Years after 20th Century Fox bought the movie rights for X-Men from Marvel, Disney changed the game by acquiring 20th Century Fox. In 2019, Marvel officially bought back the right to introduce X-Men characters in their Multiverse Saga. Since then, the fans have witnessed reprisals or variations of the main characters in the MCU.
When thinking of the 20th Century Fox’s X-Men Universe (XCU), two names pop right up in our heads. The XCU veteran character, Wolverine played by Hugh Jackman, and the Marvel Comics-based superhero, Deadpool. Later on, an X-Men spin-off franchise was established in 2016, as the Deadpool series, starred by Ryan Reynolds. However, before the fan-favorite superheroes make their MCU debut for Deadpool 3 in 2024, three additional X-Men actors from XCU already appeared in the MCU first.
1. Evan Peters entered the MCU in WandaVisioon
Fans might have wondered that the awesome speedster Peter Maximoff, and his superhero alias, Quicksilver were long gone. Notably, it was the first character from Fox’s XCU to debut in the MCU, certainly a shocker for fans. Evan Peters’s debut appearance in MCU Phase 4’s WandaVision in 2021, officially marked the merging of XCU and MCU.
WandaVision was also Marvel Studios’ foremost series in Disney+. In the year 2014, the 36-year-old actor initially debuted as Peter Maximoff in Fox’s X-Men: Days of Future Past. Impressed by his superhuman speed and rather goofy demeanor, he was appointed by Wolverine, Professor X, and Beast to free Magneto from the Pentagon prison. Apart from his XCU and MCU debut, Peters also appeared in 2 more X-Men films. Thus, fans are hopeful to see him in another MCU feature soon.
2. Patrick Stewart returned in Doctor Strange
Among the veteran superheroes, Patrick Stewart’s version of Charles Xavier, the founder of X-Men, and his superhero alias, Professor X, has been one of a kind. He began playing the role in the first X-Men movie in 2000 and remained significant in 6 more. Hence, there is no one else the fans could picture as Professor X. In 2022, the headmaster of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters made his MCU return in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
However, the MCU version of Professor X was a variation of Fox’s X-Men. Originally from Earth-838, the telepathic mutant was bound to a bright yellow wheelchair and a member of the Illuminati for protecting the multiverse. The MCU attempted to create a Charles Xaviers that was synonymous with the comics and not Fox’s version. Safe to say, there was much excitement about it from the fandom world.
3. Kelsey Grammer’s MCU debut in The Marvels
Having played a crucial part in two of X-Men features since 2006, Kelsey Grammer’s version of Dr. Henry “Hank” McCoy made his MCU appearance this year. The Marvels post-credits bit disclosed that Teyonah Parris’s Monica Rambeau had traveled to Fox’s XCU while closing the portal in the universe.
Also read: 5 Reasons Why X-Men’s Introduction in MCU With Brie Larson’s The Marvels Makes Perfect Sense
Trapped on the other side, Rambeau encountered a variant of her mother and surprisingly, the 68-year-old actor’s Beast. This shall kickstart the active connection between Fox’s XCU and the Marvel Universe in the future.
