The Original X-Men Movie Trailer Is One of Marvel’s Weirdest Ever

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Today, there’s a lot of excitement surrounding the live-action X-Men series on the internet. This popularity is one reason why Marvel Studios has announced several X-Men actors as part of the initial cast for “Avengers: Doomsday.” It shows just how dedicated and enduring the fanbase for these films has been over the past 20 years, with productions like Deadpool and Wolverine continuing to thrive in the MCU. Even less successful movies such as Dark Phoenix and X-Men Origins: Wolverine haven’t diminished the high regard people have for these mutant characters.

Nonetheless, the X-Men film series had its beginning somewhere, and it was in July 2000 with the original X-Men movie. Released three years after Batman & Robin and just two years following Blade’s success, there was uncertainty about whether X-Men would resonate with audiences. To generate excitement for the upcoming release, 20th Century Fox initiated the X-Men promotional campaign by unveiling a teaser trailer that is undeniably one of the most unusual ever for a Marvel comic adaptation.

What Happens in This X-Men Teaser?

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In the teaser for X-Men, it takes just 12 seconds for tension to build, followed by Storm (played by Halle Berry) advising viewers to brace themselves. The scene then swiftly transitions into a fast-paced montage, providing brief glimpses of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, Patrick Stewart as Xavier, and other mutant characters. The phrase “Change is here” gradually appears on screen before an exhilarating action sequence featuring Wolverine spinning atop the Statue of Liberty and unsheathing his adamantium claws. Xavier comments to someone off-camera, “We’re not what you expect,” as the tagline “The next stage is coming” appears, accompanied by the release date for X-Men: July 14.

A year following the release of “X-Men” in cinemas, the promotional efforts for “Spider-Man” started with a classic teaser trailer, featuring footage specifically created for the preview. In contrast, the initial teaser for “X-Men” was distinctly a product of its time, either 1999 or 2000. The rapid cuts and fleeting instances where fresh scenes “flash” before fully appearing were common traits in late ’90s/early 2000s media. This was the style young people of that era were accustomed to, and Fox marketers aimed to design the first “X-Men” movie according to this “extreme” presentation trend.

The Spider-Man trailer ended with a song that felt like it was straight out of the early 2000s, so it’s no surprise that the X-Men trailer uses techno music that seems like it could be the biggest dance track from 1998. This type of music is reminiscent of techno tunes used in the promotion for another summer blockbuster from 2000 produced by 20th Century Fox, Titan A.E. It’s a testament to how prevalent this style of music was at the turn of the millennium. However, the use of this music doesn’t make the trailer any less peculiar. What really adds to its oddity is the reluctance to showcase mutant superpowers in the teaser.

Why Are Mutant Powers Being Concealed?

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As a movie reviewer, I must say that in the whirlwind of just 59 seconds, the first X-Men trailer doesn’t have ample time to flaunt an array of mutant superpowers, apart from Wolverine’s claws. In fleeting glimpses, we catch Magneto deflecting weapons or Storm summoning bolts of lightning; however, there seems to be a deliberate restraint in fully unfurling these extraordinary mutant abilities. This is quite unlike the later Marvel adaptations that boldly highlighted the quirkiest traits of their characters, such as the Guardians of the Galaxy teaser, which unapologetically showcased a gun-wielding raccoon and an incredibly powerful tree, among others.

As a movie aficionado, I must admit that even the early sneak peek for Ant-Man was intriguing. It showcased raw footage of Scott Lang shrinking and traveling on an ant, embodying the character of Ant-Man. Conversely, the X-Men teaser hinted at superpowers rather than demonstrating them. In comparison, later teasers for films like X-Men: First Class or the initial Deadpool trailer were more explicit about their superhuman abilities. However, in the aftermath of Batman & Robin, there was a general apprehension among studios regarding comic book movies, with an emphasis on avoiding any whiff of silliness.

This teaser for the X-Men was quite unusual, showcasing the extraordinary powers that make these characters so well-known. The late ’90s techno music, the cryptic withholding of the film’s title (although a URL at the end revealed it as an X-Men movie), and other peculiar details gave this teaser a bizarre feel. However, it wasn’t necessarily bad; instead, it was a distinct snapshot of 1999/2000 movie marketing techniques, almost like a relic from another world compared to even contemporary Marvel film promotions from the same period.

X-Men is now streaming on Disney+.

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2025-04-02 01:40