20 Years Later, X-Men: The Last Stand’s Mistakes Are Avengers: Doomsday’s Roadmap

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Wow, can you believe it’s been 20 years since X-Men: The Last Stand hit theaters? I remember seeing it back in 2006. It definitely made a ton of money – almost half a billion dollars worldwide! – but honestly, critics weren’t kind, and a lot of fans were pretty disappointed. It felt like the end of an era for the original X-Men crew. Now, fast forward to December 2026, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe is finally bringing the X-Men into the mix. We already got a little taste of what’s to come with Deadpool & Wolverine, which was huge at the box office, and it’s got me so hyped for what’s next!

Aside from brief appearances in The Marvels and Deadpool & Wolverine, the X-Men will first appear in Avengers: Doomsday. Initially, it seems like the actors who played the X-Men in the Fox films will reprise their roles. However, with the planned reboot of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2027 with Avengers: Secret Wars, a new cast will likely take over, making the X-Men the central heroes of future Marvel movies.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe can learn valuable lessons from X-Men: The Last Stand, particularly its mistakes. By avoiding those pitfalls and focusing on what that film lacked, the MCU has a chance to create a compelling world for its mutants, potentially boosting the movie industry which hasn’t consistently matched the studio’s previous triumphs, except for hits like Spider-Man: No Way Home and Deadpool & Wolverine.

X-Men: The Last Stand Ended A Franchise Despite Big Box Office Numbers

As a long-time X-Men fan, I always felt like The Last Stand just didn’t quite live up to its potential, and I think a lot of that came down to the change in directors. Bryan Singer really got what the X-Men were about – the idea of being different and facing prejudice, and how that mirrored real-world struggles. When he moved on to Superman Returns, Fox brought in Brett Ratner, who was known for action comedies like Rush Hour. While Ratner could definitely deliver action, the movie felt like it prioritized explosions over the deeper themes that made the first two films so special.

The movie’s biggest weakness was trying to fit too much into one film. It attempted to combine two significant X-Men storylines – “The Dark Phoenix Saga,” where Jean Grey gains immense power and becomes a danger to the planet, and the “Mutant Cure” plot, which explored the possibility of removing mutant abilities – and it felt overcrowded. Throw in the introduction of the Morlocks, and the movie simply had too many elements to handle effectively.

The storyline about a “Mutant Cure” was ultimately disappointing. It felt particularly disheartening when Rogue, who viewers were meant to connect with, chose to take the cure, essentially sacrificing her identity to fit in. This decision stripped her of her independence and, by accepting a diminished version of herself, she lost what made her unique and compelling as a character.

The biggest problem with this storyline was forcing the iconic “Dark Phoenix Saga” into it. This turned Famke Janssen’s Jean Grey into a typical villain and diminished Cyclops’ importance by killing him off without showing it on screen – a disservice to a key X-Men character. The story hinted at a deeper connection between Jean and Wolverine, but her death felt unsatisfying and wasted potential. Ironically, even the later Dark Phoenix movie, which attempted to revisit the story, received even more negative feedback.

After X-Men: The Last Stand, Fox Studios struggled to find a direction for the franchise. Key characters like Professor X, Cyclops, and Jean Grey were killed off, and Rogue lost her powers. While there were thoughts about making individual character movies, X-Men Origins: Wolverine effectively ended those plans after just one film. It wasn’t until 2011, with X-Men: First Class, that the series regained momentum, reimagining the story with a new origin tale set in the past.

Avengers: Doomsday Can Look To The Last Stand For What Not To Do

Despite its flaws, X-Men: The Last Stand had some genuinely strong scenes. The action sequence on the Golden Gate Bridge was particularly impressive, and the battle at Alcatraz was also well-executed. A heartbreaking moment occurs when Mystique loses her abilities and is abandoned by Magneto.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe could benefit from a lesson learned by X-Men: The Last Stand. That film tried to include too many mutants – the X-Men, the Morlocks, and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants – making it difficult for viewers to follow the story. With so many characters already planned for Avengers: Doomsday, Marvel should focus on introducing only the mutants that fans of the previous Fox movies are already familiar with, avoiding an overcrowded film.

Marvel needs to learn from the mistakes of X-Men: The Last Stand, which softened the Dark Phoenix Saga. The upcoming Doctor Doom storyline and the incursions are meant to be intense and serious, so Marvel must fully embrace that darkness. To make Avengers: Doomsday truly impactful, the stakes need to feel real, and character deaths need to have lasting consequences.

The movie X-Men: The Last Stand didn’t give Cyclops a proper death, showing it off-screen. Now that James Marsden is returning as Cyclops in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel has a chance to fix that and give the character the impactful farewell he deserved. Considering this may be the final time we see Marsden, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Rebecca Romijn, and Alan Cumming play these iconic mutant roles, Marvel needs to give each actor more than just a brief cameo – they deserve fitting send-offs.

If Done Right, The X-Men Can Resurrect The MCU

Okay, so everyone’s wondering what Marvel’s got planned for the X-Men, and honestly, it sounds like they’re going all-in. Marvel’s basically said the mutants are the future, and after Avengers: Secret Wars, the X-Men will be taking over as the main team. Now, it seems likely we’ll see a bit of a reset, with Marvel moving away from the actors who played these roles in the Fox films. But don’t think those characters are gone forever! I’m hearing whispers – and it’s just a rumor right now – that Sadie Sink is being eyed to play a younger Jean Grey, which is a really exciting prospect if true.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe might introduce new, younger heroes to take on famous roles, alongside established heroes who can provide guidance. Reports suggest Hugh Jackman will continue playing Wolverine, and Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool will also remain a part of the MCU. Channing Tatum is set to appear as Gambit in Avengers: Doomsday, and his debut, following the buzz from Deadpool & Wolverine, could be a major highlight.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe seems to be building towards a younger team of X-Men, with Sink’s Jean Grey likely leading the way. The upcoming Avengers: Doomsday could be the perfect opportunity to introduce mutants into the MCU, and if Marvel handles it well, it can establish these characters for future storylines. The key will be to avoid introducing too many characters at once and ensuring those introduced have meaningful roles. While X-Men: The Last Stand wasn’t well-received, Marvel can learn from its errors and create a more successful integration of the X-Men into the MCU.

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2026-05-29 20:03