Trapped on an Airplane with the X-Men
Tag: x-men
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Tabletop Game Review: Marvel United: X-Men Core Set
We’ve discussed many Marvel United expansions from the game’s initial set; it’s time to talk about Marvel United: X-Men. This version of Marvel United adds team play and a one versus many option, where one player controls the villain while the others play the heroes. This increases gameplay options and allows for a fifth player to join in on the fun.
Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. In Marvel United: X-Men, players act as iconic X-Men heroes who work together to stop the master plan of a powerful villain controlled by the game and in some cases another player. Each villain has a unique master plan, cards that trigger various effects, and threats that make clearing locations difficult. Heroes clear missions, making the villain vulnerable, and finally take on the big bad villain before they complete their master plan. Can you save the day in time? Marvel United: X-Men adds Marvel’s merry mutants to the fray.
Before we get any further, we’ll take a side quest and discuss Marvel United: X-Men’s less heroic details.
The Fiddly Bits
Designer: Andrea Chiarvesio, Eric M. Lang, and Francesco Rugerfred Sedda
Publisher: CMON Global Limited and Spin Master Ltd.
Date Released: 2021
Number of Players: 1-5
Age Range: 8 and up
Setup Time: 5-10 minutes
Play Time: 30-40 minutes
Game Mechanisms
Cooperative Play
Hand Management
Modular Board
Solo / Solitaire Game
Team-Based Game
Variable Player Powers
Game Setup
We already covered the Game Setup and Game Flow in our original Marvel United review (here’s a link to that review), so we’ll go over the basics in the following two sections. Let’s cover an abbreviated review of the game setup and rules.
Marvel United: X-Men’s setup can change depending on which Villain(s) and Heroes you choose to play. Each game consists of six locations. Eight locations are included because Marvel United: X-Men is a core set. You may choose your locations or shuffle them and choose six at random. Each Location card has spaces at the top for civilians and thugs and a rectangle with a block of text that will state “End of Turn” at the top of the box.
Place civilian/thug tokens on their matching spaces. Shuffle the Villain’s Threat deck and deal out each Threat face-up so that it covers the rectangle at the bottom of each location. You must clear this threat before gaining the “End of Turn” effect printed on a Location. Place health tokens where signified on threat cards and on the Villain dashboard. Place the three mission cards (Defeat Thugs, Rescue Civilians, and Clear Threats) face up under the villain dashboard where the text reads “Unlocked.”
Each player shuffles their hero decks and then draws three cards to form their hands. Shuffle the Villain’s Master Plan deck. Leave the Master Plan deck face down. This will be the villain’s draw pile.
Players place their miniatures on one of the six location cards, usually the centralmost location for each player (easy access). Then, they place the villain on the location card opposing the heroes. If one player chooses to play as the villain, hand the Super Villain cards to them, and the Heroes gain access to Super Hero cards. These new card times can be played if the game state triggers their use (for example, “You play a Master Plan card” or “Any Hero has 4 or more cards in their hand at the end of the Hero Turn.” Timing is key.
Game Flow
The villain(s) play first. Draw the top card of their master plan deck. The villain moves the number of spaces indicated. Resolve any BAM! Effects and these effects will be printed on a space within the villain’s dashboard. Then, place the civilian/thug tokens (if any) indicated at the bottom of the card. If a player has taken the role of the villain, they get a hand of cards and can choose which card they play. The heroes get their turn after all the villain’s effects are resolved.
Heroes pick who goes first, and hero turns will continue around the table clockwise. At the beginning of each game, Heroes will get three turns before the villain receives another turn. During their turn, heroes play one card from their hand.
Resolve actions and the symbols printed at the bottom of the hero’s card in any order. The symbols at the bottom of a hero’s card will be shared with the next player, but any printed action will not be shared. Heroes will use these actions to complete missions. The game begins with three missions in play: Defeat Thugs, Rescue Civilians, and Clear Threats. Each mission card will have spaces for the tokens they require to complete. As soon as these spaces are filled, the card is discarded, and the mission is considered complete. Mission cards can be completed in any order.
After the heroes complete the first mission, the villain panics and will act (play a card) every two hero cards instead of every three hero cards. After the heroes complete the second mission, the villain becomes vulnerable to damage. The heroes can complete the third mission, but it isn’t necessary. If the heroes do complete the third mission, each hero immediately draws 1 card, increasing each player’s hand size by one.
Play continues back and forth until either the villain wins (by completing their unique master plan or anyone, heroes or villains, runs out of cards) or the heroes win by dealing enough damage to the villain after the villain becomes vulnerable to damage.
Review
Marvel United: X-Men features many new game concepts for the United game system. Having one player take on the role of the villain is the most obvious. I like that Spin Master and CMON games include a chart that allows gamers to play villains from the previous set. Since X-Men characters have a knack for flip-flopping their allegiance, it makes sense that Marvel United: X-Men began the trend of purple miniatures (anti-heroes who can be played as heroes or villains). This feature is crucial to the game design, as I forgot it began with Marvel United’s second wave (X-Men). Marvel United: X-Men also adds a team element with its Blue and Gold Team expansions. That doesn’t factor in too much with the core set. We’ll talk more about the X-Men Blue and Gold Teams in the future.
Power creep is a real thing in Marvel United: X-Men. In the original set, players were lucky if they had three unique abilities and anything more than three cards in their deck with special abilities. Marvel United: X-Men heroes have a minimum of four cards in their deck with special abilities and at least two unique special effects, but there are plenty of heroes with way more than four special ability cards. Marvel United: X-Men also includes plenty of powers that deal with crisis tokens. The original set had a few ways to deal with crisis tokens; most of the methods came in the form of Location “End of Turn” abilities. I like the inclusion of heroes with crisis token abilities. The heroes in Marvel United’s second way had plenty of new ways to affect the game state.
Beginning with the anti-heroes (the purple miniatures who can be heroes or villains), let’s get into specific heroes you can find in the Marvel United: X-Men Core Set. Mystique features few Heroics but plenty of Move and Attack. Her two special abilities (two copies of each card) allow her to prevent new tokens (Thugs or Civilians) from being added by the next Master Plan card, and she can redirect damage from herself to Henchmen or Thugs. This plays into Mystique’s ability as an infiltrator. Typically, Marvel United: X-Men does a good job of showing each anti-hero as their heroic and villainous selves. Magneto is the other anti-hero included in the Core Set. Like Mystique, he has little Heroics but can zoom around the board and deal copious amounts of damage. I like Magneto’s ability to convert symbols into Wild symbols. This makes him versatile.
