Dark Phoenix X-Men: Dark Phoenix News and Speculation Thread - - - - - - Part 15

[Frankeh]

Why are posters talking about the MCU characters here?

 

[Marvel united]

Wolverine and Jean, Magneto and Mystique in First Class/DOFP, Beast and Mystique in First Class. Everyone's going to roll their eyes but I don't care, I liked Cyclops and Jean in Apocalypse. I'm looking forward to that relationship being taken further in this film.

But they barely had any interaction in Apocalypse let alone any development. We get two scenes of Scott and Jean at the school meeting each other and then after that, nothing. It's honestly amazing to me how underplayed the actual X-Men were in that movie

 

[BMM]

But they barely had any interaction in Apocalypse let alone any development. We get two scenes of Scott and Jean at the school meeting each other and then after that, nothing. It's honestly amazing to me how underplayed the actual X-Men were in that movie

You would have to ignore the rest of the movie for that to be true, which may not be a bad idea. The sad reality is Jean and Scott interact more in Apocalypse than any other X-Men movie, save for X2.

 

[henzINNIT]

Doesn't APOCALYPSE basically indicate that he didn't want to put the students in harm's way? It's Beast that wanted to re-form the X-Men. Xavier was reluctant.

It's been a while admittedly, but that feels like a stretch. It is quite clearly drawn that Charles naively doesn't think the X-Men are needed, which Mystique refutes. I don't remember a single line in the film that indicates Charles is hesitating because he is concerned about their safety (which would be far more interesting).

How exactly should he have been developed, within reason, considering he's a supporting character?

He doesn't seem to have real self acceptance issues in TLS. He is briefly tempted, and chooses not to be cured. And there's nothing that says he has the same level of issues in DARK PHOENIX that he had in FIRST CLASS. He just doesn't go around looking like a beast all the time. Which, itself, is an evolution of the character from FIRST CLASS.

But his relationship and the nature of his interactions with Raven, Xavier, Magneto, etc have changed. He's gone from recruit to student to teacher, from student to friend to right hand man, and from member of a covert team to one of the leaders of said team. Visually, he's gone from a human looking man with normal proportions, to a more animalistic creature, to a sort of human/beast hybrid, and so on.

Because while he has learned to live with it, he doesn't particularly like being blue and furry and in a rage?

Why should he have to?

Beast in First Class is ashamed of his mutation. He develops a serum to hide it, which drives a wedge between him and Raven and ultimately causes an even stronger transformation. Despite ending on separate sides at the end, Raven tries to encourage him accept himself.

Beast in DOFP has doubled down on trying to bury his physical mutation, developing a new serum that can make him and Charles appear normal at the expense of their enhanced abilities. It is depicted through Charles as being the wrong thing to do, putting them in danger several times because Charles cannot use his power, and the film ends with Charles working through the troubles that caused him to turn to the serum and using his power for good.

Bearing these in mind, I'll brainstorm some ideas to develop Hank further in Apocalypse and beyond:

Raven has taken to hiding her true form from the world in Apocalypse. Her blue look has become a mutant icon, Raven appearing as human becomes a metaphor for her rejecting the responsibility, and Hank is now the one encouraging her to embrace it. Instead of looking like a hypocrite and saying people "look up to her" while hiding himself, the theme would have been better illustrated if Hank had (in the 10 year gap) come to terms with his natural state enough to remain that way.

If you want to continue with his discomfort over his appearance, it would have been far more effective to demonstrate clearly when and why he chooses to hide. I would suggest by Apocalypse he is at least comfortable enough to be blue and furry while in the mansion. It's not an arc if there is no visible progress, which is my biggest complaint. Maybe write a scene where he has to leave the safety of his home and family and then has to decide whether or not to take the serum again.

Hank should be put in a situation that challenges his reliance on the serum, and like Charles before him, suffer the consequences of rejecting his abilities. As you specifically asked for something 'within reason as a supporting character', I suggest Havok's death. Alex and Hank are old friends, Alex used to bully him over his appearance, but they are older now. Give Alex a line showing he is remorseful for his childish taunts, show that Hank (having taken the serum) is powerless to intervene when Apocalypse abducts Charles, and have Alex die as written. Afterward, Hank has reason to think things would have been different if he was blue and feels guilty. That could be achieved in 3-4 lines in the film, changing very little, but adding a whole lot.

Beyond that I'm very fond of Beast being close to human characters. It's a great way to show how human he is despite his appearance.

 

[Mutant 77]

How exactly should he have been developed, within reason, considering he's a supporting character?



He doesn't seem to have real self acceptance issues in TLS. He is briefly tempted, and chooses not to be cured. And there's nothing that says he has the same level of issues in DARK PHOENIX that he had in FIRST CLASS. He just doesn't go around looking like a beast all the time. Which, itself, is an evolution of the character from FIRST CLASS.



I really, really hope this isn't a spoiler.



