The X-Men are coming, again, because of course they are. Little by little, a new cast is being assembled, because that’s what happens when you’re trying to reboot a franchise for the umpteenth time. Jake Schreier, the mastermind behind Thunderbolts, is at the helm of this massive project, and the casting rumors are starting to trickle out. First, we heard that Samara Weaving was tapped to play Emma Frost, a former villain turned key member of the X-Men. Now, word is that Kit Connor, fresh from his stint on the Netflix series Heartstopper, is “the choice” to play Cyclops.
This is all very exciting, I’m sure, especially for the accountants at Marvel who get to crunch the numbers on yet another reboot. But let’s take a step back and look at the bigger picture. There’s already a Cyclops, played by James Marsden, who will be reprising his role in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. That’s right, folks, the multiverse is threatened by total destruction, and also by Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom, because why not? It’s not like we’ve seen that plot twist before.
The Cyclops Conundrum
Cyclops has had a few periods of inactivity over the years, including a brief stint in the great beyond, but for the most part, he’s been a core member of the X-Men team. He’s been around for over 60 years, and it’s not like Marvel is just going to let him fade away. No, they’re going to recast him with a new, younger actor, because that’s what you do when you want to appeal to a new generation of fans. It’s not like they’re trying to replace James Marsden or anything (although, let’s be real, he is 52 now, and in Hollywood years, that’s like 100).
The fact that Marvel is looking to recast Cyclops makes it clear that however Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars shake out, a brand new X-Men team will be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Because, you know, the old one was getting a bit stale. I mean, who needs continuity when you can just reboot the whole thing and start fresh? It’s not like fans have any emotional attachment to the characters or anything.
The Future of the X-Men
Marvel’s first X-Men movie doesn’t have an official release date yet, but we know it’s coming. We know this because we’ve seen Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and let’s just say it’s a bit of a hint. No spoilers here, but let’s just say that the X-Men are going to be a big part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe going forward. Because, of course they are. It’s not like Marvel has anything better to do than to milk the same franchises over and over again.
As we wait with bated breath for the new X-Men movie, let’s take a moment to appreciate the fact that Hollywood has once again mistaken familiarity for originality. I mean, who needs new ideas when you can just reboot an old franchise and call it a day? It’s not like audiences are tired of the same old thing or anything. And hey, who knows, maybe this time will be different. Maybe this time the X-Men will actually be interesting. But I wouldn’t count on it. After all, as the great philosopher once said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Somewhere, a studio executive is nodding in agreement, because that’s just what they do.
Finn McFrame, celebrated satirical mastermind and self-proclaimed “Emperor of Irony,” started his illustrious career as a cinematographer, where his expertise in capturing every single frame of a squirrel stealing a baguette earned him accolades at obscure film festivals.
Born in the glamorous town of Boring, Oregon, Finn grew up with dreams of being a Hollywood director until he realized that satire, not cinema, was his true calling—or at least the one that let him sleep until noon.
Finn McFrame: changing the world, one satirical lens flare at a time.