Perhaps because of the increased number of powers within hero decks, Marvel United: X-Men does an even better job of capturing its heroes. Wolverine begins the game with a healing factor. Cyclops uses Leadership, while Beast also has a regenerating factor (not as persistent as Wolverines) and he specializes in heroics and movement. So far, far thematic, but I really like Storm, Jean Grey, and Professor X. Storm can reposition the entire team, Jean Grey can manipulate the Storyline with Telekinesis, and Professor X may be the most powerful hero in the X-Men Core Set. He’s surprisingly mobile with a penchant for heroics. He can also use Telepathy to manipulate the Storyline, give tokens with Leadership, turn symbols into Wilds, and even turn Thugs into Civilians.
In short, the heroes of Marvel United: X-Men have more personality than the previous set. Professor X may be overly powerful. Half of the cards in his deck possess special abilities, and two of the other six cards feature wild symbols. The villains in the X-Men Core Set provide plenty of twists for gameplay, but that’s to be expected from Marvel United villains. The villains have always represented this game’s most intriguing design space. Sabretooth hunts heroes, while Juggernaut charges from one location to the next, damaging everyone in his way. Magneto is especially difficult to stop. He can nullify all Hero effects and hand out crisis tokens to heroes, damaging them for each crisis token the hero possesses. But Mystique may be the most interesting villain from this lot. She targets Senator Kelly, and the heroes lose if she carries out her assassination.
Marvel United: X-Men’s Locations have varied “End of Turn” abilities. Token draw, healing, moving to another location, rescuing a Civilian, and dealing damage to a Thug/Henchman are standard fare by this point, but Marvel United: X-Men’s Locations gives these mechanisms a few twists. But my favorite “End of Turn” ability may be Sentinel Space Station’s. You may discard 1 card from your hand to the bottom of your deck to swap a card from your hand with one of your face-up cards in the Storyline. This ability is a hint of what one can expect in other Marvel United: X-Men expansions. The Marvel United: X-Men Core Set does enough to show what the second United wave of games offers. It does a great job of building on a solid foundation.
Too Long; Didn’t Read
Marvel United: X-Men adds numerous wrinkles to the United Series’ gameplay. A player can take the role of the villain, team play is possible, and antihero characters can be either heroes or villains. The heroes within Marvel United’s second wave have more personality, while the villains remain stellar. Mystique’s mission of assassinating Senator Kelly is fantastic.
Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
X-Men Color Palette Quiz
Geekly News: August 31, 2025, MCU X-Men
Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. We have several new releases for video games and board games, but before we get to those, the MCU made a somewhat major announcement: they’ve started work on their version of the X-Men. Okay. The MCU was going to begin work on the X-Men within the next year, so this may not be the biggest of headlines, but this could lead to future headlines.
The MCU Begins Work on X-Men
Thunderbolts* may not have done as well at the box office as the MCU had hoped, but it was a great recent entry for the MCU. The Thunderbolts*’s director, Jake Schreier, proved he could handle the quirky and dysfunctional family dynamics of the New Avengers. He even explored the team’s mutual trauma and had them bond. Marvel agrees with me. Early this year, Marvel Studios gave Jake Schreier the nod as the upcoming X-Men movie’s director, meaning Marvel’s mutants are in good hands. In a recent interview with Empire Magazine (via Deadline), X-Men director Jake Schreier confirmed he’s already working on X-Men.
Schreier doesn’t elaborate on his statement, so we don’t have much to glean from what he said. He literally said work on X-Men has begun. Okay. Looks like we may need to extrapolate. That’s right. Buckle up, because we’re flooring the gas pedal into MCU speculation territory.
Early this month, we mentioned an unnamed MCU movie scheduled between the two upcoming Avengers movies (Doomsday and Secret Wars). I stand by our reasons for the MCU films we thought could be released between Doomsday and Secret Wars: Deadpool 4, Black Panther 3, Blade, and Doctor Strange 3. Schreier mentioned X-Men would begin filming next year. Taking recent MCU production practices into advisement, this could add X-Men to the list of possible movies to fill the “unnamed MCU” film slot. But I’m reluctant to add X-Men.
The X-Men will need more build-up than a standard MCU film production. While I’m excited for an X-Men MCU film, my enthusiasm rises with the thought that X-Men will receive an additional year of filming, ensuring the film is the best it can be. X-Men will have too much going on for a quick year-and-a-half turnaround. That production schedule may work for Thunderbolts*, not X-Men. Asking the MCU to squeeze in an X-Men movie between Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars is a huge ask.
However, we should expect X-Men casting news to heat up in 2026. Until now, we’ve had mostly speculation. Geekly even did our own fan casting for the MCU’s X-Men. But that’s what most “X-Men Casting” has been to this point, fan casting. With Scheier’s announcement, X-Men will begin filming in 2026, and casting rumors will be more than speculation. I’ll be on the lookout for trusted industry insiders (like Daniel RPK, who has a great track record with MCU casting news) to report on potential X-Men cast members. In short, if we see someone consistently cast in a role for months by a trusted industry insider, there’s a great chance the actor has been cast for the role. This is the time for X-Men rumors to boil.
Stay tuned. 😉
Transecopia Emerges on GameFound
Transecopia adds hidden placement to the dice placement mechanism. Turns go quick with simultaneous play, and multiple win conditions keep the game fresh and exciting. I’m unsure of Transecopia’s theme, but I imagine it has to do with underwater exploration, based on the game’s artwork. Since I’m unsure exactly what you’re doing, I’ll be focusing on the gameplay, which looks fantastic. Transecopia has a relatively simple concept. Players simultaneously roll dice so everyone can see. Then, everyone places screens in front of their player boards and begins placing dice.
Player boards are resolved in areas, positioned top to bottom and left to right. Whoever has the highest value of dice located in each area, earns the resources from that area. Like I said, Transecopia has a simple concept, but you’ll need to outthink your opponents. Armed with the knowledge of what everyone rolled during the round, you can take educated guesses to where you think your opponents will place their dice. The big reveal is a blast and bound to yield audible responses.
Since Transecopia is releasing on GameFound, we have little information on how much pledges will be at this time. If you’re interested in Transecopia, check out its GameFound page.
The Gilded Realms Marches onto GameFound
Harness the unique strengths and skills of your people in the robust kingdom builder, The Gilded Realms. Armed with their own factions, players compete to defend and fortify the crucial region, The Pristine Mountains. The Gilded Realms offers a lot of customization to each game. Faction upgrades come in handy as you try to build the best empire.
