10 Marvel Comics Characters That Would Make A Great New ‘X-Men’ TV Series

Even though the first X-Men movie was released eight years before Iron Man, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has surpassed the X-Men movie franchise as the standard-bearer for the comic-book-to-blockbuster-film enterprise. They’ve also managed to create a very successful run of MCU Netflix series to help introduce their universe to even more viewers, with successful shows like Daredevil, Jessica Jones and Luke Cage leading up to a crossover series, The Defenders. On top of that, they have Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on network television to help promote their ever-expanding franchise, occasionally featuring characters and story arcs pulled directly from the Avengers films.

The DC Extended Universe is in the process of building their theatrical response to the MCU with their series of films using Superman, Batman and the Suicide Squad to help usher in the Justice League. And while the superhero shows on The CW — including Supergirl, Arrow, The Flash and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow — are doing quite well, they don’t exist in the same universe as the DCEU films the way Ghost Rider and Elektra technically exist in the same universe as The Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy.

To their credit, 20th Century Fox proved that superhero films can be successful even when rated R. Deadpool has totally changed the game and has given the X-Men franchise a major boost in the war against the MCU and DC Comics. But the Fox version of the Marvel Universe doesn’t yet have a television series they can use to help fans stay interested in between major films.

As reported by Vulture, the new FX show Legion is set to be a very solid series. While based on a Marvel Comics character of the same name, it remains unclear if it will exist within the same cinematic universe as the X-Men and Deadpool, or if it will exist in its own world like the Fantastic Four movies that Fox was responsible for. And as reported by iDigital Times, the series Hellfire has been scrapped in favor of a new X-Men show about parents with a mutant child who are on the run from the government. Legion is expected to air in early 2017, while no date has been set for the yet-unnamed show about a family on the run.

With the built-in interest behind the X-Men name — and the enormous catalog of Marvel Comics mutants who have yet to be utilized in the X-Men series or the Marvel Cinematic Universe — a really fantastic X-Men television series could be created based on staff and students at Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters.

The Faculty

Of course, several veteran mutants will need to be employed at Xavier’s school. But like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., major characters from the movie franchise can’t be used as regulars on the TV series. An excuse would have to be made for Xavier’s extended absence — perhaps even having the show take place at one of the off-site campuses — but a few cameo appearances by Patrick Stewart and/or James McAvoy certainly wouldn’t be out of the question.

Gateway

Filling in for Professor X as headmaster, Gateway’s mutant powers are also cerebral in nature. Like the elder Xavier, Gateway isn’t one to get physically involved in a battle. Rather, he uses his powers of teleportation to assist the good guys in getting to where they need to be. In Marvel Comics, Psylocke is able to communicate with him telepathically, which could be a great tie-in to the movies. The fact that he is frequently seen meditating, rarely speaks, and has an Aboriginal origin story (and birthname) that no one else knows could make him a mysteriously interesting television character.

Nova

Nova is a character that, based on his history in Marvel Comics, could easily exist in either the MCU or the X-Men universe. Given that his powers and initial enemies were of an alien nature, he had connections to the Kree and the Guardians of the Galaxy, and was even a Secret Avenger at one point. But his dealings with Cable and X-Force make him a viable candidate for the X-Men universe. If Nova were teaching the students things like astrology and alien science, it would make a natural segue to bring other-worldly aspects to the X-Men franchise.

Sabretooth

Assuming the happenings in X-Men Origins: Wolverine can be seen as non-canonical up against the rest of the films in the franchise, the only time we saw Wolverine’s greatest nemesis was in the first film, where his death was never confirmed. Acting as a character that the good guys are trying to help reform, he could always be making snide comments about Wolverine, especially as new films are set to be released. The fact that Sabretooth is a loose cannon with an undeniably sinful past, his character would be the wildcard that always has the potential to cause problems. And in much the same way that Cyclops had to be the rational X-Man opposite Wolverine, Namor will be brought in as the good guy to keep Victor Creed in check.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMijRDsFvy4

Namor the Sub-Mariner

As a member of the royal family from the lost city of Atlantis, Namor is a hero who was made for the big screen. He has abilities that allow him to fly, breathe under water, communicate telepathically with sea creatures, and match strength, speed and agility with the best of the Marvel Universe. He is often seen riding a griffin and has been officially associated in Marvel Comics with such super-groups as the Avengers, the Defenders, the Fantastic Four, the Invaders and the X-Men. With the right set of actors, the “odd couple” interactions between Namor and Sabretooth could be an entertaining dynamic.

