This feels a little bit like “Goodbye.” The X-Men movies are getting a tribute video ahead of the release of Simon Kinberg’s Dark Phoenix, and because of what we know of the behind-the-scenes creativity shifts, this feels like a sendoff to the series forged at Fox – as it might take up new residency in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
But as this Legacy video points out, the X-Men Saga had a significant impact on the comic-book-movie landscape, and it has one more shot at success with a retelling of the Phoenix storyline:
This is a touching video because it shows how long the X-Men stories have been entertaining audiences, and leans into the brilliant casting that has been a hallmark of the franchise from day one. Getting the likes of Hugh Jackman, Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Patrick Stewart, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, James McAvoy, Halle Berry and more to discuss their roles in the X-Men films, and the impact of the series, reminds us of how far this “family” has come.
It also shows how complicated it might be for Marvel Studios to essentially start over on the X-Men properties, because the Legacy that’s established in this video can’t just be erased and rebooted.
Do we want to see MCU versions of classic characters like Cyclops, Jean and Wolverine on screen some day? Sure, when we see what Marvel has done with the likes of Spider-Man, Black Panther and the Guardians of the Galaxy. But will it be easy to just overlook the work done by Jackman, Stewart, Sophie Turner, Tye Sheridan and more? Not exactly.
This tribute video also gets us even more excited for the work that’s still to come in Dark Phoenix. If Fox allowed Kinberg to treat the movie like a sendoff, then we might get real closure for major characters who have earned a closing chapter in this mutant-movie book.
We are seeing significant sendoffs in the MCU (in Avengers: Endgame) and on HBO (with Game of Thrones). After all of these years, shouldn’t the X-Men be able to say goodbye to their fans the way that they see fit?
Dark Phoenix looks like it’s going to go out on a blast. Sophie Turner will be bringing the classic Jean Grey comic-book storyline to life, being blessed and cursed with the power of the Phoenix when a routine space rescue mission goes south. The events are captured in the most recent trailer. Check it out here:
It’s very possible that key members of the X-Men saga continue with Disney and Marvel when the MCU starts making X-Men movies. No concrete plans have bene announced. But for now, we still have Dark Phoenix to look forward to, and this tribute video was a satisfying appetizer for the mutant meal that’s still to come.
Dark Phoenix opens everywhere on June 7. IMAX today announced that it will host early showtimes in its theaters on June 6, starting at 6 pm, so click here to grab tickets.
