Movies

Our Theories on the X-MEN/Kitty Pryde Movie That Brian Michael Bendis May Be Writing

by Eric Diaz
Feb 13 2018 • 4:15 AM

Although writer Brian Michael BendisOpens in a new tab has jumped ship from Marvel Comics to rival DC ComicsOpens in a new tab to take on the Man of Steel, it looks like he still has one more Marvel-inspired project on the horizon. According to DeadlineOpens in a new tab, 20th Century Fox has hired Bendis to develop a script for DeadpoolOpens in a new tab director Tim Miller.Opens in a new tab Right now, the movie in question is under a cloak of secrecy, but the folks at Deadline seem to have confirmed it is an X-MenOpens in a new tab universe-based film, and it already has a title: 143.

Either this is the easiest mystery to crack or that title is a big red herring. But I think they are spelling out for us fans just what this movie is. For starters, back in January Collider reportedOpens in a new tab that Tim Miller was rumored to direct a movie centering on Kitty PrydeOpens in a new tab of the X-Men. As it so happens, one of Brian Michael Bendis’ favorite Marvel characters happens to be Kitty Pryde. When he was writing Ultimate Spider-ManOpens in a new tab, he made her Peter Parker’s girlfriend, and wrote a lot of stories featuring Kitty during his X-Men run. Sources at The Hollywood ReporterOpens in a new tab have seemingly confirmed that 143 and the Kitty Pryde movie are one and the same.

So what does the number “143” have to do with anything? This must be referring to Uncanny X-MenOpens in a new tab issue #143 from 1980. When it was announced that Miller was developing a Kitty Pryde movie, we here at Nerdist picked Uncanny #143Opens in a new tab as the best issue to adapt as a solo Kitty film. This issue, the final installment of the legendary Chris ClaremontOpens in a new tab and John ByrneOpens in a new tab run on the book, centers on 14-year-old Kitty’s first Christmas Eve as an X-Man; she spends the night housesitting at the X-Mansion while everyone else goes out to celebrate. This is the night a N’Garai demon chooses to attack the mansion, and an untrained and terrified Kitty has to defeat the monster all by herself.

Yes, the source material was but a 22-page story, but then again, X-Men: Days of Future PastOpens in a new tab was just a two-parter in the comics. Uncanny #143 could be expanded upon to include how Kitty discovered her powers and was recruited by the team in the first place, before getting into the horror movie of it all. This story could not only be another great showcase for a beloved female hero, it could serve as a great X-Men horror film, similar to what they are trying to do with The New MutantsOpens in a new tab, and be the first official superhero Christmas movie to boot (although I guess Iron Man 3Opens in a new tab kind of counts, though I’d bet this will turn out better).

What do you want to see in a Miller/Bendis X-Men collaboration? Are you hoping it’s an adaptation of the classic Uncanny X-Men story, or are you hoping for a new, fresh story centering on Kitty instead? Be sure to let us know your thoughts down below in the comments.

Images: Marvel Comics

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