X-Men: Fear the Beast: Lost Solo Film with Nicholas Hoult Explained!

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As a dedicated movie enthusiast, I was disheartened to find that Hank McCoy/Beast was absent from the early live-action X-Men films, given his significant role since the team’s creation. However, my comic book-loving heart rejoiced when Kelsey Grammer stepped into the role in X-Men: The Last Stand, adding depth and charm to the character that fans had longed for.

Since then, Beast has become a staple in the live-action X-Men world, with Nicholas Hoult brilliantly portraying him since X-Men: First Class. In an unexpected twist, even Kelsey Grammer’s Beast made his way into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing in the mid-credits scene of The Marvels, making him only the second X-Men character (after Charles Xavier, portrayed by Patrick Stewart) to grace that expansive screen.

In the age of 20th Century Fox and mutant films, the visibility of Beast could have been amplified significantly more. Initial plans included a standalone movie for this iconic blue character, providing him with the spotlight he deserved. Despite these plans not coming to fruition, “X-Men: Fear the Beast” serves as an intriguing hypothetical situation, mirroring the turbulent times in X-Men cinema history.

What Was X-Men: Fear the Beast?

John Ottman is primarily recognized for his work as a film composer, contributing to films such as the “X2” and “X-Men: Days of Future Past” from the X-Men series. Yet, Ottman’s talent extends beyond composition, encompassing editing, screenwriting, and directing. If he had been involved in a project centering around Hank McCoy/Beast, it would have undoubtedly benefited from his diverse skillset. As “Dark Phoenix” hit theaters (effectively ending all future non-MCU X-Men films), Ottman reminisced to THR about an idea for a standalone Beast movie that his assistant, Bryan Burton, had come up with.

At first skeptical about the idea, Ottman eventually developed an affection for Burton’s script and advocated for it fervently. The main idea here is that the Beast from the 1980s (presumably the Hoult version as seen in First Class) struggles with his most monstrous and human instincts. A possible ally, Dr. Paul Cartier, who also shares similar beast-like circumstances, turns out to be a villain that Beast must thwart. This predicament would eventually lead Beast to join forces with Wolverine, and these two mutants would use their most primal tendencies for good.

In essence, the concept for Beast’s standalone film would have been similar to the smaller-scale productions like “Logan”, “Deadpool”, and “The New Mutants”. The narrative structure of Beast’s storyline in “Fear the Beast” seems to draw inspiration from traditional werewolf tales. During the late 2010s, when Fox was keen on producing solo films for characters such as Gambit, Kitty Pryde, and Multiple Man, the idea of giving Beast his own movie didn’t seem so far-fetched. After all, this character had already appeared in several “First Class” era movies, with an actor who was gaining recognition (Hoult). It seemed reasonable to give this longstanding X-Men figure a more budget-friendly solo film.

What Killed Fear the Beast?

2019 saw Ottman reflect on the main hurdle for the film “Fear the Beast”, which was getting the approval of producer and writer Simon Kinberg, who had control over all things related to X-Men at Fox. Kinberg refused to review the project, supposedly because he didn’t want the script to interfere with his own ideas for a fresh take on Wolverine following Hugh Jackman, which involved a new version of the character. Despite this obstacle, Ottman continued to dream about directing “Fear the Beast” if it ever got made, but that opportunity never materialized. The development of this proposed Beast movie halted after the draft stage due to the Disney-Fox merger.

Disney and Marvel Studios had different plans for the X-Men series, and it’s unlikely they would have made a standalone Beast (Hank McCoy) film. Consequently, the project titled “X-Men: Fear the Beast” was cancelled, although this decision might not have come as a shock given the production’s limited progress. In fact, the solo Gambit movie, which had a well-known actor like Channing Tatum attached and years of development including multiple release date confirmations, never materialized. Considering this, it was almost inevitable that the relatively low-key “X-Men: Fear the Beast” would be sacrificed in the corporate maneuvers that reshaped the X-Men movie franchise’s direction.

The longevity and appeal of the character “Fear the Beast,” who has been a staple in comics for more than six decades, demonstrates the allure and power he holds. His unique blend of physical strength and intellectual prowess remains intriguing to screenwriters and viewers alike. Given his enduring popularity, it was only a matter of time before someone in Hollywood attempted to create a solo movie for Beast. This accomplishment suggests that we may continue to see Beast on the big screen, though future appearances are unlikely to involve “Fear the Beast.

X-Men: The Last Stand and The Marvels are now streaming on Disney+.

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2025-03-24 21:11