The X-Men Turn on Each Other in First Dark Phoenix Teaser
Origin stories of an average human becoming a superhero are always fascinating. Maintaining fidelity of a character helps us build an attachment to them and we can better understand their motivations. We just want to love you, heroes. Let us in! However, the origin story of a villain can be even more interesting as there are often dark twists lying in wait. Even more so if we see a superhero turn into a villain as is expected to be the case with Dark Phoenix. 20th Century Fox just released a tiny teaser for the fall of Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) and promised a trailer this evening.
When things go wrong and difficult decisions must be made, it is tempting to begin casting blame. Great power will almost always corrupt the powerful, and the X-Men are not immune. However, this is a team and it’s difficult to cut ties with those we care about.
Lest my ears deceive me as I play ‘match that celebrity voice,’ the brief snippet appears to be a truncated conversation between Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) and Magneto (Michael Fassbender). There also might be a line from Smith (Jessica Chastain) thrown in there. Essentially, Magneto seems to be defending his actions as Jean began succumbing to a force that turns her evil.
The tragic turn of events seems to fracture the X-Men who will ultimately have to choose between their teammate and the rest of humanity. Magneto has a history of prioritizing the mutants over other humans and is likely to capitalize on any conflict between them. We hate to think ill of any mutant, but could it be that he encouraged Jean to become the Dark Phoenix?
The image sets Jean among the cosmos, likely indicating the Phoenix originated beyond our atmosphere. We previously discussed the powers were awakened by a solar flare, and this image seems to jive with that assumption. Famke Janssen played Jean in X-Men: The Last Stand when she transformed into the Dark Phoenix. However, the incident was a subplot in a war between Charles Xavier and Magneto. Here, we’ll see it play out in full.
Tonight. #DarkPhoenix pic.twitter.com/7SoRtBFIXS
— 20th Century Fox (@20thcenturyfox) September 26, 2018
Here’s the official synopsis:
In DARK PHOENIX, the X-MEN face their most formidable and powerful foe: one of their own, Jean Grey. During a rescue mission in space, Jean is nearly killed when she is hit by a mysterious cosmic force. Once she returns home, this force not only makes her infinitely more powerful, but far more unstable. Wrestling with this entity inside her, Jean unleashes her powers in ways she can neither comprehend nor contain. With Jean spiraling out of control, and hurting the ones she loves most, she begins to unravel the very fabric that holds the X-Men together. Now, with this family falling apart, they must find a way to unite — not only to save Jean’s soul, but to save our very planet from aliens who wish to weaponize this force and rule the galaxy.
Jean Grey becomes Dark Phoenix February 14.
Featured Image: Sophie Turner stars as Jean Grey in Twentieth Century Fox’s X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX. Photo Credit: Doane Gregory.
