Dark Phoenix Phoenix must be destroyed!" The Official Lilandra Thread

[DACrowe]

I wrote a massive post about my whole thoughts on the images and story details. But I am reposting here my thoughts on who Jessica is playing. Just a head's up if you read the other longer post.

-As per the story, the key of how it plays out is the enigma of Jessica Chastain. Like everyone else, I have assumed she is portraying an amalgamation of Emma Frost (who died in the films) and Lilandra. Could she be the Skrull Queen? Maybe. I think she'll have elements in being able to shape shift, but that could simply be because Lilandra is hiding her actual identity as an Empress.

If she is really Lilandra in disguise until the third act--think Duncard/Ra's, Khan in Star Trek 2, and Blofeld in Spectre--then the third act alien invasion could be her bringing her "gladiators" or however it is presented to Earth at the UN to challenge the X-Men for the fate of Jean Grey. She has been monitoring Jean like a vet the whole film and has come to the conclusion to "put her down." I don't think, sadly, the battle will be on the moon as it is strongly hinted that they only go to space for the big splashy opening sequence, which is already a bummer.

I actually am not against combining the narrative functions of Emma and Lilandra, because we have already seen Magneto try to manipulate a possessed Jean in the horrible X3. And while having Emma would be nice, Jessica Chastain is an amazing actress, whereas January Jones... is not. I get the sense Kinberg gave her something good, and turning this into a kind of "The Day the Earth Stood Still" meets Lilandra thing could work. It also means we are getting the complete "saga" if in a truncated form. Which will lead to online kvetching, but no one seems to mind when Marvel took major liberties with Civil War and Age of Ultron, so whatevs.

BUT if Chastain is really a Skrull Queen, that means she is in the straight up Emma Frost role, with the Skrulls standing in for the Hellfire Club (which will really piss Kevin Feige off, as it is going to rain on Captain Marvel's parade, just as Quicksilver did). Worse that means that the movie will not be telling the whole Dark Phoenix Saga, and that the film will end essentially right around the time the Shi'ar show up. Which will suck, because I'm 90% certain this is the final X-film, and I'd hate a cliffhanger.

So here is to hoping she is Lilandra in disguise, and if it leaves anything open ended, it is the idea the X-Men can go cosmic after this film. We will never see that movie, unfortunately, but this will be the Phoenix Saga in its entirety.

 

[psylockolussus]

Emma would never wear something like this either, I think.

She's definitely not playing Emma, if she is. They already got her outfit wrong.

 

[EnDz0n3]

BUT if Chastain is really a Skrull Queen, that means she is in the straight up Emma Frost role, with the Skrulls standing in for the Hellfire Club (which will really piss Kevin Feige off, as it is going to rain on Captain Marvel's parade, just as Quicksilver did).

Haha Yea Kinberg is no Singer...

It's a Kinberg original character.

*Cringe*

So is the out-of-left-field decision to make the lead villain also a shape shifter based on the premise that the film's biggest star is also being a shape shifter?

 

[Weather Witch]

So is the out-of-left-field decision to make the lead villain also a shape shifter based on the premise that the film's biggest star is also being a shape shifter?

Yeah no, sorry, but that's some unsupported leaps in logic. I am very curious about what they'll actually be doing with Chastain though. I kinda like her picture. There is something about her, and the way they've dyed her hair and eyebrows specifically, that makes her look like she is not completely human. If that makes any sense.

 

[Silvermoth]

I love that description of her as the vet who tells you she has to put your dog down.

I reckon she is lilandra. The only ambigiouty is that they're saying she's not because in this version her name is Lil Andra or something

 

[Hand Banana]

I dunno...telepaths have come back from the dead before and we never saw her die on screen.

 

[fobi]

I don't understand the part where she's "manipulating Jean for her own personal agenda". So after that she deems her too powerful and decides she needs to be killed?

 

[GuestStar2004]

I don't understand the part where she's "manipulating Jean for her own personal agenda". So after that she deems her too powerful and decides she needs to be killed?

It may be a hidden agenda.

Sometimes you don't find out the villains real motivation until much later.

 

[Zarex]

BUT if Chastain is really a Skrull Queen, that means she is in the straight up Emma Frost role, with the Skrulls standing in for the Hellfire Club (which will really piss Kevin Feige off, as it is going to rain on Captain Marvel's parade, just as Quicksilver did). Worse that means that the movie will not be telling the whole Dark Phoenix Saga, and that the film will end essentially right around the time the Shi'ar show up. Which will suck, because I'm 90% certain this is the final X-film, and I'd hate a cliffhanger.

I don't think Chastain is playing a Skrull Queen, or any alien for that matter. The character descriptions posted to That Hashtag Show were awfully "Hellfirey" and I think it more likely that Jessica is playing a new version of Emma, a blonde Selene or a gender swapped Mastermind. I do agree the Shi'ar will likely show up at the end to tease a movie that probably won't be made.

Also, the Skrulls are part of the FF contract and FOX hasn't comingled characters from the two separate licensing agreements in nearly two decades of films. I doubt they can do it without Marvel's approval. I also doubt the folks at FOX would be looking to intentionally tick off Feige given the ongoing corporate negotiations.

 

[GuestStar2004]

I imagine any plans for this film were made before the negotiations were ever a thing but even then if FOX own a certain type of skrull then they have full right to use them if they wish.

FOX and Marvel have had dealings already in the past with characters so i don't think anything was done to go out their way to spite marvel if honest.

Whoever it is she is playing i wouldn't be shocked if there is more to it then meets the eye.