The Gilded Realms offers a ton in its box. This second printing, offered on GameFound, features a new expansion for an extra wrinkle. The Gilded Realms has received great reviews. It offers an intriguing hybrid of simultaneous and turn-based gameplay. Again, The Gilded Realms is on GameFound, so we have little information on how much a pledge will cost. My guess would be in the triple figures, over a $100. You’d be getting a lot of game at that price. If you’re interested in The Gilded Realms, check out its GameFound page.
Airport Empire Lands on KickStarter
Who hasn’t wanted to run their own airport? Airport Empire puts you in charge of a small airstrip and tasks you with building it into an airport empire. Events occur to keep you on your toes. You can buy upgrades to expand your tiny airstrip to an airport. The airport pieces look great. But watch out. You must meet your needs to upkeep your growing business.
You score points in three categories: customer satisfaction, profits, and efficiencies. I love Airport Empire’s example of “an air traffic control tower is great to improve efficiency, but does little to improve your bottom line, where as maintenance hangars brings in revenue but go unnoticed by passengers.” I’m wondering if you don’t “need” these structures to run your airport. That’ll be fun. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.
I like that Airport Empire keeps each version the same. Too many board game campaigns offer varied game experiences with deluxe versions of the same game. And Airport Empire offers plenty of pledge options, ranging from $49-95. That’s a good range for what appears to be a middle-weight game. If you’re interested in Airport Empire, you can check out its KickStarter page.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Star-Crossed World Expansion and Switch 2 Upgrade Released
Kirby and the Forgotten Land was–and still is–a great three-year-old platformer. Kirby gets his time for a Switch 2 upgrade, but this upgrade comes with an expansion, Star-Crossed World. The 12 new levels add some interesting twists to the fun formula. Hilarious Mouthful Mode transformations and the levels themselves make Star-Crossed World a worthy addition. I am a little worried by the Switch 2 upgrades. Switch 2 upgrades should be free if players already purchased the game for the Nintendo Switch, but this upgrade does come with an expansion. Upgrading Kirby and the Forgotten Land from Switch to Switch 2 does give you the Star-Crossed World expansion. This may be an adequate middle ground.
That’s all the geek news we have for you this week. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Geekly News: August 3, 2025, Unnamed MCU Film Set for Release
Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. GenCon is this week. Several board game companies announce titles at GenCon and/or launch board game crowdfunding campaigns during GenCon, cashing in on the hype caused by demos this weekend. So, our board game releases will see an uptick in the next two weeks. Woo hoo! Not only that, but this week saw a lot of high-profile video game releases. Yes! Before we get into those new game releases, we’ll kick off this post with some intriguing MCU news.
X-Men Cast Update and Unnamed MCU Film Set for Release between Doomsday and Secret Wars
Several sources (including Variety and ScreenRant) have cited the MCU casting a younger group of actors for The X-Men. This makes a lot of sense. Ever since the pandemic, movie-going behavior has changed. Fewer people physically watch movies in the theater (they wait for the movie’s digital release), and superhero movies seldom break the $1 billion mark. This new reality has led film studios to change their tactics. The MCU casting lesser-known actors to portray The X-Men should save the production money. We’re seeing this more with other larger movies with budgets earmarked for special effects (films like the upcoming Legend of Zelda). While I don’t care for the reasoning, I’ve always liked the idea of giving lesser-known actors a chance at playing iconic roles.
In other MCU news, Marvel Film Executive Kevin Feige made an announcement that the MCU has an unnamed MCU film set for release between Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. There is a chance the MCU keeps the date, July 23, 2027, available for an MCU movie (between Doomsday and Secret Wars) and chooses not to use the time slot, but there’s a better chance Marvel Studios will fit in a movie between these two Universe-wide and Universe-altering movies. To date, Captain Marvel is one of the MCU’s most financially successful films (at the box office), and it was released between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Captain Marvel benefited from the hype generated by the two Avengers films. The MCU will most likely want to capitalize on the window between Doomsday and Secret Wars.
By my estimation, four films could fill this July 23, 2027, time slot: Deadpool 4, Black Panther 3, Blade, and Doctor Strange 3. I listed these films in the likelihood of their being released, starting from least to most likely.
Even though Ryan Reynolds says he’s not interested in another Deadpool film, Marvel Studios could coax him to do another movie with enough cash. Deadpool 4 will most likely happen, but not right away. Besides, Deadpool is one of the few Marvel film franchises that doesn’t need a Doomsday-Secret Wars boost.
Black Panther is another Marvel film franchise that doesn’t need the boost. Everything Ryan Coogler touches turns to gold. I loved Sinners, Ironheart was better than I expected, and I can’t wait to see his take on The X-Files. Throw in Denzel Washington to Black Panther 3’s cast, and you can see why Black Panther 3 doesn’t need the hype train. It is the hype train. The only reason I place Black Panther 3 ahead of Deadpool 4 in order of likelihood of being released is that it’s further along in its development.
Kevin Feige insists Blade is years away, but he may protest too much. Mahershala Ali has been waiting for his chance to play Blade in an MCU movie. While Blade has been a successful franchise in the past, the upcoming Blade movie will be the first in the MCU. Blade isn’t established within the MCU, so the character can exist outside the universal crossover event. And a Blade film would follow in Captain Marvel’s footsteps of introducing a new MCU character and banking on the hype generated by two connected Avengers films.
But I chose Doctor Strange 3 as the most likely film for a July 23, 2027, release because it’s been in production for a while and doesn’t yet have a release date. At the end of The Multiverse of Madness, Doctor Strange entered a different plane of existence with Clea, so Doctor Strange 3 could explain why he might not be in Doomsday and could tie into his inclusion in Secret Wars. Doctor Strange 3 could also exist outside both movies, or at least the first one, and not screw up the two Avengers films’ storyline.
But what do you think? Do you think the MCU will pass on using the placeholder July 23, 2027, release date? If the MCU uses the date, which film do you think will fill that date? It could be a fifth film I didn’t mention. Let us know in the comments.
Echoes of the Sundering Lands on KickStarter
So much of Echoes of the Sundering’s description interests me. Echoes of the Sundering is a 1-5 player cooperative, open-world, deck-construction adventure. It features simultaneous play and a strong narrative. Cooperative with deck-construction and simultaneous play with a strong story to boot. Count me in. Supposedly, player choices affect what happens in the world. Gamers can customize their characters to suit their playstyle. All of this sounds amazing.
I’m uncertain how players will be able to play their turns simultaneously, but I’m here for it. The game also includes drop-in/out companions. I’ve seen this play out in various other games, but each board game accomplishes this differently. Players can level up their characters like they would in a video game RPG, and while you can play a rogue-lite version, which offers extended replayability, Echoes of the Sundering features a 40-hour campaign.
