The X-Men film franchise is mutating into something scary!
Fox revealed the first trailer for THE NEW MUTANTS. Based on the X-Men comic book but with the vibe of a teen horror film.
Take a look and let’s break down who’s who, what we know and what could be:
The mutants are not in the Xavier estate but a psychiatric facility under the care of a Dr. Cecilia Reyes (Alice Braga). The patients include characters from the comics each experiencing nightmarish visions and encounters.
Why a X-Men horror movie? When go back to the comic book origins and most memorable New Mutants stories you can see the inspiration.
Who’s Who? (at least in the comic books!)
The New Mutants:
Danielle Moonstar/Mirage is a Native American mutant with the power to project illusions based on an opponent’s fears. Mirage would later become a Valkyrie (yes, the kind from Thor) with supernatural abilities and a winged horse. Dani was team leader.
Illyana Rasputin/Magik is the younger sister of Colossus with the mutant ability to teleport via disks. As a child Illyana was kidnapped by a demon and raised in a dimension called Limbo. She spent years in Limbo becoming a powerful sorceress and conquered the demon Belasco who kidnapped her. All that time in Limbo was mere seconds in our time. Magik has struggled with her supernatural powers and demon possession. Magik eventually became an X-Man and studied under Doctor Strange.
Rhane Sinclair/Wolfsbane can shapeshifter into a werewolf and full wolf form. Her mutant ability conflicts with her strict religious upbringing and torture at the hands of a priest who raised her.
Roberto Da Costa/Sunspot is a mutant with the power to absorb solar energy. When he uses it for super-strength, his body turns into a black energy. Imagine his body is in a solar eclipse mode. Sunspot is from a wealthy family connected to the Hellfire Club.
Sam Guthrie/Cannonball has the ability to blast like a cannonball. When he launches his mutant power it’s like he’s blasting in a near invulnerable force field. Sam is the oldest in a family full of mutants we meet in later comics. Sam becomes an X-Man. Sam and Roberto also become Avengers.
Missing New Mutants:
Xi’an Coy Mahn/Karma was another founding member of the group with the power of mind possession.
Amara Aquila/Magma has the power to transform in a body of magma, blasts lava and control the earth.
The creative team says they took inspiration from The Demon Bear Saga featuring a demonic force from Mirage’s family’s supernatural heritage. Magik is a full on sorceress raised by demons. Rhane is a mutant werewolf. The whole team became pawns of Loki, God of Lies in X-Men/Thor crossovers.
Dr. Reyes is actually a hero. Cecilia is a mutant who could create force fields but wanted to focus on her career as a doctor instead of becoming an X-Man. She never interacted with the team.
Is there a villain?
What could be haunting the kids?
The Demon Bear
Belasco, Sym, Nastirh or any number of demons from Limbo
Warlock? Who’s he’s? Warlock was a member of the team but not a mutant. Warlock was a member of a techno-organic alien race who fell to Earth and became a member of the team but was eventually stalked by his ‘father’ and family – the Technarcy.
Selene, The Black Queen of The Hellfire Club is an immortal mutant and sorceress. Selene’s origin is tied to Magma.
Shadow King? This evil psionic entity has tormented Professor Xavier, The X-Men and New Mutants for years. He’s currently the villain on the television series LEGION so it’s unlikely but still a suspect.
The New Mutants were co-created by legendary X-Men writer Chris Claremont with artist Bob McLeod. The Demon Bear Saga was illustrated by Bill Sienkiewicz, who brought a unique style to the book’s supernatural themes.
THE NEW MUTANTS arrives April 13, 2018.
By Editor