Marvel Studios’ latest animated show, X-Men ’97 started where the original X-Men: The Animated Series left off. Bringing back the mutant superheroes back on our screens, the show has touched fans with a familiar style of storytelling, bringing major nostalgia, but also adding elements of today’s time. The writing has also been top-notch, which only added to the show, which has found critical acclaim alongside high ratings.
Marvel Studios Has Released The Synopsis For X-Men Live Action Film
The X-Men are finally part of the MCU canon. After Disney acquired the rights from 20th Century Fox, the Fantastic Four IP as well as the X-Men IP, which were previously under the ownership of NGN, came back to the fold for Marvel Studios to use as they see fit. They have already started work on the Fantastic Four reboot, and released the animated show X-Men ’97. And now, they have also revealed their plans for the X-Men live-action movie.
The studio recently released the synopsis of the upcoming movie, according to a Production Weekly report, which read:
“Charles Xavier’s team of merry mutants is charged with the mission of protecting a world that hates and fears them for their unusual appearances and abilities.”
The synopsis gives us a broad spectrum of where the story could lead to. And given Disney’s recent work, which has been heavily focused on inclusivity, this could be a major turning point for the IP. The company has already gotten a lot of flak from trolls who are not too happy with the changes Disney is trying to bring to screen, take a POC Ariel in The Little Mermaid for example, or casting Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards. And given X-Men ’97 already has the tag if being woke, we can only imagine what the live-action adaptation would invoke.
Purpose Behind The Introduction of The X-Men In Marvel Comics
When Jack Kirby and Stan Lee first introduced the X-Men to the readers in 1963, they had wanted to bring characters that were like everyone else, just more evolved, to fit into the story. The X-Men have always been a reflection of the societal issues faced by the people, including racism, sexism, the hatred faced by ethnic or religious minorities, as well as the LGBTQ community.
In the comics, the X-Men are hated by the general population because they are different from the majority. That is exactly how racism, transphobia, or homophobia works. Same with religion or ethnicity based hatred that some groups get. Uncanny X-Men writer, Chris Claremont once said (via CinemaBlend):
“The X-Men are hated, feared and despised collectively by humanity for no other reason than that they are mutants. So what we have here, intended or not, is a book that is about racism, bigotry and prejudice.”
In a conversation with The Guardian, Stan Lee spoke of what he originally thought of while concieving the X-Men. When the first X-Men movie hit the theatres back in 2000, speaking of the populatity of the IP, Stan Lee said:
“I loved that idea. It not only made them different, but it was a good metaphor for what was happening with the Civil Rights Movement in the country at that time.”
If Disney can move forward with their vision of inclusivity, and bring life to stories and characters that are a reflection of the society, then it will surely be tough pill to swallow for trolls who are currently making a fuss about a man wearing crop-top in an animated show.
X-Men ’97 available for streaming on Disney+.
