Stranger Things Meets the X-Men Universe: A Fandom Collision
It’s the kind of rumor mill that gives fandoms a shared heartbeat: Millie Bobby Brown, our beloved Eleven from Netflix’s hit series Stranger Things, could potentially switch gears from hunting Demogorgons to joining Marvel’s mutant powerhouse, the X-Men.
As Disney wraps its fingers around the X-Men franchise, courtesy of its acquisition of Fox, Marvel Studios is in a whirlwind of preparation to introduce these mutants into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The casting, at this point, is a buffet of question marks, but fans have a palate for speculation.
A Dream Casting by Deviant Art’s CaptainIronWidow
A fan artist known as CaptainIronWidow recently brought the fandom’s speculations to life by posting a captivating piece of fan art on Deviant Art. The artwork envisions Millie Bobby Brown donning the role of Kitty Pryde, aka Shadowcat. Known for her ability to phase through solid objects, Kitty Pryde is a character whose abilities have always tantalized fans but never took center stage in Fox’s X-Men films.
“Kitty Pryde is one of the most powerful mutants in the group, but even she didn’t have a dominant role in Fox’s X-Men franchise. As a long-time X-Men, she seems like a perfect candidate for an important role in the MCU,” the artist noted.
The Slow Rollout of MCU’s Mutants
Marvel Studios has been drip-feeding us mutants for a while now. During their Phase 4 and 5 reveals, characters like Kamala Kahn in Ms. Marvel and Namor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever have been outed as mutants. Even Patrick Stewart’s Professor X made a surprising cameo in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, adding to the multiversal chaos.
“Secret Invasion reveals that Fury, Priscilla, has written a book that is a clear nod to the X gene of mutants,” adding more fuel to the rampant speculation.
The Future of X-Men in the MCU: What’s Next?
Marvel Studios is barely scratching the surface when it comes to the X-Men. The timeline currently points towards the X-Men becoming an integral part of Phase 7 of the MCU. In the coming months, Marvel is planning to listen to writer’s proposals for the X-Men film, aiming to solidify a project that will gradually take form.
“More information may be on the way soon, as Marvel Studios plans to listen to writers’ proposals for his film of the X-Men and consolidate a project that begins to take its first steps over the next year.”
Will Millie Bobby Brown‘s fan-casting dream become a reality? Only time will tell. Until then, fan art and fan theories will continue to serve as the playground for our collective imaginations.
