Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Fox’s X-Men franchise was considered the greatest superhero film ever. The series gave a new dimension to the genre, which studios did not take seriously until then. The Patrick Stewart-starrer often gained positive reviews for its action, faithfulness to the source material, and performances.
However, one film from the franchise seemingly began its downfall as it was negatively received by fans. X-Men: The Last Stand is often regarded as one of the worst in the franchise due to its unfocused screenplay. Fans still seem to be annoyed at the film for killing off Scott Summers in the first few minutes of the film.
Fans Hate Patrick Stewart’s X-Men: The Last Stand For Killing Off Scott Summers
Scott Summers a.k.a Cyclops is one of the leaders of the X-Men in the comics and was depicted to perfection in X-Men: The Animated Series and the recent X-Men ‘97. However, the character was sidelined in the live-action adaptations in favor of more popular characters such as Wolverine, Magneto, and Patrick Stewart’s Professor X.
Still, James Marsden’s performance was accepted by fans who appreciated the actor’s earnest performance as the laser-eyed superhero. The character shares a complicated love triangle with Jean Grey and Hugh Jackman’s Logan. However, in the third film of the franchise, X-Men: The Last Stand, Cyclops is killed off by Phoenix early in the film.
The death is unnecessary and is essentially retconned in X-Men: Days of Future Past but adds a needless shocking moment in the controversial film. Fans still seemed to be annoyed at the shocking and inconsequential death of one of the franchise’s most iconic characters.
His role in Last Stand is still insane. It’s like killing Captain America at the start of a Civil War adaptation
-Thebeastoftrenzalore
Man Fox really wasted him, fits perfectly as Scott.
-velicinanijebitna
The casting really had promise imo, but I feel like we were robbed of what could have been a great depiction. As for X3, I’m a bit tired of trying to make a Dark Phoenix cinematic work. I think the plot point of the “cure” with the threats and political issues it brings would have been enough to carry a well-written film. It would also be an opportunity to showcase Scott’s philosophy and style of leadership.
-WitchOfWords
Cyclops is basically the X-Men Captain America. Chris Evans proved that such a role can be done well. The X-Men movies hated Cyclops.
-Heavy-Abbreviations8
We don’t talk about X3
-LeoMarius
Fans also mentioned how Scott Summers’ entire arc in the live-action X-Men films was nowhere near the character they loved in the comics and he should have been in a more leadership role like in X-Men ‘97.
James Marsden Did Not Mind Appearing For A Short Time in X-Men: The Last Stand
James Marsden played Cyclops a.k.a Scott Summers in all three films of the original trilogy and even reprised his role in X-Men: Days of Future Past. While he had a more prominent role in the first two films of the X-Men franchise, the third film saw him get killed off in the first few minutes.
It has been rumored that Fox Studios wanted to punish Marsden for also joining director Byan Singer in his directorial Superman Returns, in which he played Richard White. Hence, Cyclops was killed and his screen time was cut short. However, the actor mentioned that he understood how difficult it was for all characters in the film to get their due (via MovieLine),
Well, the thing is I appreciate all the fans that have said that he didn’t get his due, or whatever. But for me it’s very difficult to look back on that experience with any sort of disappointment or regret. I feel really lucky to have been in those movies and feel very proud of what I do in those movies; it’s difficult when you have however many — 12, 15 — new characters that you’re trying to introduce to an audience in 90 to 120 minutes, to give everyone their due.
The actor also mentioned that he realized that he was in a franchise that was centered on Hugh Jackman’s Logan rather than the entirety of the X-Men. He also mentioned that there was enough backstory in the source material for individual spinoffs.
X-Men: The Last Stand is available to stream on Disney Plus.
