The X-Men are one of the most iconic teams in all of comics. They have been featured in animated series, video games, and movies. While originally separated from the Marvel Cinematic Universe due to 20th Century Fox owning the film rights to the franchise, following Disney's acquisition of the studio in 2019, the X-Men can finally play in the same sandbox as The Avengers, Spider-Man, The Guardians of the Galaxy, and more.
It is only a matter of time before the X-Men join the MCU. While multiversal variants of Professor X, Beast, and now Wolverine are set to appear, the question on everyone's mind is when the mutants finally join the proper MCU, who will make up the team?
The X-Men roster and the various branching teams, such as the New Mutants, X-Factor, X-Force, and many more, are filled with characters with incredible powers that could also make for some great stories. Everyone has favorites, and the comics are filled with incredible characters who could and should join the franchise.
This list narrows down the 20 members of the X-Men team that Marvel Studios should prioritize getting into the MCU based on a number of factors, including powers, storytelling potential, and how they would help the MCU's X-Men stand apart from the past cinematic take on the team. These are twenty characters who Marvel should consider for the X-Men roster in the MCU.
20 Wolverine
Created by Roy Thomas, Len Wein, and John Romita Sr.
Debut: The Incredible Hulk #180 (October 1974)
Wolverine is easily the most famous member of the X-Men, and he will for sure be in the MCU; there is no doubt so because of that, he ranks a bit lower on the list. Born James Howlett before adopting the name Logan, Wolverine is a Canadian mutant who was part of the Weapon X program, which bonded the metal Adamantium to his bones. Wolverine's claws are now covered in indestructible metal, and combined with his incredible healing, Wolverine has lived over 100 years, and served in various wars, lived as a samurai, and has a long history.
The MCU Needs Wolverine
Fans are excited to see Jackman return as Wolverine in the upcoming film Deadpool & Wolverine, but that is not a long-term plan. Eventually, the MCU will need its own distinct Wolverine to be part of the franchise, and while some might say he has been overdone thanks to the previous movies, Wolverine is a vital member of the team.
He has many connections to the wider Marvel Universe outside of the X-Men that allow him to jump between stories. Wolverine is just a must-have for the MCU, and it will be interesting to see who Marvel casts to fill the role of Hugh Jackman.
19 Omega Sentinel
Created by Chris Claremont and Brett Booth
Debut: X-Men Unlimited #27 (June 2000)
Karima Shapandar was a police officer who was transformed into Omega Sentinel. Omega Sentinels are humans that are transformed into Sentinels and set up as 'sleeper' agents, unaware of their programming until a nearby mutant activates them. She possesses a wide variety of weapons that include flight, super strength, and techno-organic weapons. Her programming was eventually disabled, and she joined the X-Men, but in recent comics, she has become a full-fledged villain and works with the humans to eradicate the mutant threat, becoming more Sentinel than human.
Hero or Villain?
Being both part human and part Sentinel makes Omega Sentinel an interesting character to have on the X-Men team. She represents the two factions that are the biggest threat to mutants, which gives her a lot of interesting paths to explore in the MCU. She can be a woman who was turned against her will into a weapon to hunt mutants, only to break from her programming and show the co-operating between the X-Men and the embodiment of the weapon made to hunt them.
They could also make her a full-fledged villain at the start, only to eventually redeem herself and become a hero, since the X-Men roster is filled with former foes-turned-teammates.
18 Iceman
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Debut: X-Men #1 (1963)
Bobby Drake, aka Iceman, is one of the original five members of the X-Men. As his name implies, he has the ability to create ice and does so by freezing water molecules in the air, which gives him the ability to create weapons, projectiles, and defenses out of ice. Despite being one of the younger X-Men members, Iceman is easily one of the most powerful members of the X-Men and is classified as an Omega level mutant.
LGBTQ+ Representation
During Brain Michael Bendis's All-New X-Men run, readers discovered that Iceman was, in fact, gay, and he had been repressing his queerness for years. Now, the comics have embraced Iceman living his true self, which fits with the idea of the mutant metaphor being an allegory for people of different races, genders, or sexual orientations.
Featuring a prominent gay superhero is a step that the MCU took with Phastos in Eternals, but bringing in a major member of the X-Men that audiences know and putting him front and center would mean a lot.
17 Colossus
Created by Len Wein and Dave Cockrum
Debut: Giant-Size X-Men #1 (May 1975)
Colossus, real name Piotr "Peter" Rasputin, is a Russian mutant with the ability to cover his skin in metal, making him one of the strongest X-Men. Introduced in the iconic Giant-Size X-Men, which rebranded the team with an international focus, Colossus is a mutant with great depth, as he is more of a sensitive artist and reluctantly uses his powers for the betterment of mutant human relations. Colossus, along with Wolverine, is famous for the fastball special, one of the signature X-Men attacks where mutants combine their powers.
