The MCU Can Revisit Classic X-Men Stories, But It’s Time to Put the Most Iconic One Aside Forever

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Considering all the Marvel stories they could adapt now that they have access to the X-Men, the one that really needs a fresh take is the Dark Phoenix Saga. The original comic storyline was incredibly popular, but previous attempts to adapt it into animated series or movies haven’t lived up to expectations. While the Marvel Cinematic Universe could potentially do it right, it’s probably best to leave the Dark Phoenix story alone for good.

With the Multiverse Saga wrapping up, characters from the X-Men universe—originally part of 20th Century Fox—are poised to rejoin Marvel Studios. Fans are already excited, noticing the comic-book-accurate costumes of Professor X and Cyclops, and hoping Marvel can finally deliver a successful live-action adaptation of the Dark Phoenix storyline. While the comics version was impactful, its power stemmed more from the moment it was released than the story itself. Given this, Marvel Studios should consider moving past the Dark Phoenix saga entirely for its X-Men films and shows. As Ian Malcolm famously asked, the question isn’t can they do it, but should they?

Jean Grey Became Phoenix During a Period of Massive Change for the X-Men

The X-Men first appeared in 1963 as part of a major revamp of Marvel Comics. However, their popularity declined by 1970, and for almost five years, Marvel just republished old issues instead of creating new adventures, starting with issue #63. Over 50 years ago, the comic Giant-Size X-Men brought the team back to life with a new roster of characters. Despite this success, writers and artists were hesitant to work on the X-Men due to previously low sales numbers.

I remember when things really started to change for the X-Men. The editor at the time, Len Wein, brought on a new writer who was just brimming with ideas for the series. Over the next seventeen years, this writer really defined what the X-Men were all about. And around issue six, he made a huge move. He took Jean Grey, also known as Marvel Girl, and unlocked this incredible power within her, transforming her into the Phoenix. She stepped away from the team for a bit, but when she came back, she embraced the Phoenix persona for good – it just clicked.

As a huge comic book fan, I always felt Claremont’s run on X-Men was a real turning point for Marvel. He grounded these incredibly powerful characters in very human problems, making them so much more relatable. When Jean Grey’s powers really took off, it initially struck me as part of a trend – a push for strong female characters, which was great to see. But it wasn’t just that! By 1978, Uncanny X-Men was flying off the shelves and became Marvel’s biggest hit for years. And honestly, to keep that momentum going, Claremont and artist John Byrne really had to keep raising the bar – the stakes just kept getting higher and higher.

The Dark Phoenix Saga Was Deeply Controversial Behind-the-Scenes at Marvel

Among the most famous storylines, Jean Grey’s transformation stands out. After becoming more powerful, she was manipulated by the Hellfire Club, a newly formed group.

I was totally devastated when I thought Cyclops was gone and Jean Grey just… snapped. She embraced this incredible power, but it corrupted her, and she became the Dark Phoenix. It was heartbreaking to see her turn on the X-Men and just vanish into space. The scale of what happened next was terrifying – she destroyed a whole star and a populated planet! It was so bad that a bunch of powerful alien races basically sentenced her to death, and the Shi’ar Empire were tasked with carrying it out. It was a really dark time for the X-Men.

This story began because Chris Claremont kept increasing the Phoenix’s power level. To address this, the decision was made to turn Phoenix into a villain. The Hellfire Club was inspired by the novel A Touch of Brimstone. Claremont originally intended for Jean Grey to return to the X-Men with reduced powers, but editor Jim Shooter strongly disagreed. According to The Dark Phoenix Tapes, Shooter believed simply reducing her powers wouldn’t be enough to excuse her mass killing.

Shooter believed Jean should be held accountable, either through imprisonment or some other consequence, even if he wasn’t fully in charge. This decision, made perhaps as a desperate gamble or out of anger, brought a surprising and unfortunate conclusion to the storyline. The apparent death of a key, original X-Men member actually boosted the comic’s popularity by creating a sense of genuine risk and consequence.

Jean Grey and the Phoenix Have Appeared in Multiple X-Men Adaptations

The X-Men became incredibly popular, leading to both animated series and live-action movies. Because of this success, adapting the story of X-Men: Dark Phoenix felt like a logical next step.

The most accurate depiction of this story arguably appeared in X-Men: The Animated Series. Both X-Men: Evolution and Wolverine and the X-Men intended to adapt it as well. Interestingly, both shows hinted at Jean Grey’s transformation into the Phoenix in episodes that ended up being their last, due to unexpected cancellations.

Many fans remember X-Men: The Last Stand as the first movie to try and bring this particular comic book storyline to the big screen. Unlike the comics where characters often survive, the film featured several deaths.

Following the deaths of Cyclops and Professor X, Jean Grey asks Wolverine to end her life. The story shifted from portraying the Dark Phoenix as a purely cosmic force to showing it as a corruption of Jean’s own powers. Ignoring the timeline issues surrounding Logan, X-Men: Days of Future Past essentially erased the events of The Last Stand from the official history.

The second film, simply called Dark Phoenix, was intended to start a new set of three movies. However, when Disney bought 20th Century Fox, those plans were cancelled. The movie revolves around Professor X continuing to explore Jean Grey’s abilities and past, which are amplified when she’s struck by strange energy during a space mission.

Okay, so in this movie, they swapped out the Shi’ar empire for a new alien race called the D’Bari. Their planet was wiped out by the Phoenix Force – though it wasn’t Jean Grey who caused it this time – and instead of seeking justice, they decided Earth looked like a nice place to conquer! It’s pretty emotional at the end, with Jean seemingly sacrificing herself, but honestly, the movie pretty much hints she’ll be back. And to honor her, Xavier closes down the school and renames it after her. It was a bittersweet ending, for sure.

It’s Time to Retire the Phoenix Saga for the Foreseeable Future Despite Its Popularity

Fans are sensing a pattern. Marvel Studios is skilled at adapting well-known comic book stories, making slight changes to seamlessly integrate them into their cinematic universe.

Considering the difficulties the MCU has faced since Endgame, it’s best to steer clear of repeating storylines like the Dark Phoenix Saga. The comics still offer untapped potential in cosmic adventures, but revisiting a story involving large-scale destruction risks alienating modern audiences. Today’s viewers would likely be even more critical of such a plot than comic book readers were in the 1980s.

Adding to the issue, the Dark Phoenix isn’t even the biggest danger the Marvel Cinematic Universe has faced. Thanos wiped out half of all life, and Doctor Doom is expected to be an even greater threat, potentially destroying the entire multiverse.

Even if Dark Phoenix featured an incredibly high death toll, it wouldn’t compare to the scale of destruction seen in other Marvel films. More importantly, the upcoming Avengers movies will likely lessen the emotional impact of Dark Phoenix, even for fans who weren’t disappointed by the way the film was made.

The story’s emotional impact wasn’t about the massive destruction or villainous acts themselves. It resonated because the powerful Dark Phoenix force inhabited the body of Jean Grey, a beloved original X-Men member. Similarly, if Robert Downey Jr. plays Doctor Doom successfully, it will likely be due to his recognizable resemblance to his former character, Tony Stark.

After decades of storylines exploring different sides of Jean Grey in the comics, it would be surprising if she didn’t struggle with darker impulses. While X-Men: Dark Phoenix is a significant part of the X-Men’s past, it’s a story best left there, rather than being revisited in future films.

You can buy X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men: Dark Phoenix on DVD and Blu-ray, or rent or purchase them digitally. Both films are also available to stream on Disney+. If you prefer to read the comic book version, it’s available in trade paperback or through a Marvel Unlimited subscription.

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2026-01-12 05:11