The X-Men are finally on their way to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and that means Marvel Studios has a rare opportunity to revamp some of the most beloved and powerful mutants in comics history for an audience that never truly got the best of them on the big screen. Sure, the original Fox films put the X-Men on the map for those less aware of the comics, but they also sidelined numerous fan-favorite characters. Whether it was by stripping them of their powers, keeping them in the background, or reducing their larger-than-life roles to minor subplots, Fox often undercut a lot of the characters who defined the X-Men for decades on the page.
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As the MCU prepares for its inevitable X-Men debut, these three characters in particular deserve redemption.
3) Iceman
Bobby Drake, aka Iceman, was a founding father of the X-Men, saving people since day one. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1963’s X-Men #1, Bobby started as the team’s youngest member and the comic relief in a lot of the stories. But as the years went on, the character evolved into one of the most powerful mutants in existence.
In the comics, Iceman is an Omega-level mutant, capable of freezing molecules at the atomic level, regenerating his body from water vapor, and by manipulating his form into living ice, he is pretty much immortal.
But when it came to the Fox movies, fans didn’t get anywhere near that version of Iceman. It was no fault of Shawn Ashmore, who played the part he was given very well: Bobby was portrayed as a shy, hesitant teenager whose main subplot revolved around his romance with Rogue and navigating the awkward dynamics of trying to be romantic with a woman who can’t be touched. Yes, we see him able to manipulate the molecules in the air, and yes, he iced up briefly in X-Men: The Last Stand and Days of Future Past, but the movies left out most of his incredible powers, including the ability to reform his body after being shattered.
It’s a missed opportunity that the MCU needs to fix. Rather than creating a love-sick teen version, it would be able to show fans just how creative and devastating Bobby’s powers can be. From freezing oceans and encasing Sentinels in glaciers, to reforming from mist after being blasted apart, the MCU can provide a comic-accurate version, and give him the respect he deserves.
2) Rogue
Speaking of love-sick teens… When you talk about wasted potential in the Fox X-Men films, Rogue is almost always at the top of the list. In the comics, Anna Marie (better known as Rogue) was introduced in 1981’s Avengers Annual #10. Rogue started her career as a villain under Mystique before joining the X-Men. Her powers allow her to absorb the life force, memories, and powers of anyone she touches; that ability alone makes her one of the most dangerous mutants in the Marvel Universe, and her permanent absorption of Ms. Marvel’s powers gave her super strength, flight, and near invulnerability.
Unfortunately, the Fox films gave us a far less dynamic version. Played by Anna Paquin — who, like Ashmore, played her part well — Rogue was depicted as timid, scared of her abilities, and pining for Logan (with an age gap that is beyond uncomfortable). Instead of becoming the confident, unstoppable warrior fans love in the comics and the X-Men: The Animated Series, movie Rogue was mostly written as a tragic love interest. For pretty much every X-Men fan, the films ruined Rogue by stripping away the powers and personality that made her iconic.
When fans think of Rogue, they think of a sassy, bold Southern powerhouse who can trade punches with the Hulk and flirt with Gambit in the same breath. That version never made it to the screen, but the MCU can fix that. Marvel Studios can explain her comic-book origin and give audiences a Rogue who flies, punches through tanks, and still struggles with the emotional weight of her power-draining abilities.
1) Storm
Few characters in the X-Men roster are as universally beloved, and as tragically underutilized, as Storm. Ororo Munroe first appeared in 1975’s Giant-Size X-Men #1, where she joined the second generation of X-Men alongside Wolverine, Colossus, and Nightcrawler. Raised as a goddess in Africa before joining the team, Storm is one of the most respected leaders in mutant history. She has led the X-Men, ruled Wakanda as queen alongside Black Panther, and, oh yeah! She controls the weather. Lightning, hurricanes, tornadoes, and even manipulating the Earth’s electromagnetic field are all in her arsenal.
And yet, in the Fox films, Storm was relegated to a side character whose sole purpose was to mother the children of Xavier’s school, and occasionally use her powers to assist the rest of the team. Storm was consistently pushed to the sidelines, often reduced to one-liners or background shots while Wolverine and Magneto carried the spotlight.
Part of that failure came from behind the scenes. Berry wanted more for the character. She had read the comics after signing on to the movie and discovered how important Storm was to the X-Men, but it was too late. Berry got boxed in by weak writing and limited screen time; her cultural Kenyan heritage, her status as a goddess, and her leadership qualities were completely absent from the adaptations (apart from a dodgy, slightly African accent Berry used in the first movie).
The MCU has an incredible chance to set this right. Storm is one of the most powerful and influential mutants in all of Marvel lore. A proper Storm could not only serve as a leader of the X-Men but also as a bridge between the X-Men movies and the broader MCU, potentially tying into Wakanda’s storylines. Seeing her go full Omega-level, summoning tidal waves or channeling lightning against Galactus-level threats, is exactly the kind of spectacle fans are waiting for.
Which of the mutants do you feel were completely underused in the Fox movie, and how do you think the MCU could rectify that? Let us know in the comments!
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