Chance to Really Explore His Character
The 20th Century Fox version of Colossus will return in Deadpool & The Wolverine, but when the MCU finally brings in the X-Men, they will likely want their own version of Colossus.
Despite having been in X2: X-Men United, X-Men: The Last Stand, X-Men: Days of Future Past, and now in all three Deadpool movies, Colossus as a character on film, has not been given much depth, and they have not explored many of his beloved characteristics like his love of art, his romance with Kitty Pryde, or his relationship to his sister Illyana aka Magik of the New Mutants. Colossus could use a new start in the MCU.
16 Jubilee
Created by Chris Claremont and artist Marc Silvestri
Debut: Uncanny X-Men #244 (May 1989)
Jubilee was an orphan who hung out at malls with the ability to create pyrotechnic energy blasts from her hands, which many fans call making fireworks. While on the surface, this might not seem like the most useful powers, X-Men '97 showcased how powerful Jubilee's powers can be. Most fans know her as a product of the 1990s, but in the 2000s, she underwent a strange journey after losing her powers, which included having a son and becoming a vampire for a short time.
Get Her Moment in the Spotlight
Jubilee is one of the most famous X-Men thanks to her role in X-Men: The Animated Series, but despite that, the live-action films never did much with her. She was relegated to background cameos in the first three movies. While Lana Condor played a role in X-Men: Apocalypse, she had a much smaller role, and many of her scenes got cut, and she did not return for Dark Phoenix.
Putting Jubilee in an MCU X-Men movie would be a great way to offer fans something familiar, but also something new they haven't seen in the film. Her vampire connections from the comics also mean she could be introduced in Blade, as Marvel could feature various mutant characters in other films before teaming them up in X-Men.
15 Kitty Pryde
Created by John Byrne and Chris Claremont
Debut: The Uncanny X-Men #129 (January 1980)
Since her first introduction, Kitty Pryde has gone by many different names. She is most popularly known as Shadowcat but has also used the names Sprite and Ariel. She even adopted the mantle of Star-Lord and was recently The Red Queen during the Krakoan era. Kitty Pryde has the ability to phase through objects and was the youngest member of the team for the longest time. She was also a major influence on Joss Whedon in the creation of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
A New Spin on Kitty Pryde
While typically played as a young girl and kid sister to many members of the team, the MCU X-Men could feature an adult version of Kitty Pryde. Kitty Pryde has been both a mentee and mentor to different X-Men in her time, and featuring her as an established X-Men would be a nice change of pace from what audiences expect from her character.
Kitty Pryde also had a romantic relationship with Star-Lord in the comics, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 teased Star-Lord would return, so this is one dynamic the MCU could explore. She could even become the new Star-Lord and move over from the X-Men to the cosmic corner of the MCU.
14 Pixie
Created by Nunzio DeFilippis, Christina Weir, and Michael Ryan
Debut: New X-Men: Academy X #5 (November 2004)
Megan Gwynn, aka Pixie, is a Welsh teenager who is one of the most interesting X-Men as she is both half mutant and half fairy, which connects her to science and magic. Her dual heritage gives her pixie-like eyes and colorful insect-type wings, which grant her the ability to fly. She also can create a substance referred to as pixie dust, which can cause hallucinations. Pixie also can perform magic, particularly teleportation spells, which have made her a vital member of various X-Men groups for moving teams to mission locations.
Major Family Connections Make for Great Drama
One of the biggest reasons for bringing Pixie into the MCU is how many different corners of the Marvel Universe she can connect to. She is the daughter of the X-Men villain Mastermind and is the half-sister of both Lady Mastermind and Mastermind II. That level of family drama is one of the most exciting elements of the X-Men franchise that the movies should explore more.
The other is her connection to magic, which would also allow her to mesh well with characters like Doctor Strange, allowing her to have stories and dynamics outside the X-Men franchise.
13 Kwannon/Psylocke
Created by Fabian Nicieza and Andy Kubert
Debut: X-Men #17 (Feb. 1993)
Kwannon has a very complicated comic book backstory. Most people might recognize her as Psylocke, but for 29 years of publication, Psylocke was a British woman named Betsy Braddock, mind in the body of the Japanese woman Kwannon. The two have since been separated, with Betsy being the new Captain Britain and Kwannon now officially Psylocke. Her powers include telepathy, telekinesis, and a psionic blade.
