The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has been building towards the Mutant’s arrival for some time now, but there are a handful of mutants that would be perfect to debut right now. Over the last 17 years, the MCU has changed a lot. From starting out with a handful of lesser-known heroes due to all of their major IPs being owned by other studios, the MCU has reacquired many of these rights, and continues to build the most ambitious film franchise of all time.

And now, as the MCU is set to close the book on their Multiverse Saga, the cast of characters has grown exponentially, even including a variety of mutants across various MCU movies. However, the mutants in the MCU are yet to make a big splash with the more familiar heroes. This is set to change with Avengers: Doomsday, where several stars of the Fox X-Men universe will appear, but the MCU is positioned to start introducing some fresh faces as mutants for their expanding universe.

10

Magik

First up, one of the last mutants to be introduced in live-action after the Fox sale to Disney was Mahik in The New Mutants. Unfortunately, this movie did not get a great reception, and despite casting the incredible Anya Taylor-Joy to play the role, the character is easily forgotten. But the MCU could right this wrong and give Magik a proper film debut.

Ideally, it would be great to have Taylor-Joy reprise the role, and to present a more accurate version of the character as seen in comics. Considering the ensuing clash of realities, Magik joining the fight and showcasing her incredible powers of teleportation and sorcery makes her a good fit for the increasingly magical and mystical realm of the MCU.

9

Havok

After many of the Avengers pᴀssed away or retired in Avengers: Endgame, the MCU is looking for new powerful heroes to fill their spots. One underrated mutant who has only seen the light of day in a few live-action тιтles is Havok, the brother of Scott Summers. Alex Summers has the power to produce powerful energy, not dissimilar to a variety of other energy-wielding heroes like the Marvels.

Scott has appeared several times, and while he would be a great addition to the MCU, his brother deserves some attention. And the MCU has proven that it is particularly well-suited to highlighting lesser-known characters. Havok would be a powerful addition to the MCU lineup, and a worthy character to get a proper story arc like only the MCU can create.

8

Sunspot

Speaking of energy and light absorption, Sunspot is one of the most incredible mutants who possess these abilities in the comics. However, despite being a staple in Marvel X-Men comics, they have only appeared in live-action as part of The New Mutants and X-Men: Days of Future Past. And unfortunately, the character only had a substantial role in the less successful of those two projects.

Unlike the other energy-wielding heroes from the MCU and beyond, Sunspot absorbs solar energy, using it to charge his cells and activate a variety of other abilities like super strength and endurance. While his powers are adjacent to the other energy-based heroes, he has a unique ability that could be incredibly interesting to see developed in the MCU.

7

Cyclops

Now, I said that Scott Summers has been adapted a lot in the Fox X-Men stories, but the thing is, the character is incredibly central to the X-Men team. And after the character’s evolution in X-Men ’97, it just goes to show how he has the potential to be a solid leader moving forward. And since James Marsden has been confirmed to reprise the role in Avengers: Doomsday, it could present an opportunity for the MCU.

Now, the MCU shouldn’t just rehash the same heroes and castings from previous films. These versions of the heroes provide a hit of nostalgia, but they are a generation apart from the current MCU. So, it makes sense to have Marsden meet a variant of Scott Summers, who could go on to lead and work with the MCU’s official version of the team. And in this way, he can pᴀss the mantle down to the next generation.

6

Nightcrawler

Similarly, Alan Cumming is back as Nightcrawler after his brief but poignant role in X-Men 2. Admittedly, I am a little biased because Nightcrawler is my favorite mutant from the X-Men, but beyond that, he is another character who deserves to have his story properly adapted on the big screen. He was a staple in animated shows throughout the 1990s and 2000s, but somehow, the character has been missing from several other live-action movies.

On top of that, Nightcrawler’s backstory is deeply emotional, and unlike characters like Magneto, Superman, and Spider-Man who have had their origin stories repeatedly adapted, Nightcrawler’s past has only briefly been glimpsed. The MCU has a chnace to deliver an incredibly moving origin story for their Nightcrawler, and one that could help define the experience of mutants in their universe, due to his distinct physical mutations that make him appear even less human.

5

Kitty Pryde

Kitty Pryde has appeared in several X-Men movies, and these versions have not been terrible. However, Kitty Pryde has never had the chance to grow up and realize her full potential. The MCU’s ongoing legacy and growth almost ensures that her story can progress and see her transition from a young student, to a powerful mutant.

On top of that, Kitty’s character appears to have been divvied up in the Fox movies, with aspects of her character being added in at different times. I mean, her dragon, Lockheed, was adapted for the first time in live-action in The New Mutants, only to appear as a companion to Magik instead of Kitty.

4

Storm

To be honest, I am a big fan of the previous adaptations of Storm at Fox. I know there are some gripes around moments that feel borderline ridiculous, but for the most part, I thought she always came across as a wise and powerful hero. However, there is so much more to the character as she appears in the comics that has never made it to the big screen.

For instance, Storm was married to the Black Panther, and so, she served as a Queen in the nation. But, of course, that never appears in any of the films, because Wakanda wasn’t really touched on before the MCU. Now, with Wakanda established, and mutants on the way, it’s time for the MCU to adapt Storm correctly.

3

Warlock

Another aspect of superhero stories that the MCU manages to handle gracefully is a balance between comedy and emotion. For instance, Thor initially had a deep and tense Shakespearean tragedy narrative, before he was eventually given more comedy moments. And in this new framing, he was introduced to odd alien creatures who became the bedrock for comedy moments, like Korg.

The mutants have a similarly unusual and wild character who would have been difficult to insert into other superhero stories. However, because of how far they have come with cosmic stories like the Guardians of the Galaxy, it feels like the perfect time to introduce Warlock, a mechanical alien mutant who is quirky and spectacular. I believe this character would have a similar trajectory to Korg, and he’d make a great fit in the MCU.

2

Emma Frost

While adding more heroes to the lineup is great and all, it’s also important to acknowledge that the MCU needs more villains. Characters like Emma Frost are great complex figures who can present spectacular challenges to the heroes. With her unique biology, Frost is resistant to powers like telekinesis, which makes her a unique challenge for Professor X and other powerful mutants.

But more than that, her arc to becoming one of the most powerful and inspiring superheroes of all time is a story that could rival Loki’s throughout the Infinity Saga and the Multiverse Saga. Emma Frost has a lot to offer the MCU, and if done right, she could become another anchor point for the MCU to revolve around, depending on the quality of the casting.

1

Jubilee

Finally, last but certainly not least, Jubilee needs a chance to shine on the big screen. Originally, when Jubilee appeared in X-Men: The Animated Series, she was a character who had only been introduced a few years earlier in comics. Despite this, she became one of the foundational characters on the show, and that legacy continues in X-Men ’97.

However, despite this, the character has been largely underutilized in live-action projects, only briefly appearing in the background of other heroes’ stories. Jubilee deserves a chance to shine in live-action. The MCU is used to bringing underappreciated characters out of the shadows and into the spotlight, so why not take this incredible young hero and make her a central part of the new story.