But his relationship and the nature of his interactions with Raven, Xavier, Magneto, etc have changed. He's gone from recruit to student to teacher, from student to friend to right hand man, and from member of a covert team to one of the leaders of said team. Visually, he's gone from a human looking man with normal proportions, to a more animalistic creature, to a sort of human/beast hybrid, and so on.



Maybe.

I don't see how that's not Beast, though. Maybe it's not a particular version of Beast from a particular era. There's an entire era in the comics where he used an image inducer. This is essentially a slightly more Jekyll & Hyde take on that concept.



Because while he has learned to live with it, he doesn't particularly like being blue and furry and in a rage?

Why should he have to?

GREAT POINTS.

 

[Mutant 77]

Raven has taken to hiding her true form from the world in Apocalypse. Her blue look has become a mutant icon, Raven appearing as human becomes a metaphor for her rejecting the responsibility, and Hank is now the one encouraging her to embrace it. Instead of looking like a hypocrite and saying people "look up to her" while hiding himself, the theme would have better illustrated if Hank had (in the 10 year gap) come to terms with his natural state enough to remain that way.


.

I'm under the impression that Hank is keeping his human form in "Apocalypse" because the school was 100% active again, and filled with mutants. He didn't want to "disturb" everyone else's "sensibility". Beyond that, was the school a COVER UP? I think Hank was just using his human aspect as a mask to avoid any unwanted attention for him, Charles and the school.

Maybe the arrival of Nightcrawler changed the scenario for him...
Said that, when he reverted to his Beast form in the prison, he looked sure of himself and ready to go. There were no problems at all.

By the end of "Apocalypse", it seems like Hank has finally embraced his Beast form.


About your Havok point:

Well, Havok lived in the school for years, not just in 1962. There has been enough time for him and Beast to "fix" the tension among them.

 

[Zarex]

Wolverine and Jean, Magneto and Mystique in First Class/DOFP, Beast and Mystique in First Class. Everyone's going to roll their eyes but I don't care, I liked Cyclops and Jean in Apocalypse. I'm looking forward to that relationship being taken further in this film.

You're REALLY proving my point with these couplings, bub. The X-Men franchise, particularly the OT had its strengths. But relationship weren't it. Logan and Jean were horny for each other, but there was absolutely no relationship beyond that. Both "relationships" with Ultimate Mutant Mystique were undeveloped nonsense. Hank was pathetic and Erik sort of tried to kill her. Scott and Jean had zero chemistry in Apocalypse, but hopefully that improves in the final installment.

 

[GuestStar2004]

 

[psyonic]

That's cool, but only the jet has my interest mildly piqued.

 

[The Guard]

Wolverine and Jean, Magneto and Mystique in First Class/DOFP, Beast and Mystique in First Class. Everyone's going to roll their eyes but I don't care, I liked Cyclops and Jean in Apocalypse. I'm looking forward to that relationship being taken further in this film.

I think Scott and Jean are in the ballpark, especially if you include X-MEN and X2. We've seen the origins of their relationship and seen their relationship tested in several major ways, and how it affects each of them and their role in the X-Men. There have been some really nice emotional beats to their relationship on film. If DARK PHOENIX does well in this regard, I think you're potentially looking at one of the better developed/explored relationships in superhero cinema.

 

[Marvel united]

You would have to ignore the rest of the movie for that to be true, which may not be a bad idea. The sad reality is Jean and Scott interact more in Apocalypse than any other X-Men movie, save for X2.

Well, that's not a feat to be proud of. Because I genuinely can not recall any meaningful interactions between them after the initial two scenes at the school. If anything, Jean had a more intimate interaction with Logan than anything she did with Scott in Apocalypse. It also doesn't help that Sheridan and Sophie have zero chemistry

X2 definitely handled their relationship the best of any movie but even that left a lot to be desired imo. I want a movie where Scott and Jean can be one of the central focuses of the movie

 

[Zarex]

I think Scott and Jean are in the ballpark, especially if you include X-MEN and X2. We've seen the origins of their relationship and seen their relationship tested in several major ways, and how it affects each of them and their role in the X-Men. There have been some really nice emotional beats to their relationship on film. If DARK PHOENIX does well in this regard, I think you're potentially looking at one of the better developed/explored relationships in superhero cinema.

I would agree that OT Scott & Jean are the closest we've had to a good relationship in the 20 year history of the Fox X-Men franchise. Scott is not oblivious to the fact that his best gal is horny for another guy that wants to take his place. But despite limited screen time he responds to this threat to his relationship with maturity and love for his partner.

Of course the Rat crapped all over it in the third film, but to quote one member of a better developed superhero relationship, "a thing isn't beautiful because it lasts".

 

[henzINNIT]

I'm under the impression that Hank is keeping his human form in "Apocalypse" because the school was 100% active again, and filled with mutants. He didn't want to "disturb" everyone else's "sensibility". Beyond that, was the school a COVER UP? I think Hank was just using his human aspect as a mask to avoid any unwanted attention for him, Charles and the school.