Build your own unique character and get exploring in Echoes of the Sundering. From the sound of it, Echoes of the Sundering is a more story and character-driven version of Gloomhaven. The above image lists publisher The Wilderforger’s vision board. If this sounds interesting, check out Echoes of the Sundering’s KickStarter page.
Compania Launches on KickStarter
Publisher Level 99 is known for its anime/manga aesthetic. Compania continues this trend, but don’t let the art style fool you. Compania is a clever engine-building worker placement game. I love Compania’s worker placement twist. Players secretly assign their workers to spaces on the board. Each player simultaneously uses six-sided dice to show how many workers they plan to send to each space. Whoever chooses the most workers for each space that turn, claims that space (and its ability) for the turn. Brilliant!
Compania lists its play time as 1 hour, and I believe it. Any time a design includes simultaneous play as one of its mechanisms, play doesn’t take as long because you don’t need to wait for players to take their turn. Everyone takes their turn at the same time. Compania’s auction system has me interested, but I’ve always liked Level 99’s art style; I always know when a game is a Level 99 game. You can back the standard-edition Compania for $50 or go for the deluxe version at $90. Check out Compania’s KickStarter page.
Flip Voyage Emerges on KickStarter
I love flip and write games. I’ve covered a few flip and write games like Draft & Write Records and On Tour. Fliptown, by Write Stuff Games is a fantastic flip and write, and Flip Voyage is the Fliptown’s sequel. It looks just as good. In fact, Flip Voyage’s KickStarter campaign features an expansion to Fliptown. You can pick a pledge that includes the expansion and Flip Voyage.
Flip Voyage’s gameplay looks straightforward and offers plenty of player choice. I have yet to demo Flip Voyage, but the game’s mechanisms make it look as if no two games will ever play out the same way twice. And Flip Voyage’s deck is a modified, standard playing card deck. There’s enough familiarity for newer players to understand the game, while offering something new and exciting. Flip Voyage offers several pledge levels. Most are cost-effective. Check out Flip Voyage’s KickStarter page.
ExoTerra Powers Up on KickStarter
I’ve seen advertisements for ExoTerra for a while, and it looks like something that would interest me. ExoTerra is another cooperative game. This time, you build your own custom mech, a large robot typically found in anime/manga. Player boards are customizable, and the way each one is set up reminds me of Sky Team in a good way.
Of course, ExoTerra features detailed miniatures, but my favorite feature must be the triple campaign map books. Each campaign map includes 30 pages of battle stages. This makes setting up ExoTerra a snap. Just turn to the pages you need and place the three books together. ExoTerra includes several paths to victory. You could replay a scenario, using a different tactic (perhaps a non-combat option), and see if you can win. ExoTerra’s pledges range from $150-260. If you’re interested, check out ExoTerra’s KickStarter page.
Tekken: The Board Game Launches on GameFound
Publisher Go On Board lends their knack for adapting video games to tabletop games to the Tekken franchise. The combat space looks tight, and that’s a good thing. Many combat games provide too many options to run and hide, or allow some characters an unfair advantage to keep their distance and attack from afar. Tekken: The Board Game keeps the fight close. Tekken boasts a short playtime (20-60 minutes). A fighting game of this nature demands a shorter play time.
Tekken: The Board Game features numerous iconic characters from the franchise. While writing this post, the campaign hasn’t yet launched, but by the time you’re reading this, Tekken: The Board Game should be available on GameFound. Check out Tekken: The Board Game’s page.
Grounded 2 Releases in Early Access on Steam
Obsidian’s Honey, I Shrunk the Kids inspired survival game received a sequel this week. Grounded 2 enters early access on Steam. Everything in Grounded 2 is bigger and better than the original, but fear not, fans of the original Grounded, Grounded 2 keeps everything that made the first game fun. The first Grounded was one of the best survival video games on the market. Grounded 2 looks poised to fill those shoes.
I can’t wait to befriend some helpful ants. Check out Grounded 2’s page on Steam.
Tales of the Shire Enters Early Access on Steam
Have you ever wondered what Stardew Valley would look like if it were set in the Shire? Tales of the Shire has you covered. Live your life as a hobbit. Create your own Hobbit as you set forth in Bywater. Though not yet established as an official village in Hobbiton, you will play a big part in helping the quaint town flourish.
Tales of the Shire offers a unique gaming experience. Based on the image above, it looks like we’re getting ready for Elevenses. I’m all for that. For the next ten days, Steam is offering a 10% discount on Tales of the Shire.
Gloomhaven Sequel Frosthaven Releases on Steam
I enjoyed the original Gloomhaven video game. Gloomhaven’s sequel Frosthaven, lands on Steam this week. If you’re like me, you either don’t want to shelve Gloomhaven’s massive box or go through the twenty minutes or more to set up the game. The video game adaptation does a great job of translating the board game into a video game. Frosthaven received the same treatment, and the video game looks great.
Similar to Tales of the Shire, Steam is offering a 10% discount on Frosthaven for one week. Check out Frosthaven’s Steam page.
That’s all the Geek News we have for this week. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Top 5 X-Men Villains
Geekly hasn’t covered a superhero team’s rogues gallery since the Avengers, and there’s no better place to continue that trend than with the X-Men. The X-Men topped our list of Most Powerful Rogues Galleries. If you missed that post, you can check it out here. No one messes with X-Men villains.
Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. We’re back with another Top 5 Villains List. Marvel’s merry band of mutants has no shortage of enemies. Here’s our list of the Top 5 X-Men Villains.
5: Emma Frost
The fifth spot on most Top 5 Villains lists could go in several directions. While the X-Men are no different, Emma Frost was an easier selection than many fifth spots. No disrespect, Juggernaut.
Like most great X-Men villains Emma Frost spends as much time as a hero as she does a villain. As a villain, Frost typically serves as the Hellfire Club’s White Queen. We had to include at least one classic member of the Hellfire Club; they’re a frequent thorn in the X-Men’s side. This alone could explain Emma Frost’s inclusion on this list, but Frost opposes Charles Xavier like no other X-Men villain. She teaches young mutants and twists them into doing her bidding.
The Hellions are the most famous of Emma Frost’s disciples. They were a rival class of young mutants. One by one, Frost manipulated the Hellions. She took advantage of Thunderbird’s grief (because of his brother’s death) and coaxed him into taking revenge against the X-Men. At Frost’s request, Empath used his abilities to force Firestar to love him and join the plot. Emma Frost is a powerful mutant telepath. She’s used these powers to control more than just the Hellions. Kitty Pryde, members of the New Mutants and the New Warriors has at some point been one of Frost’s victims.