Tigra

A lot of the great female superheroes from the pages of Marvel Comics already have roles in major films. Captain Marvel, Scarlet Witch, Black Widow, Elektra, Valkyrie and Gamora are all committed to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Rogue, Storm, Jean Grey and Psylocke are already being heavily used in the X-Men films, and Fox put the Invisible Woman into their movies about the Fantastic Four. The fact that Tigra hasn’t been used at all in the movies gives Fox the chance to use her however they want. Her magic-based transition from crime-fighting human to post-mutation tiger-woman would also give the series a segue to explore the world of magic. There’s certain to be some animalistic chemistry between the feline-infused Tigra and the lupine-related Sabretooth.

The Students

As long as they keep making X-Men movies, they will need to keep training new X-Men. Not only would a television series provide additional promotion for their films, but it would give them the opportunity to give different characters a test-run on television before debuting them on the silver screen.

Jubilee

With the possible exception of Gambit — who will be played by Channing Tatum in his own feature film in the franchise — Jubilation Lee is arguably the one X-Man that fans want to see more of in the X-Men films. Although the character made some brief appearances in first three films, it wasn’t until Lana Condor portrayed Jubilee in X-Men: Apocalypse that the character got multiple speaking parts and several key appearances. Her inclusion into a TV series would be an instant association for everyone who grew up on the animated X-Men series of the early 90s, and would be a direct anchor to the film franchise. Her story from the comics with the New Warriors, in which she is de-powered and then turned into a vampire, would also give Fox a means by which to bring vampires into the X-Men universe, if they ever felt the need.

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Monet Yvette Clarisse Maria Therese St. Croix

More commonly referred to as “M” or “Monet,” she graduated in Marvel Comics from Generation X to X-Factor to the X-Men. She’s something of a jack-of-all-trades, with mutant powers that include telekinesis, telepathy, supersonic flight, healing factor, and all the superhuman strength/speed/agility qualities that she could possibly need. As a character with a Muslim background, her faith (and Gateway’s meditative practices) could allow the X-Men series to deal with issues of religion and spirituality.

Bailey

Bailey Hoskins only exists in the five-part series X-Men: Worst X-Man Ever. Written by Say Anything front man Max Bemis, it tells the story of a typically dramatic and self-loathing teenager who is ignored at school and doesn’t know how to talk to girls. When Bailey learns that he might be a mutant, the possibility of being an X-Man changes his attitude. Unfortunately for the emotive young man, using his spectacular mutant ability — being able to cause an atomic-level explosion at will — can only be used once because it results in his death. Ergo, he deems himself the “worst X-Man ever,” and reluctantly agrees to go through all the training in order to find his purpose. At the end of every season, fans of the show would wonder if Bailey was finally going to use his power, or if he was allowed to live for another season. Undoubtedly, he’d end up having an enormous crush on Jubilee.

Chamber

In Generation X, Jonothon “Chamber” Starsmore was a broody British import. Cyclops’ optic force blasts pale in comparison to Chamber’s psionic energy blasts that emanate from his chest. He is another character full of mystery that could allow the X-Men franchise to explore some new territory, as Chamber doesn’t need to eat, drink or even breathe. He is not sustained by any sort of “life force,” but rather continues to exists thanks to his psionic energy.

Polaris

Yet to be mentioned or make an appearance in any Marvel Studios film is Polaris, a character attached to the X-Men franchise in several ways. She is the daughter of Magneto (making her the half-sister of both Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch) and has a romantic history with Havok. Since a Polaris/Havok romance isn’t possible in the current state of the X-Men universe, having her around on the TV series could lead to some fun interactions between her and Quicksilver — perhaps even flirting a little until they realize that they are half-siblings. The mutant powers she inherited include flight, magnetic field generation and electromagnetic control — and with proper guidance from Xavier’s school, she could be powerful enough to stand up to a mutant with the extraordinary powers of her father.

Currently, the only television programs in the works for the Fox side of the Marvel Universe are Legion and the unnamed series about parents protecting their mutant child from the government. But with the comic book superhero market at an all-time high and as many as five films already planned for the X-Men film series, there’s certainly plenty of opportunity for Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox to create an exciting new X-Men TV series.

[Featured Image by 20th Century Fox/Marvel Comics]