When X2, the thrilling follow-up to X-Men (2000), burst into theaters in 2003, could anyone have predicted the everlasting impact it would leave on the superhero genre? Triumphantly applauded for its head-turning action sequences, compelling storyline, and strong script, Bryan Singer’s movie soared beyond mere entertainment to become a cultural touchstone.
Aside from its cinematic prowess, X2—starring Hugh Jackman & Alan Cumming—struck a deep chord with its empathetic nods to outcasts, teens, gays, and minorities. The latter’s praise for the film as one of the “gayest” projects he has worked on mirrors its nuanced approach, which co-writer David Hayter tackled with heartfelt intentionality, as he gladly shared in a recent TMZ interview.
Furthermore, X2’s underlying allegories of societal exclusion and the search for dignity & respect in adversity were deliberate strokes of writing genius, a meaningful allegory that even Ian McKellen could see from a mile away.
X2: Alan Cumming’s Take on the Film’s Narrative
Alan Cumming, who starred in X2 as the teleporting mutant Kurt Wagner / Nightcrawler, is openly bisexual. During a recent chat with Entertainment Weekly, the Macbeth actor, 59, famously stated that the 2003 flick was “one of the gayest” he had ever been a part of. To quote him:
I think the X-Men film I’m in is the gayest film that I’ve ever done, and that’s me saying that. X2 is the queerest film I’ve ever been in and that’s me saying that. It’s an allegory of queerness, queer director, lots of queer actors in it.
The film was the second entry in the X-Men franchise from 20th Century Fox. Helmed by Bryan Singer, X2 also starred Ian McKellen, who came out as gay in the late 1980s (see The Independent). Continuing, Cumming said:
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.
In a Sunday interview, the film’s co-writer, David Hayter, praised Cumming’s statements.
What Ian McKellen & David Hayter Have To Say
In a TMZ interview, the movie’s screenwriter, David Hayter, celebrated Alan Cumming’s sentiments, saying he was pleased with how they had captured the essence of the actor’s character:
It made me really happy and I was so glad we had done right by him. He’s such an icon for gay rights.
Hayter revealed that the writing was “definitely done on purpose” to highlight the themes of exclusion and acceptance faced by various marginalized groups.
He added that Ian McKellen, who played Magneto in the X-Men franchise, “recognized the allegory” of the stories from a gay perspective early on. According to Hayter, the overall goal of X2 was to represent anyone who faced hatred or exclusion, emphasizing that we are all worthy of respect and human value:
Our overall goal with the X-Men in general was just exclusion for anyone — anyone who faced hatred or exclusion or judgment still, and still felt compelled to do the right thing.
Hayter mentioned other instances from the series, like when Magneto summarized Malcolm X at the conclusion of the first X-Men movie. He stated:
It’s really for anybody who feels exclusion, but, you know, we had a number of key creatives behind the camera and on camera who were gay, and so obviously that element was on our minds.
Despite the success and positive reception of X2, the franchise faced controversy with allegations of s*xual misconduct against director Bryan Singer (see TheWrap). In The Guardian interview, Hugh Jackman, who portrayed Wolverine in the film, addressed the allegations and acknowledged the complexity of the situation.
While there are questions to be asked, Jackman expressed pride in what the franchise had achieved and the momentum it had started:
There’s a lot of things at stake there. ‘X-Men’ was the turning point, I believe, in terms of comic-book movies and I think there’s a lot to be proud of.
Thus, the arguments put forth by Alan Cumming and Ian McKellen about the LGBTQ+ themes in X2 make sense in the context of the film’s underlying message of inclusion & acceptance. The movie’s impact goes beyond its superhero action, serving as a beacon of representation & empowerment for marginalized communities.
Stream X2 on Disney+.
