Marvel’s incredible collection of stories and characters that have kept contributing to popular culture finally found an outlet in the 21st-century movie adaptations in an unparalleled manner. But it wasn’t until the addition of such award-winning actors like Jennifer Lawrence, Sir Patrick Stewart, and Sir Ian McKellen to the cast that fans truly started began to hold their breath in anticipation.
But while these actors worked for decades to bring their fully realized characters to the screen, it wasn’t without a fair bit of fun that the actors found themselves waiting to return time and time to the sets of these comic book adaptations.
X-Men Star Wished To Switch Superhero Role With Mystique
To host film and theatre legends such as Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen as Professor X and Magneto – two of the greatest icons of Marvel comics must have been a success for Fox on a level RDJ as Iron Man was for Marvel Studios. With the weight of these two industry juggernauts, the X-Men vehicle began to gain momentum that was unparalleled and unstoppable, just as the cast began to grow in number and become increasingly infamous for hosting characters like Mystique and Dark Phoenix.
However, one particular Marvel star, Patrick Stewart, who also recently appeared as Charles Xavier in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, has officially played the character for the longest time yet and naturally demanded a little variety in his long and tenured role as the patriarch of the X-Men universe. As such, when the controversial 2016 film, X-Men: Apocalypse was about to be filmed, Stewart requested only one thing of the director – to be switched with Jennifer Lawrence‘s enigmatic superhero, Mystique, rather than be a wheel-bound telepathic mutant. In his words, ”I’m so ready to be naked, painted blue, and the world is ready for it too.”
Unfortunately, the Apocalypse script did not accommodate the aged Professor X in its plot and the role was played by his younger counterpart, James McAvoy.
The X-Men Universe’s Future & the Fate of Jennifer Lawrence
Despite embodying these characters for the longest time, Fox was more than prepared to end the saga with 2017’s Logan, by officially closing the chapter of Hugh Jackman‘s Wolverine and Patrick Stewart’s Professor X, before formally merging with Disney and reorienting its plans to be integrated into the Marvel universe. As of now, the official fate of the X-Men is up in the air since Marvel has no opening in its packed timeline and scheduled films for the Multiverse Saga. If the X-Men are to be introduced in the Marvel mainstream universe, it will probably be after the events of Phase Six.
Jennifer Lawrence, in the meanwhile, has also unofficially retired from the Fox franchise as its resident Mystique. After her temporary respite from Hollywood, Lawrence’s comeback witnessed her in roles less intense or hungry for the Oscars. Her lighter, more breezy involvement also indicates Lawrence wanting to make a career trajectory after running behind monumental phenomena or paychecks that paid the highest.
X-Men: Apocalypse is currently available for streaming on Disney+.
Source: IMDb
