Dark Phoenix Movie: What You Need to Know

**PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE SPOILERS**

After X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) erased the events of X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) from the series’s timeline, we now move into the Dark Phoenix Saga. Previously code named “Supernova,” this movie will be the twelfth installment in the X-Men film series, a direct sequel to X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) and the seventh and final installment in the main X-Men series.

Set a decade after the events of X-Men: Apocalypse, Dark Phoenix is set in the early 1990s, and is set in a world that has changed quite a lot. In the 1980s people everywhere knew about the existence of mutants, but now the X-Men are basically rock stars. Under the leadership of Professor X, the team is known worldwide for their heroics, and celebrated for them. This movie will feature one of the X-Men’s most beloved characters, Jean Grey (a telepath/telekinetic), as she evolves into the iconic DARK PHOENIX.

During a life-threatening rescue mission in space, Jean is hit by a cosmic force (a.k.a the Phoenix Force which is a cosmic manifestation of all the life and passion in the universe) that transforms her into one of the most powerful mutants of all. Wrestling with this increasingly unstable power as well as her own personal demons, Jean spirals out of control, tearing the X-Men family apart and threatening to destroy the very fabric of our planet.

Some of the powers of the Phoenix Force include but are not limited to are: Opening stargates, destroying matter at the subatomic level, and generating cosmic fire. And this is on top of Jean’s current powers which include: psychokinesis, telepathy, and astral projection.

The film is rumored to be the most intense and emotional X-Men movie ever made. It is the culmination of 20 years of X-Men movies, as the family of mutants that we’ve come to know and love must face their most devastating enemy yet — one of their own. It becomes a “fight for Jean’s soul” and features a twist that was intended to have significant repercussions on the entire franchise.

It was also revealed then that the film would be introducing a version of the island Genosha, adapted to the film as a mutant refuge led by Magneto, and that it would focus on the female characters more so than previous films in the series, particularly Jean Grey as both the hero and villain of the film, and Jessica Chastain’s character (who has not officially been told to us who she is playing but fans guess it is possibly Cassandra Nova) with whom Grey has a complex relationship.

Singer was originally announced as being a producer on the film, but following allegations of sexual abuse against Singer, Kinberg stated that Singer was not involved in the film and his name would not be in the film’s credits. That being said, Kinberg has spent a lot of extra time in post-production (almost a year, longer than usual for the series) because he wanted to take the time to get the visual effects right by focusing on the “nuance” of the effects rather than the scale. And additionally the launch date has been pushed back months, (debuting in theaters this Friday) making sure everything is perfect!

To date, all of the main X-Men titles — including X-Men, X2: X-Men United, X-Men: The Last Stand, X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Days of Future Past and X-Men: Apocalypse — have all been PG-13, and that trend will continue with X-Men: Dark Phoenix. It surely will have (mostly bloodless) violence and thrilling sequences that might be too much for young viewers, but don’t expect tons of gore, nudity or profanity.

 

So as for my comic book recommendations, there are only two:

THE DARK PHOENIX SAGA OMNIBUS

The greatest comic book saga ever told, in one cosmic-sized Omnibus! It begins with a shocking story in which Marvel Girl sacrifices herself…only to be reborn as Phoenix! But when a galaxy-spanning adventure reveals that Jean Grey has somehow attained power beyond conception, Cyclops and the X-Men can only watch as Phoenix is corrupted absolutely. As the team faces the Shi’ar Empire, Hellfire Club and more, can Jean Grey be redeemed? Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum and John Byrne weave an epic tale of triumph and tragedy that changed everything for the X-Men – and all of comics! It’s the full Dark Phoenix Saga, with bonus tales illuminating Jean Grey’s defining story!

COLLECTING: X-MEN 97-105, 107-108, 125-138; PHOENIX: THE UNTOLD STORY 1; MATERIAL FROM CLASSIC X-MEN 6, 8, 13, 18, 24, 43; BIZARRE ADVENTURES 27, WHAT IF? (1977) 27

 

AVENGERS VS. X-MEN COLLECTED EDITION (AvX)

Now, this is my speculation, but… with the recent purchasing of Fox by Disney, this could mean we could possibly have an Avengers and X-Men movie! If you haven’t read the 12 issue comic series “Avengers vs. X-Men,” now is the time! The reason I suggest this is because it has a lot to do with the Phoenix force and its just so awesome!

The Avengers and the X-Men – the two most popular super-hero teams in history – go to war! This landmark pop-culture event brings together Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, Magneto and more in the story that changes them forever! And in AVX: Vs., experience the larger-than-life battles too big for any other comic to contain! Iron Man vs. Magneto! Spider-Man vs. Colossus! Captain America vs. Gambit! And more! Plus: For the first time ever in print, Marvel’s groundbreaking Infinite Comics are collected, revealing key events through the eyes of Marvel’s major players. It’s Marvel’s biggest event ever – but will the Avengers or the X-Men emerge triumphant?

 

Who’s going to see this movie opening weekend? What characters are you most excited for? Will you be reading up on the comic book suggestions? Let us know in the comments.

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