Will New Mutants save the X-Men franchise?
Originally set to have debuted in 2018, the film fell into development hell when Fox wasn't happy with the first trailer released, leading to massive reshoots. Things seemed to be back on track until Fox's acquisition by Disney which furthur delayed the movie release. As with Dark Phoenix before it, the constant delays makes audiences skeptical that the movie is even worth seeing, increasing the odds that the it will fare better on DVD than in actual theaters. There's also the obstacle of the film's casting. Ever since the casting decisions were announced, fans of the New Mutants comic were quick to voice their disappointment with the casting of the character Sunspot, who will be portrayed by actor Henry Zaga. Along with the casting of Alice Braga as Cecelia Reyes, both casting decisions raising legitimate claims of whitewashing.
If the producers hadn't noticed racism tends to turn audiences away however, there still remains the possibility the film will be a critical success. Thanks to the Fox and Disney merger, New Mutants will be a part of the MCU. The potential for an explanation for how mutants will be introduced and incorporated into the universe may be enough to get theater seats filled. If the movie does well it may be the start of a new series of films eventually leading up the the young mutants making their way to the ranks of the X-Men. And then there's the character Magik who has has been a fan favorite in comics ever since her introduction, so fans are excited to finally see the live action debut. Most notably, featuring a powerful character like Magik can also contribute to further building this new universe. The new mutants can lead to the introduction of the X-Men, and Magik being a frequent collaborator of Dr. Strange can branch the team fully into the MCU.
New Mutants hits theaters April 13. Enjoy the trailer below and let me know what you think.