4: Mystique
Raven Darkhölme or Mystique (even Raven’s an assumed name, so we don’t know Mystique’s real name) has one of the wildest backstories of any X-Men villain. Again, she’s had her fair share of heroic stints, but Mystique is at her best when she shapeshifts, deceives, and infiltrates.
Nearly immortal, Mystique has done it all. In 1895 (or earlier), she took up the identity of consulting detective Sherlock Holmes. She convinced a time-traveling Kitty Pryde to not assassinate Adolf Hitler during the start of World War II. She’s been a member of the Brotherhood of (Evil) Mutants, organizing the third incarnation of the team. During this time, she adopted a young girl named Anna Marie (Rogue) and manipulated her into stealing Carol Danvers’s powers.
Mystique is the biological mother of a couple of prominent figures in the X-Men universe: Nightcrawler and Graydon Creed. While Nightcrawler is another popular X-Man, Graydon Creed is the leader of the mutant-hating organization Friends of Humanity. Creed would later become a politician and after he became too much of a problem, he was assassinated. Mystique was the gunman. Ruthless and conniving, Mystique will do whatever it takes to accomplish her goal.
3: Mister Sinister
Mister Sinister is the figure in the shadows. A world-renowned geneticist, Mister Sinister treats humans and mutants as his playthings. He’s cloned (even himself), created new life, and manipulated mutant DNA for enhancing powers (again, he did this to himself). The original Nathaniel Essex (Mister Sinister) was transformed into his current form by the mutant known as Apocalypse, and his clone has spent most of his life scheming ways to break free from Apocalypse. To achieve this end, Mister Sinister has manipulated the lives of critical members of the mutant race. Cyclops, Jean Grey, Gambit, Havok, and even Professor X have been Mister Sinister victims.
Madelyne Pryor may be Mister Sinister’s greatest creation. She posed as Jean Grey, married Scott Summers (Cyclops), and gave birth to a child Nathan Summers (Cable). Yeah. Mister Sinister is all up in the Summers’ family tree. Cable’s given name Nathan is a nod to Mister Sinister’s original name Nathaniel. You could view Cable as having the family name of two families.
Beyond Sinister’s family skullduggery, he was the one responsible for wiping out the Morlocks. Unknowingly, Sinister was the one who unleashed the Legacy Virus, a mutant-specific pandemic that decimated the mutant populous. Despite multiple lifetimes of villainy, Professor X appointed Mister Sinister a seat on the mutant island nation Krakoa’s Quiet Council. His life’s work aided with the re-establishment of the country after the Krakoa Massacre.
2: Apocalypse
We go from Mister Sinister to the mutant who created him, Apocalypse. En Sabah Nur, translated as “The Seven Lights,” has lived for generations. Born in ancient Egypt, Apocalypse began life as a slave, and over time, he became a conqueror. His laundry list of abilities was crucial in Apocalypse’s Road to Conquest. Here’s a brief list of Apocalypse’s powers: self-resurrection, psychic-link, self-atomic manipulation, biomorphing, size alteration, superhuman strength, superhuman durability, superhuman stamina and endurance, telepathy, force fields, and telekinesis. The previous list was a third of Apocalypse’s powers.
Is it any wonder that Apocalypse has taken the guise of a god of destruction and the end times? Like all the other villains on this list, Apocalypse has a massive history with the X-Men. One of Nur’s standout storylines is the Age of Apocalypse. In this alternate future, Apocalypse sees his “Survival of the Fittest” philosophy to a logical conclusion. The mutants who survive are the ones able to adapt to Apocalypse’s extreme worldview.
No one aspect of Apocalypse showcases his extreme worldview than his Horsemen. Numerous X-Men have served as one of the Horsemen of Apocalypse, but Warren Worthington III may still be the most iconic. Nur transformed Worthington from the natural, angelic wings of Angel to the twisted techno-organic wings of Archangel. Archangel served as Death. War, Famine, and Pestilence round out the remaining members. The entire universe is at stake whenever the Horsemen arrive. The same can be said of Apocalypse. En Sabah Nur lives for destruction.
1: Magneto
Magneto is one of the most iconic comic book villains of all time. He had to take the top spot. His origin story is legendary. After suffering atrocities at the hand of the Nazis while interred in Auschwitz, Erik Lehnsherr (known by multiple other names like Max Eisenhardt) vowed never to let anything like the holocaust happen to the people he loves. This trauma formed Magneto’s worldview, and when humanity began lashing out against mutants, Magneto fought back. He wants to live in a world where mutants are humanity’s masters, and this puts him at odds with X-Men founder Professor Charles Xavier who dreams of peaceful mutant-human coexistence.
No other villain typifies an X-Men antagonist more than Professor X’s friend Magneto. We could discuss why Magneto takes the top spot for days, but ultimately, anyone who knows of the X-Men knows about Magneto. Most readers expected to see Magneto take the top spot. Magneto is iconic.
Did we get the list right? Let us know who you would add or remove in the comments. And wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Geekly News: May 4, 2025, MCU Reveals First X-Men Villain
First things first. Happy Star Wars Day! We plan to celebrate with various games. Let us know how you plan to celebrate May the Fourth. Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. This geek week’s news cycle had a few developments, but we’ll start with the MCU.
Mister Sinister Named the MCU X-Men’s First Villain
While not guaranteed, the MCU heavily implied that they intended for Mister Sinister to be the first villain the MCU’s rendition of the X-Men would face. Mister Sinister has been rumored for months. Several trusted sources have confirmed that we’ll see Doctor Nathaniel Essex soon. This tracks. Often, the MCU would rather use a villain who hasn’t yet made their big screen debut as the villain in a major film, and the rebooted X-Men would be a major release.
I have reservations with Mister Sinister being the X-Men’s first villain. Typically, he’s better served with a slow build. Mister Sinister’s original concept was of a child at the same orphanage as Cyclops, but he secretly ran the facility. Mister Sinister ages slowly, so while he looked like an 11-year-old like Cyclops was at the time, he was 50 years old. I can see the MCU making it appear like Mister Sinister hid in plain sight for decades, but I’m not sold on this angle. We’ll have to see how the MCU intends to incorporate Mister Sinister. He’s not the easiest villain to plop into a narrative, but I’d love to see him on the big screen.