Fix an Age-Old X-Men Problem
Obvious having a white woman's mind in the body of a Japanese woman is very problematic, but since Marvel separated Betsy and Kwannon, they have streamlined the concept with Kwannon now having all the hallmarks and elements fans love about Psylocke just without the convoluted backstory. Psylocke is a fan-favorite character who would give the team a bit of moral ambiguity.
There is also the fact that Kwannon has ties to both The Hand from Daredevil and Madripoor, saw in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier; she could easily fit into the established world of the MCU as an assassin with enhanced abilities who also happens to be a mutant.
12 Nightcrawler
Created by Len Wein and Dave Cockrum
Debut: Giant-Size X-Men #1 (May 1975)
Nightcrawler is one of the most recognizable X-Men. With blue fur, a tail, and a flair for the theatrical, Kurt Wagner is known as a teleporter. He is also skilled with a sword and an incredible acrobat who can stick to the walls and cling to any surface; he has been one of the faces of the franchise for years. He is a fun, carefree individual who devours the Catholic faith. He is also the son of the X-Men villain Mystique and the adopted brother of Rogue.
The X-Men Need Some Humor
Nightcrawler fills the role of an iconic fan-favorite X-Men, but also often provides a sense of levity to the team. He has plenty of notable dynamics within the team, from his friendship with Wolverine to his dynamic with his adopted sister Rogue; Nightcrawler is a character who can act as the glue between many members of the team. Also, there is just the practical sense that his teleportation skills and sword skills would make for some incredible fight scenes.
11 Jean Grey
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Debut: X-Men #1 (1963)
Jean Grey has gone by many names in the comics, including Marvel Girl and, most famously, Phoenix. One of the original five X-Men, Jean is best known for being the wielder of the cosmic power known as the Phoenix Force and being part of one of the biggest storylines in the X-Men franchise, The Dark Phoenix Saga. Jean Grey is one of the most powerful telepaths in the Marvel Universe and also possesses telekinesis.
Explore Jean Grey Outside the Dark Phoenix
One of the biggest risks in bringing Jean Grey to the MCU is that the filmmakers are likely tempted to do the Dark Phoneix storyline again for the third time on film. Yet there are plenty of great stories for Jean Grey to explore outside, and the filmmakers should take advantage of that, giving a new spin on Jean Grey that audiences are not familiar with.
Jean Grey might be a character that has been overdone on film, but she is one Marvel has only scratched the surface of and could do a lot of interesting stories with, particularly if they explore her life outside of her relationship to Cyclops. The best bet might not be to introduce her in the first MCU X-Men movie, but save her for a sequel.
10 Rogue
Created by Chris Claremont and artist Michael Golden
Debut: Avengers Annual #10 (1981)
Rogue has the power to absorb the life force, attributes, memories, and superpowers of anyone through physical touch. While she originally started out as a reluctant villain, she later joined the X-Men and has since become one of the most famous members of the team. Rogue's relationship with the mutant Gambit is one of the most iconic romances in comics, and within the team of the X-Men one of the most stable and healthy.
A Major Overhaul from the Previous Live-Action Films
Rogue was featured in the first X-Men movie, played by Anna Paquin, and while Paquin did a great job, the movies themselves did a very different take on Rogue. The movies zeroed in on her isolation of never being able to touch, but did so at the expense of the confident, no-nonsense powerhouse in the comics.
The MCU has the chance to do a more accurate comic version of Rogue, and from a storytelling standpoint, it could be useful as she gets her flight and super strength by absorbing them from Carol Danvers, now Captain Marvel. This would allow the MCU to decrease Captain Marvel's powers a bit, so she isn't too strong for other villains.
9 Loa
Created by Michael Ryan
Debut: The New Mutants vol. 2 #11 (June 2004)
Born in Hawaii, Alani Ryan, aka Loa, discovered her powers while surfing, as she can phase through solid objects but breaks down and crumbles after she phases through them. Her codename comes from being named after a type of worm that moves the same way Alani does when she uses her powers. She also has markings on her body that are part of her mutation. She also possesses a magical Atlantean pendant that allows her to breathe underwater.
A Fresh Spin on Kitty Pryde's Power
Loa's powers are a different spin on famous X-Men Kitty Pryde's powers, but when Loa phases through an object, she destroys it. This creates a level of danger with her powers that would make others, and even herself, afraid, which would make Loa a great point of view character for the audiences in a new X-Men, similar to Jubilee in X-Men: The Animated Series or Rogue in the first X-Men film.
Instead of reusing a character that has been done before, Loa gives the filmmakers a chance to do something new with a relatively lesser-known character and give her the spotlight. Plus, her history with the ocean and an ancient necklace that allows her to breathe underwater could nicely tie her in with Namor from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, creating a bridge to the wider MCU.
