So where does that leave theX-Menseries?
There are plans for more direct films followingX-Men: Apocalypse, but what direction can the series take now?
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One frequent criticism aimed atX-Men: Apocalypsewas how it felt like more of the same.
At this point does anyone feel like the franchise has come that far fromX-Menin 2000?
They fight then make up in nearly every outing.
And what happened at the end ofApocalypse?
What studio executive would resist going with a younger cast?
The 90sX-Menanimated series smartly brought Jubilee to the forefront.
Being a teenager sucks.
A teenager that can shoot fire from their mouth and has horns for ears?
The youngsters are relatable, unpredictable and have room to grow.
Think of a John Hughes style coming of age picture with super powers and racial politics thrown in.
Theres no greater a time to focus on this than now.
Before departing the franchise in 2005, Bryan Singer planted the seeds for the Phoenix storyline.
It inhabits the body of Jean Grey, giving her near limitless power.
Thats the Cliff Notes version.
It is far more outlandish and complex than that in the comics.
Now The Phoenix Saga is tremendous and regularly ranks as one of the greatest comic storylines of all time.
Its operatic, emotional, and offers the kind of spectacle international audiences crave on the silver screen.
Weve spent minutes with these characters inX-Men: Apocalypse.
We dont know Jean yet, so why should the casual moviegoer care or understand the imagery?
X-Men: First ClassandDays Of Future Pastutilized the time periods they were set in particularly well.
What seemed like a masterstroke in 2011 is now beginning to hold the franchise back.
2016 is a pretty messed up place and their greatest challenge awaits them here, in the present.
Its why Donald Trump is the Republican presidential candidate, threatening to build a wall.
Its why police are on the front pages accused of racial profiling.
Look at what happened this week in the UK with fears of mass immigration.
Everything has changed since the X-Mens creation and not much has changed at all.
The X-Men have never been more relevant than now.
Our world hates and fears their own more openly than ever.
How would mutants fare today?
So mine the source material.
In the comics, Genosha is a land that becomes the designated home for mutants across the world.
Mutants worldwide risked it all to reach this safe haven.
Its as if the comics were prophetic.
The X-Men were created to protect a world that hates and fears them lets see how theyd fair today.
This article originally appeared onDen of Geek UK.