Skye casted Robert Pattinson as Mister Sinister in our recent Geekly Casting: X-Men in the MCU post. I like that casting. I can see it. There have also been rumors of Keanu Reeves joining the MCU. Of the two roles we know will happen, Reeves would make a good Beyonder (Secret Wars) or Mister Sinister. We’ll let you know as we get more information.
Whoopsie! Chrono Trigger Remake May or May Not Have Been Leaked
2025 marks Chrono Trigger’s 30th anniversary. Fans got excited for a Chrono Trigger Remake after a statement was released that the game would be next in line at SquareEnix to get the remake treatment. At first, news releases made it sound as if original game designer Yuji Horii had made an announcement for a Chrono Trigger remake at Napoli Comicon 2025, but Horii’s comments were mistranslated. Here’s a link to the Napoli Comicon 2025 panel in question:
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2448211166?t=18941s
Still, one must think there may be some smoke. Chrono Trigger is celebrating a milestone anniversary. It would make sense that SquareEnix has something planned for this year. Fingers crossed that SquareEnix continues its trend of video game remakes with Chrono Trigger.
Flamecraft Duals Hits Kickstarter
While the original Flamecraft can accommodate 2-player games, it thrives at higher player counts. Flamecraft Duals continues the trend of 2-player variants of popular games. The production quality looks fantastic. I like the use of buddy tokens. Flamecraft Duals may be set in the same universe as Flamecraft, but plays very differently from the original. I don’t have a lot of bag pulling games, so I may consider picking up Flamecraft Duals. Gamers can even purchase the Dragons & Dragons add-on that modifies the original game. You can back the base Flamecraft Duals for $30 or Dragons & Dragons for $20. There’s even a Horde option where Cardboard Alchemy includes promo cards, an art book, and two dragon plushes for $99.
Trash Rush Launches on Kickstarter
Raccoons work as trash collectors in Trash Rush. What’s not to love? Trash Rush is a quick to learn and streamlined experience. Players control their team of raccoon trash collectors by playing cards from their hands once per turn, but be careful. Whatever order you place your raccoons’ actions will be the order they will conduct those actions for the entire round. Despite a simple concept and easy-to-learn rules, there are plenty of strategic choices.
Per Rhado, from Rhado Runs Through, Trash Rush is a good alternative to Ticket to Ride. Players must generate a network and optimize their ability to collect trash. I can’t get over the raccoon characters. Yay! And it helps that Trash Rush has multiple ways to play: multiplayer competitive, cooperative, and solo. The base game costs about $34 (the totals are calculated in Euros). If you include Trash Rush’s first expansion, a pledge will cost about $59, and the all-in pledge runs around $72. Shipping is not included, of course.
Super Pixel Tactics Lands on GameFound
If you’re like me, you’ll have to wait for Super Boss Monster to make it to your local game store, but Boss Monster isn’t the only board game inspired by classic video games. Pixel Tactics pits players against each other in a battle to the death. Super Pixel Tactics is the new definitive version by Level 99 Games. I’m actually more impressed by the storage capacity of Super Pixel Tactics. Super Boss Monster had issues with storing a lot of its bits; Super Pixel Tactics shouldn’t have that same issue.
I even like how Super Pixel Tactics is accommodating sleeves. That doesn’t happen that much, and so many board gamers love to sleeve their cards. The gameplay gets some much-needed tweaks but stays mostly the same. I am excited about the new solo mode. If you’re looking for a two-player combat game that’s set in a classic video game universe, you should consider Super Pixel Tactics. The pledge levels include the full collection at $100, the first two Pixel Tactics and a mat for $60, just the first game for $15, and everything, including all the bling, for $150.
Geekly Casting: X-Men in the MCU
Another day, another new series for JK Geekly. The X-Men will feature in the MCU’s upcoming Mutant Saga, so we’ll be discussing who could play Marvel’s mutants during this MCU Phase.
Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. The Geekly Gang will divide duties here with the discussion. Since Skye is our resident movie geek, she’ll cast her favorite actors for each role. I have an interesting job this week. Geekly Casting is an idea that came from one of our site’s commenters, Harper Ross. Thank you, Harper. I’ll discuss the picks Harper Ross suggests for Marvel’s Merry Mutants. Thank you again, Harper Ross.
Harper Ross’s Picks | Kyra’s Commentary
Thank you again, Harper Ross. Keep the cast suggestions coming.
I’ll preface all these lists (not just Harper Ross’s) by saying that I prefer actors who haven’t yet had their big breaks in blockbuster roles. This probably stems from watching Christopher Reeve as Superman. But we’ll most likely get more established names in these lists because actors who haven’t yet had their big break are unknown. Without further ado, let’s get to the X-Men cast.
Scott Summers/Cyclops: Sam Nivola
Yowza! Harper Ross has some great picks for potential MCU X-Men actors. Sam Nivola is on the young side, but I think that works, considering who Harper has to portray Jean Grey. Let’s face it. Whoever plays Scott Summers/Cyclops will most likely commit to ten or so films. The Summers family could and should be at the center of a Mutant Saga. While the Fox X-Men films had fun moments, the biggest shortcoming was how they treated Scott. Casting Sam Nivola in the role and giving him more to work with than James Marsden’s Cyclops will go a long way to make Cyclops cool again. I haven’t seen season three of White Lotus yet, but I’ve heard Nivola gives an amazing performance.
Jean Grey: Rhea Norwood
I love Harper Ross’s choices. Rhea Norwood is building a name for herself in Heartstopper as Imogen Heaney. She made her theater debut at London’s Playhouse Theatre as Sally Bowles in Cabaret last year. I like it when an actor is a triple threat (singing, dancing, and acting). One must be all three to portray Sally Bowles. Our next entry will continue this trend. And I like that Rhea Norwood would portray a younger Jean Grey. She, along with Nivola, could anchor the X-Men movies for a long time.
Other actors who Harper suggested include: Phoebe Dynevor, Eve Hewson, Grace Van Dien, Katherine Langford, Madelyn Cline, Sophie Thatcher, Josephine Langford, Imogen Waterhouse, Hannah Dodd, Emma Mackey, Lucy Doynton, Emma Laird, Kristine Froseth, Freya Allan, and Meg Bellamy
Wolverine: Taron Egerton
Taron Egerton has been in a lot of rumors to portray Wolverine. He’s on my personal shortlist to play the character, too. Like Hugh Jackman, Egerton is a triple threat. He can sing, dance, and act. I loved him in Rocket Man (the Elton John biopic), and he has a history of action films. Heck, he has experience portraying a comic book character in The Kingsman. Unlike Jackman, Egerton is closer to Wolverine’s canonical height. It’ll be difficult to find an actor who’s under five feet tall. At five feet, nine inches, Egerton is considerably shorter than the six-foot-tall Jackman. Egerton is also young enough to play Wolverine for a couple of decades.
