figure with a complex personality, a rich backstory, and an engaging character arc — but sadly, the movies have only scratched the surface of what makes Storm great.
Cyclops
Another major X-Men character who has never quite landed in the movies is Scott Summers, aka Cyclops, played originally by James Marsden and later by Tye Sheridan. In the movies, Cyclops is portrayed as the serious, straight-laced leader who mainly serves as a foil to more dynamic characters like Wolverine and Jean Grey. But in the comics, Cyclops is a compelling, nuanced character, filled with inner conflict.
Growing up in an orphanage, Scott has always lived in fear of his destructive eye beams, which can only be suppressed by his special Ruby Quartz glasses. All his life, he has been terrified that a single mistake from him could cost innocent lives — and as such, he grows up into a withdrawn, paranoid perfectionist who struggles to connect with others. Because the X-Men are the only family he’s ever known, Cyclops defines himself by his status as team leader, and is wracked with guilt over every teammate he fails to protect.
Far from the boring boy scout of the movies, comic Cyclops is a tragic figure who has nothing to live for besides the X-Men and their mission. His past trauma, internal torment, and ill-fated romance with Jean Grey are perfect material to mine for drama and character development, yet past films have failed to do so. Hopefully the MCU will correct this mistake and finally bring the Cyclops fans know and love to the big screen.
Nightcrawler
Another potentially surprising entry, Kurt Wagner, aka Nightcrawler, is considered by many to be a highlight of X2: X-Men United thanks to his portrayal by Alan Cumming — not to mention the stylish fight scene that introduces him, scored by Mozart’s “Dies Irae.” And indeed, Cumming’s Nightcrawler is by no means a bad adaptation, especially considering the focus on Kurt’s Christian faith. Nightcrawler’s pious side has been a crucial aspect of his character since Claremont introduced the concept in the 1980s. After all, the striking irony of a devout Christian who’s reviled for his demonic appearance is a major part of Nightcrawler’s lasting appeal.
However, this is not the only aspect of Nightcrawler that an adaptation needs to get right. Just as important to Kurt’s characterization is his adventurous side. Since the beginning, Nightcrawler has been depicted in the comics as a fun-loving showman who’s a huge fan of old Hollywood swashbucklers like Errol Flynn. His background as a circus acrobat gives him a natural flair for the dramatic, and he aspires to be a dashing hero who rescues damsels with his expert swordsmanship.
One memorable issue of the spin-off title Excalibur even has Nightcrawler finally live out his dream by becoming a space pirate. But aside from a running gag in which he takes pride in his circus nickname of “the Amazing Nightcrawler,” X2 features a much more dour Kurt than comic fans are used to. Perhaps the MCU will finally make the live action Nightcrawler the cheerful swashbuckler he’s meant to be.
Rogue
After serving as the POV character for the first X-Men movie, Anna Paquin’s Rogue fades into the background of the original trilogy, with most of her screen time devoted to either her underwhelming romance with Iceman or her angst over her deadly powers. And while that internal conflict is indeed a key aspect of comic Rogue, she typically hides it behind a hot-headed, flirtatious brawler persona that’s a far cry from her sullen film counterpart.
Additionally, while movie Rogue’s powers are limited to her life-draining touch, her first appearance in the comics sees her stealing the powers of Carol Danvers, the future Captain Marvel herself — powers that she’d retain for much of her comic history. As such, Rogue is one of the biggest physical powerhouses of the team, a major part of her appeal that her live action self lacks.
Finally, comic Rogue is the adoptive daughter of Mystique, and was raised to be a member of the Brotherhood. That’s right, Rogue is initially a villain before going through a compelling redemption arc in which she works to gain the trust of the X-Men. Her status as a reformed villain and her complicated relationship with Mystique are two more facets of Rogue that have yet to be adapted to film. With any luck, the MCU will feature a livelier Rogue — and maybe even let her face off with Captain Marvel.
Emma Frost
Emma Frost in the comics is a complex character, initially introduced as a two-dimensional villainess before later being reinvented as a morally ambiguous figure who genuinely cares about her fellow mutants beneath her coldhearted exterior. She becomes a teacher, and eventually even joins the X-Men. Between her redemption arc and her cunning, witty personality, Emma is a massive fan favorite.
As such, it’s a shame that her film incarnation in First Class (played by January Jones) has very little personality or agency, merely serving as Sebastian Shaw’s henchwoman. She lacks any of the charm or style that have made comic Emma so beloved, making her yet another popular X-Men character who’s been sadly squandered on the big screen.