The X-Men franchise stirred conversations for its queer elements, and all thanks to Beau DeMayo creating X-Men ‘97. But, was the show the only installment that celebrates all things queer? Alan Cumming doesn’t think so.
The Scottish star believes they have been doing it since 2003 when they released X2: X-Men United. In the film, he played Nightcrawler, a mutant with the ability to teleport. Interestingly, the actor thinks the movie is the “gayest” project he’s ever been.
Alan Cumming Believes X2: X-Men United Has A Lot Of Queerness
During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, actor Alan Cumming looked back on some of his iconic projects through the years and revealed X2: X-Men United has a lot of queer elements.
I think the X-Men film I’m in is the gayest film that I’ve ever done, and that’s me saying that. It’s got a queer director, lots of queer actors in it. I love the fact that something so mainstream and so in the comic book world is so queer.
The Scottish native believes that, in a way, these types of movies bring awareness to the public to help understand what queerness is truly about. Using the artistic perspective of film, people tend to approach it in a less scary way. He also thinks that the gifts and abilities of mutants are the same traits as being queer.
It’s an allegory about queerness, about people having these great gifts and really great, powerful things that they have to hide to exist. Queer people understand what that’s all about.
On his personal website, Cumming reflected on his role as Nightcrawler and claimed it is an interesting one with the message of the movie, which speaks about people tolerating mutants due to their differences, was very timely and unique for a Hollywood film.
He also went on to rant about his scenes on the set, saying “the real drag was having to spend over four hours a day having two men poke my face.” He also mentioned about the “harnesses for the tail and for flying, the feet, the hands.”
Beau DeMayo Claims X-Men Helped Him Embrace His Queerness
The talk about X-Men incorporating queerness recently started with Beau DeMayo’s own series. Although he was fired from the project just days before its premiere, he kept a close watch on it. The series creator, known for being an openly gay actor, once told The Hollywood Reporter how the X-Men franchise helped him find his true self.
We all have a part of us that wants to burn it all down, and there’s a part of us who wants to find the compromise and build it up. And those comics really helped me understand my identity.
Because of Cumming’s statement and DeMayo’s reflection, the claims of queerness being a part of the X-Men world is now more real than ever.
There’s no question that the movies as well as the series are celebrations of one’s individuality, and no matter what orientation the viewers claim to be, the show is pretty much inclusive and understanding of everyone’s uniqueness.
X2: X-Men United is available to stream on Disney+.
