If reports are to be believed, writer Joe Carnahan—best known for writing and directing such action films as The Grey, Smokin’ Aces and the A-Team—is being sought after by Fox to write (and possibly direct, depending on the report) an X-Force movie for the studio. The film would essentially follow up Deadpool 2, which we know will introduce both X-Force characters Cable and Domino to the Fox mutant cinematic universe. But unlike the X-Men, X-Force has been many different things over many years, ever since the team was introduced back in 1991.
X-Force is, in many ways, an oddball concept to get a spin-off from the X-Men film series because unlike the X-Men, there is not any one iconic line-up to the team. There have been many, many incarnations of X-Force over the past twenty-five years—usually with not much tying the various teams together beyond a brand name. This is in stark contrast to the X-Men proper, who are always the students of Charles Xavier “fighting for mutant rights in a world that fears and hates them.” While the characters and team line-ups of X-Force have changed a lot over the years, the main idea of the team is usually a more militant group of mutants who are willing to do whatever needs to be done to fight for the survival of their species.
If Fox is indeed looking at Joe Carnahan, then that means they want X-Force to be a high-octane action movie, probably R-rated. Considering that gun-toting mercs like Deadpool, Cable, and Domino are all-but-confirmed for the movie, it gives us something of an idea of what Fox is after. Just like Smokin’ Aces and A- Team, it’ll probably feature a motley crew of mutants—most of which have unscrupulous morals—who have to band together to do a “dirty job,” so to speak (Something the goody-goody X-Men wouldn’t approve of—although some might get dragged into.) But which long-standing members from the comics would make sense in a Joe Carnahan X-Force movie? Let’s take a look at who will probably join up, and which characters have an Iceman’s chance in the Inferno dimension.
Who Won’t Make the Cut
Ok, let’s get the bad news out of the way first. Despite having been a member in several versions of the team in the comics, and being the marquee mutant at Fox, Hugh Jackman will almost certainly not be back as Wolverine. He’s made his feelings very known about his desire to really retire from the role with the upcoming Logan. And although he might be lured back someday (you have to retire before you have a comeback), it’s not going to be for a team-up movie where he has to share the spotlight with so many other characters. Well, unless Marvel Studios and Fox make a deal and Logan can show up in an Avengers movie, then maybe. But I wouldn’t hold my breath for that. So sadly, no Wolverine.
Also not showing up in all probability are longtime X-Force members Cannonball and Wolfsbane. The reason being, both characters are scheduled to appear in The New Mutants movie which is scheduled to start going before the cameras soon from director Josh Boone, so that leaves them off the table for the X-Force movie. Same goes for other former New Mutants who became X-Force members like Sunspot. The original concept of X-Force in the comics was Cable taking the leftover New Mutants from Xavier’s School and forging the kids into a paramilitary unit, but with the New Mutants just being introduced with their own movie soon, I doubt they are going with that iteration of the team.
Who Should Make the Cut:
Last year’s X-Men: Apocalypse wasn’t a home run on the level of X-Men: Days of Future Past, and it introduced probably too many mutants for its own good. Among those mutants were Archangel ( Ben Hardy) and Psylocke ( Olivia Munn), who didn’t have a lot to do except pose and have a few action beats to sell in the trailers. But both characters have long histories with X-Force in the comics, and need a movie where they can shine (and actually have a story arc).
Ryan Reynolds and Olivia Munn are buddies, and spent a lot of time training together during production of their last X-films. Hopefully Reynolds will do his friend Munn a favor and help her redeem that role. I’d bet that both Munn and Hardy also have contracts for further X-Men films—if I were Fox, I’d draft them both for an X-Force movie ASAP.
Another longtime X-Force member in the comics is the Native-American mutant Warpath. Warpath has already been used in the dark, now-erased future in Days of Future Past, played by actor Boo Boo Stewart. Aside from some action scenes, he didn’t have much to do in the film. So why not use him on the team for which he’s primarily known? I’m sure the actor would jump at the chance.
And although he’s primarily known as a lead character in the X-Men comics, if I were Fox I’d use Colossus after the excellent version of the character we saw in the first Deadpool movie. The character was previously a member of X-Force in the comics—albeit only briefly (it seems almost every mutant had to do time as a member of X-Force for at least a year). You need to have one goody-goody hero to contrast all the mercenaries and sociopaths on the team. And if Colossus comes along, so should Negasonic Teenage Warhead, because these two together are great.
Whoever ends up joining Ryan Reynolds’s Deadpool (and whoever plays Cable and Domino) in X-Force, there really is no shortage of characters from the comics to pull from. Who would have ever thought that Negasonic would be in a movie, much less a fan favorite? The possibilities for a kick ass X-Force movie are endless. And if I may be so bold, I’d love to somehow see Doop from the X-Statix make it into the movie (X-Statix began as X-Force after all.) Look, I just really want to see Doop in a movie. Make it happen Carnahan and Fox!
Which characters from the comics would you like to see join Deadpool and company in an X-Force film? Let us know down below in the comments.
Images: Marvel Comics / Twentieth Century Fox