Storm: Masali Baduza
Yes! Masali Baduza fits the bill of an actor who’s been close to breaking out and hasn’t yet done so. She had a significant role (Fumbe) in the great film The Woman King and guest-starred in a few Bridgerton episodes. Baduza has the acting presence for Ororo/Storm. She can play the role for a lengthy period, and she’s shown range, specifically when it comes to period-pieces. Storm should cross between the X-Men and Black Panther franchises. Whoever portrays Storm should be able to adapt. Baduza has proven she has that range.
Other actors who Harper suggested include: Denee Benton, Sophie Wilde, Kiki Layne
Rogue: Mikey Madison
Make no mistake. Mikey Madison is a phenomenal actor. Her breakout role in Anora netted her a BAFTA and an Academy Award for Best Actress. She’s the first Generation Z actor to have earned either award. Because she’s Gen Z, she’s young. She’d make a fantastic Rogue, but I’d like an older actor as Rogue. I noticed that Harper didn’t mention an actor to portray Gambit; that could mean that Channing Tatum will reprise his role. Tatum is eighteen years older than Madison. Furthermore, I like the idea X-Men ’97 explored last year of a Gambit-Rogue-Magneto love triangle. Rogue may have to be closer in age to Magneto for this love triangle to make it to the big screen.
I love Madison as an actor. She’d be amazing as Rogue. But if she were to take on the role, Marvel may need to age down Gambit and possibly Magneto.
Kwannon/Psylocke: Anna Sawai
I have heard nothing but great things about FX/Hulu’s Shōgun series, and from what I’ve heard, Anna Sawai is brilliant. Clearly, she has the gravitas to pull off Kwannon/Psylocke. The name Psylocke is better known in Marvel Comics, and the MCU could go in the direction of Betsy Braddock’s consciousness inside Kwannon’s body, but I like Harper’s idea of casting Kwannon, sans Psylocke. While Psylocke physically showed up in an X-Men movie or two, Kwannon has yet to be explored.
Jubilee: Kiawentiio
Kiawentiio aligns with my thoughts on an actor who hasn’t yet had their break. Another great pick, Harper. I also like that she’s Native American (Mohawk Wolf Clan specifically). The only sticky point I can see is that Kiawentiio voiced Whata in the season two episode of What If “What If… Kahhori Reshaped the World?.” Usually, Marvel doesn’t mind if an actor voices a different character in an animated feature than the one they portray in live-action. Kiawentiio could portray Jubilee. But Marvel could also bring Whata into the mainline MCU.
Sage: Marion Cotillard
Marion Cotillard’s Talia Al Ghul in The Dark Knight Rises left a lot to be desired, but the fault lies more with how the Nolan brothers struggled to develop her character. Marvel Comics’ Sage shares some similarities with Talia. There’s a chance for a double-cross or two. So long as Cotillard has the screen time and a good script, she can easily pull off Sage. You know what, she’d kill as Sage. Make that happen.
Professor X: Daniel Day-Lewis
Ah! I’d love to see Daniel Day-Lewis as either Professor X or Magneto. He could pull off either role. Unfortunately, Day-Lewis has retired from acting. I don’t know if an MCU role would coax him out of retirement. Knowing Daniel Day-Lewis, he’s probably in some exotic corner of the world learning a niche skill. I do agree with Harper that Day-Lewis would be amazing as Professor X.
Lilandra Neramani: Michelle Monaghan
I know a lot about Michelle Monaghan’s work (she’s featured in the Mission: Impossible series), but I’ll admit that I haven’t watched too many of her more prominent roles. Monaghan is one of those actors I’ve seen in plenty of TV shows and movies. She’s a consummate character (True Detective, The Path, and The White Lotus) and could easily take on Professor X’s main squeeze Lilandra.
Magneto: Ralph Fiennes
Fiennes is another great choice to portray Magneto. Fortunately, he’s very much active. He’ll star in the follow-up to 28 Days Later, 28 Years Later in 2025. He was also excellent in the Netflix adaptation of Roald Dahl’s short stories: The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More. Fiennes has the acting chops to pull off Magneto. It also helps that he’s a similar age to Day-Lewis.
Mystique/Raven Darkholme: Rosamund Pike
I see the vision here. Rosamund Pike could portray a Mystique with a focus on espionage. The Fox X-Men series’ Raven Darkholme dabbled with infiltration but never committed. While I think Jennifer Laurence could reprise the role (and there are some rumors that she could), Rosamund Pike has taken on plenty of layered roles like Gone Girl and I Care a Lot. I’d like to see Pike’s take on the character. Great pick.
Emma Frost (White Queen): Samara Weaving
I like Harper’s call of Samara Weaving playing Emma Frost. First off, she looks the part. Emma Frost has a distinct look that comic fans expect to see. Secondly, Weaving has been involved in a ton of great and award-winning ensemble casts. She’s an actor’s actor. She’s able to fit into just about any cast, and she’s ready to break out. Emma Frost could be that breakout role for Weaving. I also like that Weaving and the actor who Harper suggested should portray the Black Queen (next on this list) have an age difference, but it isn’t as significant as one might think. Weaving should be capable of holding her own while also showing the White Queen to be the upstart to a more established Black Queen.
Selene Gallio (Black Queen): Demi Moore
Demi Moore has had a career resurgence with the body horror flick The Substance. She showed a vulnerability to the role that gave The Substance weight and parodied her former image as a Hollywood star. Oddly, Selene Gallio could continue that trend. Forever in the White Queen’s (Emma Frost’s) shadow, Moore could grant the role of Gallio some much-needed nuance.
Mystique/Raven Darkholme: Rosamund Pike
I see the vision here. Rosamund Pike could portray a Mystique with a focus on espionage. The Fox X-Men series’ Raven Darkholme dabbled with infiltration but never committed. While I think Jennifer Laurence could reprise the role (and there are some rumors that she could), Rosamund Pike has taken on plenty of layered roles like Gone Girl and I Care a Lot. I’d like to see Pike’s take on the character. Great pick!
That’s all we have from Harper Ross in terms of MCU X-Men roles. This is by no means the only casting thoughts we received. We’re well on our way to an Inhumans and Alpha Flight movie/show for next month. Thanks again for submitting your thoughts, Harper.
Skye has made some fan castings of her own. She insists that she has a surprise or two. I can’t wait to see what she has in store.