 

[Cktopl33]

Comicbook.com speculating on her character:

Chastain's character has a power set and role in the story that is very similar to Mastermind's in the original Dark Phoenix, which could be a very intentional thing. Chastain's character is a shape-shifter, but that power may not be the same as, say, Mystique's. If Chastain's alien can make people see illusion, then she could "shape-shift" by manipulating minds, rather than physically shifting. If she's the movie version of Mastermind, then a nice Easter egg could be having a scene where she looks more like a traditional version of Jason Wyngarde.

There's also been a "Lady Mastermind character in the comics: Regan Wyngarde, one of Jason's three daughters, who also has her father's illusion powers. Given the female-centric nature of X-Men: Dark Phoenix, an alternate version of Lady Mastermind could be what we get. Chastain's look certainly fits Regan's comic book depiction. The X-Men movies have definitely taken liberties with their character adaptations in the past, so it wouldn't be too surprising if the Mastermind role in Dark Phoenix was streamlined to better fit the larger cosmic storyline.

In the comics, Mastermind (Jason Wyngarde) is a carnival mentalist who is actually a mutant with the ability to project illusions into the minds of others. His illusions are so strong, that even a person aware of the manipulation can't break free of it. Without artificial restraints, Mastermind's power can spread uncontrollably, sometimes affecting an entire town.

 

[Cktopl33]

I love that description of her as the vet who tells you she has to put your dog down.

I reckon she is lilandra. The only ambigiouty is that they're saying she's not because in this version her name is Lil Andra or something

Jessica herself said on her Instagram:

“Hey folks, want a scoop? [I’m] not playing Lilandra.”

That comment was later removed with an edited version re-posted.

 

[fobi]

Comicbook.com speculating on her character:

Interesting. Now I'm looking at the cast again to see who could be who.

 

[QWoods]

I also think that Chastain is playing Lilandra in disguise. The photo that we are given is Emma post funeral scene this is why she's in all black opposed to white. We were just given this image to throw us off.

Having Lilandra as Emma Frost would make her familiar with Charles so that she could easily infiltrate the group and get close to Jean. Being a shapeshifter also works because she can enter Emma's diamond form to help build her cover.

What her plans are ultimately beats me, maybe during their space mission Jean gets on Lilandra's radar, the Shiar may not think she is a threat until Lilandra goes to earth and manipulates her into using her power in the worst way, making her a threat. Maybe she goes to Earth to alienate Jean from her friends by making her tap into her darkside. This way the X-Men wouldn't stand in the way of the Shiar when they come for her. IDK I'm just rambling at this point, I'm excited for this film.

 

[fobi]

For this secret character to end up being Veranke would be super anti climactic. The response would be a resounding "who?" by the vast majority of people.

 

[psylockolussus]

I don't know her.

 

[GuestStar2004]

jessica chastain on her role

“I don’t know what I can describe about this character without giving everything away.” Jessica Chastain is aware that she can’t really talk about her very mysterious Dark Phoenix character.

But what we can tell you is the Molly’s Game star plays an otherworldly shapeshifter who influences Jean Grey/Phoenix for her own agenda. Says Simon Kinberg, “Her character is way way smarter than we are. What she realizes is she can use [Jean Grey] to manipulate this world, to turn it against itself.”

The actress became friends with Kinberg on The Martian, which he produced. “I was really excited for him to have his directorial debut and also it was the script. I’ve always wanted to do a big comic book franchise-y film but I had some issues with the female characters in the films I was being offered. I was really pleased with this script because I think it’s a departure from the norm.”

And while Chastain is a non-human villain in a huge superhero movie, the way she plays her is the biggest twist. Instead of big booming speeches (see: Apocalypse), Chastain is quietly threatening. Explains the actress, “Simon and I first sat down in Montreal and we were talking about the character and I said ‘I don’t know if this is right but I keep thinking of the vet who tells you you need to put your dog down. There’s something very clinical about it.’ He loved it and we kind of expanded the character from there.”

 

[EnDz0n3]

Yeah no, sorry, but that's some unsupported leaps in logic. I am very curious about what they'll actually be doing with Chastain though. I kinda like her picture. There is something about her, and the way they've dyed her hair and eyebrows specifically, that makes her look like she is not completely human. If that makes any sense.

Well considering they wrote around JLaw not wanting to be blue all the time, it stands to reason that they would further accommodate her requests, or in this case her biggest movie star in the world status and give her more importance to the plot.

Anyways wouldn't it be funny if Chastain turns out to be male Mastermind all along. It would kinda ruin Chastain's the whole strong female argument.

Whoever it is she is playing i wouldn't be shocked if there is more to it then meets the eye.

The article literally says she's playing a top secret character. lol

 

[Legion]

Haha Yea Kinberg is no Singer...



*Cringe*

So is the out-of-left-field decision to make the lead villain also a shape shifter based on the premise that the film's biggest star is also being a shape shifter?

Sure it is. I already joked that Mystique will challenge her to become the leader of the skrulls. Using a villain with the same power as your hero is seems to be the popular choice.

It's the same reason every Wolverine villain they chose is an evil wolverine type, clone, or wants his powers

Even for DoFP Vaughn said that he wanted an army of Mystiques as the villains and that's how they got the Mark X sentinel.

Now our heroes may be actually be facing an army of shapeshifters

 

[psylockolussus]

"dark Mystique"

 

[GuestStar2004]

Think you guys are reading way to much into it.

 

[Silvermoth]

Jessica herself said on her Instagram:



That comment was later removed with an edited version re-posted.

Yeah so she's playing Lillian Andra then

 

[psyonic]

Maybe she is Cassandra Nova

 

[EnDz0n3]

Maybe there's a purpose to that horrible wig she's wearing then.

 

[Mad Ones]

I'm just going to say it: there's no way Chastain is playing the Skrull Queen. There would be no point in being this mysterious about it and no reason why Chastain would be excited to play her (which it seems like she is).