Summary
- The MCU's X-Men reboot is reportedly being developed under the working title "Chunnel."
- Chunnel directly references the New X-Men comic book storyline that introduced the character Fantomex.
- The X-Men movie could be the live-action debut of Fantomex and more characters, like Mr. Sinister.
The MCU has several projects on the way, with Avengers: Doomsday filming now, Spider-Man: Brand New Day set to begin production, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps following Thunderbolts* into theaters this summer. However, one film they are known to be developing is the reboot of the X-Men film series. The working title for the MCU's X-Men reboot movie has reportedly been revealed, and it hints at the live-action debut of a beloved Marvel Comics character.
Many X-Men characters from the Fox era of films are set to appear in Avengers: Doomsday. Alan Cumming is reprising his role as Nightcrawler, Ian McKellen is returning as Magneto, and Kelsey Grammar will be back as his iteration of Beast from X-Men: The Last Stand. Rumors have even been circulating that photos show Patrick Schwarzenegger as Cyclops on the set of Doomsday, but that has not been confirmed.
Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier is said to be the front-runner in adapting X-Men for the MCU, with a script penned by The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes writer Michael Lesslie. While the film may be some years away, the working title has reportedly been revealed. According to The Cosmic Circus, the project is being developed under the name "Chunnel."
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What "Chunnel" Means To The X-Men
Chunnel is a term used to refer to the Channel Tunnel that connects England and France. It is a train tunnel running under the English Channel, and while it may seem odd, it does have a direct connection to an X-Men story. Chunnel may be an act of misdirection on Marvel's part to thwart spoilers by spreading misinformation, as working titles can be vague, and in some cases, not connected to the final plot. The film may undergo numerous changes before its debut, potentially making the working title irrelevant to its original purpose. However, if Chunnel proves to be a direct reference to the story the X-Men reboot is set to tell, it may point to a specific story that utilizes the tunnel.
In New X-Men #129-130, Professor Xavier and Jean Grey aid Fantomex. They learn that a train wreck in the Chunnel was faked so it could be turned into a training ground where Weapon XII battles mutants. Fantomex asks for the X-Men's assistance in dispatching Weapon XII, which sees Xavier and Jean accompany him to the Chunnel, where they battle the creatures that have overrun it. This storyline could influence the reboot if Chunnel proves to be an inspiration, which means Fantomex may be set for his live-action debut, as he was first introduced in New X-Men #128.
Who Is Fantomex In Marvel Comics?
Fantomex is the most common moniker given to Weapon XIII, or Charlie Cluster-7, in Marvel Comics. His origins and powers make him quite unique. He was born from a human mother and a machine, making him a mutant cyborg, as part of the Weapon Plus Programs' experimental attempts at techno-human hybrid super soldiers. Fantomex was also forced into an accelerated development that saw him artificially "evolve" in a virtual reality world. He has three brains capable of simultaneous independent thought, and his nervous system is a detachable techno-organism named E.V.A. (Who also has abilities), making Fantomex a complex character.
In addition to being a highly skilled fighter, Fantomex is an excellent marksman, and his heightened senses complement his skill set as a master thief. He also possesses a healing ability, much like Wolverine and Deadpool, who were products of similar experiments. However, Fantomex has added pain suppression and the ability to heal faster in self-induced trances. Fantomex's most notable ability is creating realistic illusions to deceive people, much like Spider-Man's Mysterio, which he routinely uses to his advantage.
Fantomex is a frequent X-Men collaborator who is often more of an anti-hero. The character has even been part of ensemble teams, like in Rick Remender's Uncanny X-Force, where he was a central part of the team, alongside Psylocke, Deadpool, and Wolverine, who acted as leader. Fantomex has even appeared in the Marvel Strike Force video game, helping bring the character to new audiences.
The MCU's X-Men Reboot May Be Setting The Stage For Other New Characters
If the Chunnel working title hints at Fantomex's live-action debut, other circulating rumors may yet prove true. Rumors have seen names like Margaret Qualley for Rogue and Cynthia Erivo for Storm. Those remain unconfirmed, but the X-Men reboot may be set to be the film debut of more than just Fantomex, as current word says the script includes the team's long-running foe, Mr. Sinister.
Mr. Sinister, aka Nathaniel Essex, is one of the X-Men's darkest villains. He often experiments on mutants in attempts to create a superior race, with much of his work involving cloning. His darkest moment also earned him his name, when his wife dubbed him "sinister" for his experiments on their son's corpse. The character almost jumped from comics to movie screens in The New Mutants, which heavily references the Essex Corporation, but that never came to fruition.
While the X-Men reboot is still a ways off, audiences may get a glimpse at the characters in upcoming films like Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Still, the MCU may be setting up the X-Men reboot to introduce several fresh characters moviegoers have yet to see outside of comics and animation, like Fantomex, making the next mutant outing an exciting prospect to keep an eye on.
Marvel's X-Men
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Director
- Jake Schreier
- Writers
- Michael Lesslie
- Franchise(s)
- Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)
