Let’s talk about the X Men
As we all wait anxiously in excitement that the X-men will soon be rebooted into the MCU. We have been waiting for the X-men to be properly handled and included into the MCU where they all can finally coexist and entertain us for many more years. I fear there’s a problem that has been unforeseen. This is a problem with two of the most important X-men. Magneto and Professor X.
With all The Who’s who in recasting a much younger cast to grow with the fans and tell more stories in the next phase of the MCU. With Sadie sink possibly playing Jean grey. How do we go about recasting a mags and professor for the modern day. I mean what most people will think is to go and get two younger caucasian males but still old enough to establish leadership, knowledge and experience. Right!?!? But where will there experience draw from. If they are to be set as the original origins having the two grow up in times of oppression, arbitrary, and injustice. With magneto being in concentration camps discovering his powers to Charles getting his powers activated early due to radiation build up in his father as he worked on the Manhattan project. As we can see magneto is the real story. He has dealt with the worst. But having them this far back dated would currently put them in their late 90s. John Stewart and Ian Mckellan both can play that currently but in the new reboot that’s not quite what they’re looking for. So what now. Do we make it a time piece where it’ll basically be X-men 97? The universe is resetting. No more timelines. It’s all going to be one. Here’s what I would do.
Now the history of magneto is tragic but it is who he is. A holocaust survivor. It’s why everyone including myself is a fan of the character. I’m not saying that what I’m about to suggest is better. I’m simply trying to make it make sense in the timeline. If we set the two characters in a time with great conflict. At one that would have them aged properly into the modern age. My suggestion is that it be set in the time of the civil rights movement… I know, I know. That might not be a safe move. This would reintroduce the comparison of MLK & Malcom X to Professor X & Magneto. But hear me out. This would mean we have to recast them as black males. Cause what weight would two white men carry from this era. And this is a time that makes the most sense to me. This would put them in the right age at the right time with proper experience to a modern audience.
Magneto would have the extreme origin as he possibly have his parents hunted and lynched in front of his eyes. Later living on the run not trusting the white man, eventually joining the panthers as a teen. Later living in exile as he committed crimes as a panther than finally being arrested and beaten during the LA riots trying to stand up for his people. Spending years incarcerated as he took the fall for someone who killed a racist cop who was beating an innocent man trying to get family safe from the violence. That’s enough experience under injustice and oppression if you ask me.
Charles on the other hand can grow up on the opposite side of the coin. Similar but not quite. Let’s say he grew up in a biracial home. His biological father being lynched when he was just an infant and his mother got away with him in hand, eventually finding refuge and safety with a white family who took them in and cared for them. The family has a son her age and the two Eventually gets married. He grows up with hope. Seeing that there is a possibility for coexistence. Understanding the horrors of humanity but with the dream that we all can love in peace. See where I’m going with this. He can still get his powers through radiation levels from nuclear test sites or what have you, being that there was still nuclear conflict during this time.
The relationship that would have the two bond and become the best of friends would be that while mags had been in jail, Charles was his pen pal. Helping him through the rough times and helping him find peace in this new world while he’s incarcerated. (I’d have him serve time for 25 years or so) And in time Charles would go from pen pals to telepathic visits to potential humanitarian missions together after his release. All while Charles is preaching his beliefs and magneto appreciates his effort, he still can’t let go the horrors he’s lived and seen. The two would have powers but to be kept on the hush. … Only them knowing of each other’s secrets. Creating a bond in brotherhood.
The snap! Being that a big theory suggests that the radiation of the two snaps from the infinity stones, triggered many x genes to activate. This is why there will be a spike in mutants popping up across the globe. While some mutants already existed like Monica rambeau, ms. Marvel, beast and namor ,Among our two leaders. This Would establish a new unrest with mutant kind. Uncontrollable powers and criminal activity. The government would quickly assemble to try to implement a plan. Mobs will rise to take the law into their own hands. Mutants would be hunted and slaughtered. Some will fight. This would have magnetos ptsd of racial oppression and injustice trigger his instincts and take on the mutants as the superior species and combat the system. While Charles remains hopeful and creates the X-men to fight for equality. This would have them sitting on opposite sides fighting for mutant kind. One for peace the other for survival.
Being that Secret Wars will be a reset. I’m thinking it’s gonna collapse all other timelines and there will be just one. With the reset, This will not only mean a re-cast in age but one of race as well. And the only two I can think of who is willing and able is Laurence Fishburne & Giancarlo Esposito. The casting can go either way but i personally would have Laurence be the Professor and Giancarlo as Magneto. They both have expressed interest in playing the role. Which is good considering this is being adapted. And they both have the acting chops to do so. I know this may be a big risk to take in the movies. But let’s give it a shot in the comics. They need to make a big swing somewhere. Aren’t you tired of the same characters being washed and re-used. This is but a take on what they could do.
So what do you think? If this makes sense, cool. Share this! If not, make your suggestions.