Here’s Why X-23 Won’t Be Joining In On Future X-Men Films

Logan may have housed Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart’s final outings as X-Men, but the acting icons still had to fight for a spotlight. Thanks to Dafne Keen, the older men were forced to bring their A-game every day on set as the up-and-coming actress wowed with her take on Laura Kinney. The actress has become a breakout star thanks to her portrayal of X-23 in Logan, leaving fans to wonder if the young mutant may show up again in the X-Men Cinematic Universe.

Apparently, there is is no definitive answer about Kinney’s future just yet, but conversations are being had about it. And, according to one of Logan‘s producers, fans should not expect to see the return of X-23 happen within another X-Men movie.

Recently, IGN had a chance to speak with Hutch Parker about his work on Logan, and the producer took time to address X-23’s future. When Parker was asked whether the mutant could show up in an upcoming movie like The New Mutants, the producer said he didn’t believe that was going to be the case.

“I don’t know definitively, but in terms of the stuff we’ve been talking about, it’s not sort of slipping her into the background of another movie. It’s looking at that character, which is a great character and has a pretty interesting run within the comics, to find a story that we think she could carry or certainly be kind of majorly significant within,” Parker said.

“That’s the only kind of thing that Jim as a storyteller, a filmmaker…that’s the way his sort of process works. And the way his mind works in terms of what he would aspire to. Which isn’t to say that the studio couldn’t have a conversation about something else, but the one that we’ve been kind of discussing loosely and kicking around is more likely to be its own film.”

During a recent round of press, Jackman threw his support behind X-23 being the face of a Wolverine reboot. The actor told Collider he felt audiences would buy into Kinney’s story following her debut in Logan, and Jackman was quick to say Keen had proven how capable she was of taking on the role.

“I think it would be very difficult,” he said, referring to a reboot. “However, there’s a female 11-year-old who could absolutely frickin’ nail it, for my money.”

In 2029, the mutant population has shrunk significantly and the X-Men have disbanded. Logan, whose power to self-heal is dwindling, has surrendered himself to alcohol and now earns a living as a chauffeur. He takes care of the ailing old Professor X whom he keeps hidden away. One day, a female stranger asks Logan to drive a girl named Laura to the Canadian border. At first he refuses, but the Professor has been waiting for a long time for her to appear. Laura possesses an extraordinary fighting prowess and is in many ways like Wolverine.

She is pursued by sinister figures working for a powerful corporation; this is because her DNA contains the secret that connects her to Logan. A relentless pursuit begins … In this third cinematic outing featuring the Marvel comic book character Wolverine we see the superheroes beset by everyday problems. They are ageing, ailing and struggling to survive financially. A decrepit Logan is forced to ask himself if he can or even wants to put his remaining powers to good use. It would appear that in the near-future, the times in which they were able put the world to rights with razor sharp claws and telepathic powers are now over.

Logan stars Hugh Jackman (Logan), Boyd Holbrook (Donald Pierce), Patrick Stewart (Charles Xavier), Dafne Keen (Laura Kinney/X-23), Stephen Merchant (Caliban), Elizabeth Rodriguez (Gabriela), and Richard E. Grant (Dr. Zander Rice).

James Mangold (The Wolverine) directed, based on a screenplay he co-wrote with screenwriters Scott Frank and Michael Green.

MORE: Logan Director Shares His Idea For An X-23 Movie / Logan: Hugh Jackman Was Originally Hesitant To Play X-24 / Logan Director Has Spoken To Fox About X-23’s Return