Like A Phoenix
Hit by a freak solar flare, Jean Grey’s powers grow beyond measure. But as a darkness begins to consume her, the X-Men must fight one of their own.
After defeating Apocalypse, the X-Men are heroes. Now serving humanity, they travel into orbit to repair a space station, but when a solar flare hits, the team barely escapes. Slowly recovering, Jean begins to exhibit incredible power; her natural telekinesis and telepathy magnified one hundred-fold. Slowly losing control, she is manipulated by a shape-shifting alien (Oscar-winner Jessica Chastain) who pushes her towards the darkness
Embracing the Phoenix Force, Jean becomes a threat not just to the X-Men, but to all of humanity itself – and they must decide if one must be sacrificed to save the other.
Long-time writer Simon Kinsberg (X-Men, X2, Days Of Future Past) graduates to directing duties, intent upon correcting the errors of X3, when the Phoenix Saga was relegated to a “Magneto scheme” sub-plot. Now front and centre, one of comic books’ most seminal stories will get the movie it deserves.
After Apocalypse’s poor box-office, Dark Phoenix was to be a soft reboot. But with Disney now full owners of 20th Century Fox, the X-gene is likely destined to be absorbed into the MCU in future phases.
So, twenty years after the franchise redefined what a superhero movie could be, this may be last X-Men movie as we know it.
X-Cludo
We know Phoenix (Sophie Turner) will turn on her A-list X-friends, and not everyone will survive. We run through the X-tinction chances of our key heroes.
Professor X (James McAvoy) - XX
Shock Phoenix victim of X3. Surely they wouldn’t do it again?
Magneto (Michael Fassbender) - X
Fundamentally evil. Most likely to kill Jean with zero remorse. After Wolverine, everybody’s favourite character.
Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) – XXXX
If you believe the trailer, this is a definite … but that could be a big fake-out. Lawrence has probably had enough of the blue, mind.
Beast (Nicholas Hoult) - XXXXX
A central character, but without the profile or sequel appeal. Almost certain to be broken down at the molecular level just to raise dramatic stakes.