According to internet speculation, Marvel Studios may be in the midst of a legal nightmare. This primarily relates to the inclusion of the X-Men in the MCU and Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox. Regarding the Disney-Fox merger which saw its completion in 2019, there could be defective contractual obligations, a stark difference from what was initially seen.
Also Read: ‘Renaming Mutants Because ‘X-Men’ Isn’t Inclusive?’
Back when news of the completion broke, Marvel fans had already been considering the X-Men’s smooth integration into the MCU. However, something else is rumored to be plaguing Marvel Studios.
The legal aspects concerning the X-Men
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Some contractual obligations that have not yet expired may be the reason Marvel Studios has obstructed the use of the term “X-Men.” Perhaps that’s why the studio might be tiptoeing and actively finding fault with the X-Men’s inclusion in the MCU and references to them.
As far as such speculation goes, it can be backed up by the fact that Disney owns the full animation rights to the X-Men, and that’s exactly why we’re seeing a Marvel Studios-produced animated series featuring our mutants. beloved, instead of a full-fledged live-action version of it.
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This could also explain why the terms “mutants” or “mutation” are mostly used on a committed mention of the “X-Men.” Other pieces of evidence that validate these reports include the incorporation of Charles Xavier into the Multiverse of Madnesswhere not once is there a reference to being a mutant, let alone being the leader of the X-Men.
Moreover, this is perhaps why at the end of Mrs Marvel, Kamala’s genetic mutation is an independent revelation, devoid of any relationship to any existing mutant community. Once again, Marvel Studios has tiptoed a direct mention of mutants in the MCU. The subtle approach can still be validated when the 1990s X–Men: The animated series theme played briefly while the twist took place.
While this is just mere speculation, such rumors make a lot of sense when we realize how long it takes the MCU to get the X-Men involved, shamelessly and without beating around the bush.
Marvel Studios and the History of Legal Ambiguity
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If such speculation is indeed true, then the studio circumventing the legality of including the X-Men in the MCU narrative might be a strategy it must resort to, at least until the Fox contracts expire. Many fans previously expressed disappointment with a possible X-Men reboot movie named “The Mutants”. While some thought it was an attempt at inclusiveness, others speculated that it might be focused on mutants in general, instead of the X-Men. Details are not yet known.
However, now that these rumors are circulating, the reason for such a title could simply be due to Disney’s inability to develop a fully-fledged X-Men movie just yet, all thanks to legal obligations. On the other hand, the project could be another subtle attempt to circumvent a direct inclusion of the X-Men, while leaving space to explore the general mutant origin. Who knows, we might even see some of the X-Men characters, probably in a similar style Multiverse of Madness fashion.
Also Read: ‘I Just Didn’t Find It Intriguing’: Taron Egerton Explains Why He Turned Down Cyclops Role in X-Men Movies Ahead of Wolverine Rumors
It could be either scenario: Marvel Studios opted for the term “Mutants” to be able to develop the reported X-Men reboot that they may not be legally allowed to work on yet, or it could be another beating around the bush situation that the studio can’t get rid of before the expiration of the contracts.
Only time will tell what this legal tragedy will look like. According to the sources, the contracts could end in 2025, but nothing is confirmed as of now. One can only hope the world gets a faster, faster, and much smoother look at the X-Men in the MCU.
Source: Twitter