8 Beast
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Debut: X-Men #1 (1963)
Hank McCoy, or, if you prefer his more colorful nom de guerre, Beast, is one of the founding members of the X-Men. Originally just known for having giant hands and feet, Beast's attempts to cure his mutation resulted in him evolving even more, gaining blue fur and a more ape-like appearance, before evolving further to have a more feline look. Despite his brutish appearance, Beast is one of the greatest minds in the Marvel Universe and is known for his witticisms and deep knowledge of literature, science, and philosophy.
Beast Was Overexposed (but Underutilized)
Beast is an interesting character that did get a lot of screen-time, thanks to Nicolas Hoult's four appearances as the character in X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: The Last Stand, and Dark Phoenix, but those films actively downplayed his blue hair as to keep Hoult's recognizable movie star face front and center, which robbed the character of much of his nuance.
Beast did appear in the mid-credit scene of The Marvels with Kelsey Grammer reprising his role from X-Men: The Last Stand, but that is a multiversal variant. Beast is a vital member of the X-Men roster, as he acts as the team's scientist and provides a great deal of cultural and philosophical insight to the team.
7 Armor
Created by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday
Debut: Astonishing X-Men vol. 3 #4 (October 2004)
Armor, real name Hisako Ichiki, is a Japanese girl who has the power to create an impenetrable psionic exoskeleton body armor that grants her super strength and durability. She can also create energy projectiles and blasts from her armor. In the comics, she is also a protege of Wolverine, following the path of Kitty Pryde and Jubilee. Since she debuted in 2004, she has become a fan favorite due to her distinct power.
Marvel Seems to be Priming Her for the Big Leagues
Armor not only has a visually distinct look and a cool power that is easy to sell to audiences. Like Loa, she would provide a great new POV character for audiences to be introduced to the X-Men. Her power would let Marvel do a new spin on Colossus's abilities without needing to reuse the character. Armor has also gotten a major push from Marvel lately, being the star of Peack Momoko's incredible new Ultimate X-Men comic run.
That story alone would serve as a good source of inspiration for how to start a new X-Men film within the MCU, and Armor could become the next mainstream breakout X-Men.
6 Dust
Created by Grant Morrison and Ethan Van Sciver
Debut: New X-Men #133 (December 2002)
Sooraya Qadir is a Pashtun Muslim from Kandahar, Afghanistan, whose powers are activated when kidnappers try to remove her niqab. Her powers allow her to transform her body into sand, much like the classic Spider-Man villain Sandman. She takes on the codename Dust and joins Xavier's Institute. Dust has become one of the bravest X-Men while also maintaining her faith, and is one of the most prominent Muslim superheroes.
A Muslim Superhero Is a Step Forward
Sooraya is an interesting character, as instead of wearing a superhero uniform, she wears a traditional niqab in honor of her faith. Her wearing a hijab is key to the theme of the X-Men and why they all wear such different outfits. Each member's outfit is a way of expressing their individuality and where they come from while also being part of a larger unit.
Muslims, particularly Muslim women in niqab, have often been portrayed negatively in media, so making one of the members of the X-Men in the MCU a proud Muslim woman who wears and is encouraged to wear a niqab would be a powerful statement to audiences and also remind audiences that the X-Men are a team meant to represent everyone regardless of faith, race, or gender.
5 Angel
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Debut: X-Men #1 (1963)
Warren Warrington III goes by the codenameAngel and is one of the founding members of the X-Men. His powers are self-explanatory; he has massive, angel-like wings that give him the ability to fly. In the 1980s, the character underwent a major overhaul where he was transformed by the villain Apocalypse into Archangel, sporting a pair of sharp metallic wings and blue skin.
Originally a lighthearted man of privilege, his transformation into Angel sent him down a darker path that the character still grapples with today as now Angel and Archangel are often depicted as two sides of the same person.
The Original X-Men Films Have Never Known What to Do With Angel
Of the original five X-Men, Angel is the one the 20th Century Fox movies really failed at. The other four got major roles in multiple films, but Angel was relegated to a glorified cameo in X-Men: The Last Stand, while his role in X-Men: Apocalypse was a henchman that stripped all the defining qualities from the character only to kill him off after one film.
If the Marvel Cinematic Universe wants their version of X-Men to stand out, they should give a big role to Angel, who, over the film, could transform from his billionaire playboy to a bitter, tortured soul when he becomes Archangel. Angel brings a lot of storytelling potential to the film.