Skye’s Picks
Thanks again to Harper Ross for suggesting this post. I hadn’t thought about this topic much until you brought it up. Ever since the release of the MCU, I’ve been wondering when the X-Men will show up in the MCU. I don’t watch movies for specific actors, but there are some actors I think would be great fits.
To clarify, these are actors I’d like to see. Just for fun, I will include actors who have passed away. Bottom line: if I think an actor would’ve been a good fit, I’mma mention it. Cool? Cool.
Wolverine: Charlton Heston (Posthumously)
Whaddya know? I’m starting off with an actor who’s passed. Don’t you tell me who I can and can’t pick. Rewatching both The Ten Commandments and Ben-Hur for my Christian films post made me think, “Wow, Charlton Heston was shredded back in the day.” That aside, not only did Heston have the physique for Wolverine, his acting would’ve been a great match. Charlton Heston has had plenty of experience with characters with tragic and complex backgrounds like Wolverine. He’s got the looks, the personality, and the beard. Nuff said, bub.
Professor X: Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman may not be English (like Patrick Stewart or James McAvoy), but personality-wise, he’s spot-on for Professor X. Morgan Freeman hasn’t made it to the MCU yet. That has to change! If y’all have ever seen a Morgan Freeman movie before, you probably know how much he exudes Professor X energy.
This shouldn’t be a choice I have to defend. Come on, y’all. You see it, right?
Cyclops: Tye Sheridan
Tye Sheridan has played Cyclops before, but I’d like to see him again. He deserves a second chance after a less-than-stellar performance as Cyclops. He and James Marsden in the original X-Men film series didn’t have great scripts that represented their acting ability. I decided to go with Tye Sheridan due to his age. While I believe James Marsden could’ve done better as Cyclops the second time, he’s already in his 50s. If Marvel intends to keep the love triangle with him, Wolverine and Jean Grey, it’d be hard to do if Cyclops was already over 50. Tye Sheridan could be a great Cyclops if he had a better script.
Jean Grey: Elle Fanning
Elle Fanning would be a good fit since I expect Marvel to keep the love triangle (Jean Grey-Cyclops-Wolverine) going. While Fanning wouldn’t be most folks’ first choice, she has potential. She’s played several innocent and loving characters, which could translate to a proper cinematic Jean Grey. Previous Jeans have flubbed this aspect. All of them were setting up The Phoenix first before trying to get a good Jean Grey. If you want a good Phoenix, you must get a good Jean Grey. Because of that, Elle Fanning could be sympathetic, realistic, and relatable.
Storm: Viola Davis
I shouldn’t have to defend Viola Davis as Storm. If you’re familiar with Viola Davis, you know what I mean. After her amazing performance in The Woman King, it’s hard to see anyone else filling the role of Ororo Munroe with as much passion, confidence, and leadership. Honestly, my first choice was Danai Gurira, but she’s preoccupied playing Okoye in the MCU. Viola Davis is by no means a downgrade.
What more can I say? Fight me! …Please don’t.
Gambit: Channing Tatum
After Channing Tatum’s performance as Gambit in Deadpool and Wolverine, it’s hard for me to imagine anyone else portraying Gambit in the MCU. He wasn’t the best Gambit I’ve ever seen, but he’s the most authentic in a film. You know what, no, Channing Tatum is the best Gambit I’ve ever seen. What am I basing that on anyway? X-Men Origins: Wolverine? I hate that I said that. I’m sorry for reminding you that X-Men Origins: Wolverine exists.
Rogue: Debbie Reynolds (Posthumously)
We have another actor who’s passed. I’ve wanted an authentic Rogue in film. Debbie Reynolds is a classic film alumna. She’s gone through several film roles and character personality types, has a strong resemblance to Rogue in comics, and is all around cool. I could easily imagine Debbie Reynolds as the take-charge, no-nonsense, badass Rogue from both the comics and the original X-Men Animated Series.
Beast: Kelsey Grammer
I’ve adored Kelsey Grammer as Beast since X-Men: The Last Stand. From minute one, I felt less like he was an actor playing a role and like Beast come to life. Despite the other issues with X-Men: The Last Stand, Beast was the one element they nailed.
I love it when the MCU pays homage to what came before. As Marvel changes, it’s important to remember where it began, for better and worse. Sorry, I got philosophical there for no reason. Where was I? Oh yeah, Kelsey Grammer would be a great Beast.
Magneto: Denzel Washington
Denzel Washington’s Magneto would be a great contrast to Morgan Freeman’s Professor X. I’ve learned (from Geekly News) that the MCU may be considering Denzel Washington for the part of Magneto. If this is the case, that’s absolutely genius.
Not only does Denzel Washington have experience with dark, conflicted roles, but Magneto’s personality was originally based on Malcolm X. This is too perfect because Denzel Washington has already portrayed Malcolm X. The idea that this could come around full circle is too much for me to resist.
Emma Frost: Samara Weaving
Harper, you nailed this one. I’m familiar with Samara Weaving from her role in Ready or Not, so I know she can be elegant, selfish, powerful, and intimidating. After seeing your suggestion, I can’t imagine any other actress in this role. Thanks again for your suggestions, Harper. I hope Marvel is listening.
Mr. Sinister: Robert Pattinson
Considering Robert Pattinson’s increasingly dark film roles, he could pull off Mister Sinister. Since his Twilight days, Pattinson has scored some solid film roles: The Lighthouse and The Batman. Pattinson has lent himself to suspenseful and dark themes. Enter Mister Sinister. First, there’s never been a cinematic Mr. Sinister. That needs to change. Second, if that does happen, make him like a horror movie monster. That would be memorable and unique to his character. Given those requirements, Robert Pattinson’s career turnaround is dying for this surefire blockbuster hit.
Juggernaut: John Cena
This is less what I want, and more what I’ve accepted modern Hollywood will likely do. What’s the deal with John Cena? Why is he in so many movies now? Maybe I should be asking the same question about The Rock, but I don’t want to give Marvel any more ideas. For whatever reason, Hollywood has started putting Cena in everything. With Marvel, I feel like it’s only a matter of time.
Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle again. Those were some interesting picks, Skye. You may have given Marvel more than one idea. Since you mentioned Charlton Heston and Debbie Reynolds, I expect Marvel to superimpose their faces on other actors’ bodies, Rogue One style. Samara Weaving may have competition with Marilyn Monroe. Real soon, we’re going to see Marilyn in everything.
JK…I hope. Thank you again, Harper. Keep the casting ideas flowing, and if anyone else wants to participate, join the party in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
X-Men Members Quiz
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