The X-Men vs. the Avengers is probably en route in theMCU, and Marvel Studios has just taken the first step toward it with the release of theWhat If…?season 3 trailer. Now that the X-Men have returned to Marvel’s ownership afterDisney acquired Fox in 2019, the iconic X-Men have started to appear in multiple MCU projects. This most recently culminated inDeadpool & Wolverine, where the titular heroes encountered various X-Men variants fromFox’s X-Men franchise.
So far, this is the only X-Men-focused movie the MCU has produced, and no more are upcoming onthe official MCU release slate. Recent comments by Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige, however, have reignited hope that the MCU’s next phase will center around the X-Men, who will likely be recast from the original movies, after a rumored soft reboot of the MCU.Deadpool & Wolverinewas mostly devoid of any Avengers characters (aside from the “Avengers-adjacent” Happy Hogan) - but one upcoming project is about to bring the MCU closer than ever to an anticipated clash between the two teams.
The History Of The X-Men Vs Avengers
The Avengers And X-Men Have A Long And Tumultuous Marvel Comics History
The Avengers and X-Men have fought multiple timesthroughout Marvel Comics. This first occurred in 1964’sUncanny X-Men #9, where the two clashed after a misunderstanding with Lucifer at its center. Several other crossovers would see the two clash across several decades, including a war that spanned four issues in 1987’sX-Men vs. The Avengersand culminating inAvengers vs. X-Menin 2012, which focuses on the Phoenix Force and its new host, Hope Summers.
The Best Order To Watch The X-Men Movies
Fox’s X-Men franchise was instrumental in forming the modern superhero movie genre, but its fluctuating timelines and spin-offs can be confusing.
Tensions between the two teams, meanwhile, are prevalent throughout Marvel Comics.House of M, for instance, sees the two navigating what to do about the Scarlet Witch and the dangers she poses, as she is a mutant that is most often aligned with the Avengers alongside her brother, Quicksilver.The two groups have also teamed up on multiple occasions against larger threats, including against the eldritch god Knull in theKing in Blackcomics.
What If…? Debuts The First Real X-Men/Avengers Crossover In The MCU
The What If….? Season 3 Trailer Depicts One Of The Most Popular X-Men Wielding Mjolnir
Thenewest trailer forWhat If…?season 3depicts a scene featuring Storm, making it the next project to feature the X-Men in amainline MCU production. While thestory details ofWhat If…?and this particular episode remain to be seen, one important detail shows that this may be the first time that the X-Men and Avengers will finally meet in the MCU. Namely,the X-Men’s Storm can be seen wielding Mjolnir and declaring herself the “Goddess of Thunder"towards the end of the trailer.
X-Men ‘97was produced by Marvel Studios, but remains a separate entity to the MCU.
So far, the X-Men have been constrained toseparate universes in the MCU- especially Earth-10005, where Fox’s X-Men universe is based. Yet to be taking the place of Thor inWhat If…?will presumably mean thatStorm will at some point interact with the MCU’s mainline characters, and Thor in particular. With Storm also flaunting her powers in the trailer, she might even be facing off against the Avengers - makingWhat If…?the first MCU production to finally adapt this iconic Marvel Comics trope.
We Really Need The Mutant Saga To Do Avengers Vs X-Men
The Avengers Vs. X-Men Story Promises To Be Both Compelling And Lucrative
While it remains unconfirmed, the Mutant Saga will reportedly follow the Multiverse Saga - and will, at the very least, spotlightthe MCUs’ X-Menas its main characters, according to Feige. It remains unlikely, meanwhile, that Marvel Studios will retire its Avengers characters simply because they took precedence in its first two sagas. Instead,these groups will likely inhabit the same universe after the havoc wrought inAvengers: Secret Warswill possibly merge the X-Men into the MCU’s Earth-616 for good. To not capitalize on this opportunity with an Avengers vs. X-Men story, then, would be baffling.
Story-wise, Captain America: Civil War proved how heartrendingly compelling pitting hero against hero can be in an MCU movie, and Avengers vs. X-Men is rife with the moral conundrums that typify the MCU.
One huge thing that the history of the MCU has proven is that ensemblemovies featuring multiple MCU characters are the most profitable, which makes for a solid financial case in favor of this particular adaptation. Story-wise,Captain America: Civil Warproved how heartrendingly compelling pitting hero against hero can be in an MCU movie, and Avengers vs. X-Men is rife with the moral conundrums that typify the MCU. Finally, it would be a fitting celebration of theMCU’s ownership of so many iconic characters to have them face off in a cataclysmic brawl.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount’s Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