4 Gambit
Created by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee
Debut: The Uncanny X-Men Annual #14 (July 1990)
Remy LeBeau is a member of the thieves' guild and is a laidies man, who also has a long, complicated romantic relationship with Rogue. Gambit can manipulate the Kenneth energy in objects, often shown visually by charging playing cards and throwing them before they explode. He is also well-trained with staff. He is a character with a dark past who seeks redemption through his time with the X-Men. Hailing from New Orleans, Gambit is known for his heavy Cajun dialect.
One of the Most Popular X-Men the Movies Never Did Properly
Despite Gambit's popularity with fans, he was cut from the first three action X-Men films and got a brief role in the critically panned X-Men Origins: Wolverine. After years of Channing Tatum trying and failing to get a Gambit movie off the ground, Marvel Studios should invested big on Gambit as one of their main X-Men.
If they wanted to avoid Wolverine for the first film, slotting in Gambit for the team's resident loner is a great call and gives the character the spotlight he has been waiting for. The most recent episode of X-Men '97 certainly showed how powerful Gambit can be and also how beloved the character is.
3 Emma Frost
Created by John Byrne and Chris Claremont
Debut: The Uncanny X-Men #129 (January 1980)
Emma Frost was originally a member of the villainous Hellfire Club, a secret society of mutants who played a big role in the Dark Phoenix Saga. She possessed the powers of telepathy and later discovered a secondary mutation where she could cover her skin in a diamond. Over time, she joined the X-Men and became one of the most popular characters in the franchise, and often walks the moral tightrope between hero and villain.
Untapped Potential
While Jean Grey and Professor X might be the most famous telepaths in the X-Men, Emma Frost is one of the most interesting and one who would bring a new dynamic to distinguish the MCU X-Men from previous films. As seen in Grant Morrison's New X-Men or Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men, Emma Frost being a member of the X-Men speaks to how the team is willing to allow former enemies chances at redemption, but her tact for mutant politics and diplomacy is a valuable asset.
It also could explore the romance between Cyclops and her, one that is just as dramatic as that between him and Jean Grey. Emma Frost can also fill two roles on the team, as both the resident telepath and the powerhouse in place of Colossus with her diamond skin form. Two unique powers and a bold personality with a complex morality make Emma Frost a must-have for the MCU's X-Men.
2 Cyclops
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Debut: X-Men #1 (1963)
Cyclops has been the leader of the X-Men from the very beginning. While he has certainly been eclipsed in popularity for years by Wolverine, Cyclops is the face of the X-Men. Scott Summers emits an optic blast from his eyes and must wear protective eyewear at all times so as not to fully unleash his power.
Cyclops has been married to Jean Grey, had a relationship with Emma Frost, is the father of Cable, has two brothers in the form of Havok and Vulcan, his father Cosair is the leader of an intergalactic band of heroes. He has been both a hero and villain, and is so baked into many vital components of the X-Men mythology that it is a no-brainer that he just needs to be there.
Cyclops Needs to be Given the Spotlight
One of the biggest problems most audiences had with the 20th Century Fox X-Men movies is how Cyclops was often treated as an afterthought, pushed to the side in favor of Wolverine. Even in both X-Men: Apocalypse and Dark Phoenix, the movies put more emphasis on Professor X, Magento, and Mystique than on Cyclops.
If the MCU truly wants their X-Men to stand apart, they will put him front and center on the team. He can fill the role of the traditional hero or even his darker leader angle from Avengers vs. X-Men. X-Men '97 has won a lot of fans over on Cyclops, and the MCU can truly cash in on that.
1 Storm
Created by Len Wein and Dave Cockrum
Debut: Giant-Size X-Men #1 (May 1975)
Storm's power to control the weather and elements makes her one of the most powerful mutants on the planet. Ororo Munroe has become one of the most vital roles in the Marvel Universe, having not only been the leader of the X-Men but also The Avengers and Fantastic Four at one point in time, and was even Queen consort of Wakanda when she was married to T'Challa, The Black Panther. Storm was one of the most prominent Black women superheroes in comics and is an idol to many fans.
The Leader The X-Men Need
Obviously, fans love Storm, and X-Men '97 showed exactly how powerful she could be. While Halley Berry and Alexandra Shipp were both great picks for the character in the past films, the films never gave Storm much to do or even showcased the full scope of her power, which the MCU could do with ease. Storm's status as a Black woman also makes her a stronger fit for the X-Men mutant metaphor, which represents marginalized minorities fighting for the right to be accepted, unlike a white man like Cyclops.
While Storm does not hail from Wakanda and the character of T'Challa is now deceased following the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman, connecting Storm to the fictional nation in some capacity could further integrate the X-Men into the larger MCU. Of all the X-Men, Storm might be the most important member for the franchise to introduce.
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