Maybe the arrival of Nightcrawler changed the scenario for him...
Said that, when he reverted to his Beast form in the prison, he looked sure of himself and ready to go. There were no problems at all.

By the end of "Apocalypse", it seems like Hank has finally embraced his Beast form.


About your Havok point:

Well, Havok lived in the school for years, not just in 1962. There has been enough time for him and Beast to "fix" the tension among them.

These are fine assumptions, but there is only room for them because the films don't bother to fill in these blanks with character depth or history. I'd much prefer to know that Hank in Apocalypse is more content with himself - yet trying to be more palatable to students/outsiders - than to draw that conclusion because his actions are contrary to his message. As potentially 'scary' as his Beast form is, I think it would be more satisfying that Hank sets an example to those kids. Think of the wasted potential of Kurt arriving at the school to meet a fellow blue 'monster', who is a well adjusted man and a professor. (Plus it would just be cute to see the younger kids hugging him like a big teddy bear)

Likewise, it's unclear how long Havok spent with the school, nor what became of his relationship with Hank. As he was surprised to see Hank in human form, we can assume they haven't interacted in well over a decade and they were still young when they parted ways. That gives us plenty of room to show Alex has grown as a person, instead of merely speculating about it online.

 

[Charzhin0]

And to bring it back on topic.......in the 20 year history of the Fox X-Men franchise, name a romantic relationship anywhere close to being as well developed as Viz-Wanda. Go!

Rogue-Bobby's arc over X1, X2, X3 and DOFP Rogue Cut is more relatable, deeper and sympathetic than Viz-wanda. MCU have tried making out Wanda to be a dangerous mutant who herself fears the outside world, pretty much what Xmen is built on, but have done a poor job illustrating it on screen through actions or dialogue. Same with Vision - why is he on the run again in IW? To stop General Ross from tracking them? MCU wants us to feel sympathy for them as an outcast-forbidden romance of freaks, but havent given us enough material to fully get behind the concept. The Viz-Wanda sacrafice at the end is forced. In fact, the Beast-Mistqiue romance in First Class does a better job at portraying this ''the world will not accept us freaks being together''

Raven: Hank, don’t! You’re beautiful, Hank. Everything you are, you’re perfect. Look at all of us? Look at all we’ve achieved this week? All we will achieve? We are different. But we shouldn’t be trying to fit into society. Society should aspire to be more like us. Mutant and proud.
Hank McCoy: Well then, it behooves me to tell you, that even if we save the world tomorrow, and mutants are accepted into society, that my feet and your natural blue form will never be deemed beautiful.
[she shape shifts back into her human form]
Hank McCoy: You look more beautiful now. We need this cure.
[he gets up and leaves her room]

Followed by Magnetos line later to Raven:

''You want society to accept you, but you cannot even accept yourself''.

Those lines of dialogue are far more comprehensive to convey the dynamic of this type of outcast relationship that Wanda-Viz want to be. I dont remember any lines as powerful as those that occur between Vision-Wanda.


And back to my original answer of Rogue and Bobby being atleast on par if not superior to Wanda-Viz.

X1 Rogue is fragile and has trust issues with a difficult upbringing (as does Wanda) and feels betrayed after what she thinks is Bobby, tells her to run away from the Xmansion. Heartbroken on the train, Logan convinces her to give the X-family another shot (like Hawkeyes peptalk to Wanda in AoU) and she re-unites her romantic interest with Iceman at the end after re-gaining confidence.

X2 she develops into being more confident around her new team (like Wanda) but problems start to occur as her mutation doesnt allow physical contact - and we see this struggle from both Bobby and Rogues perspective (like Wandas mutation causes her to lose control in Civil War). For a deeper layer to this, Pyro becomes jealous of Bobby and Rogues relationship as he sees Bobby as the guy who was raised in a stable traditional loving family who now has a nice girlfriend.

X3, Kitty Pryde and Bobby become romantically attracted and Rogue feels bitterness to Kitty along with a sense of inadequacy and is conflicted over taking the cure. DOFP Rogue cut, Iceman willingly undertakes a suicidal mission to save his long time lover. When Rogue arrives at the temple, a powerful silent moment happens of exchanging looks between her and Kitty, once an object of jealousy for Rogue, to affirm the sacrafice Iceman made for the greater good (just like Wanda at the end of IW)

 

[carpenter82]

Rogue-Bobby's arc over X1, X2, X3 and DOFP Rogue Cut is more relatable, deeper and sympathetic than Viz-wanda. MCU have tried making out Wanda to be a dangerous mutant who herself fears the outside world, pretty much what Xmen is built on, but have done a poor job illustrating it on screen through actions or dialogue. Same with Vision - why is he on the run again in IW? To stop General Ross from tracking them? MCU wants us to feel sympathy for them as an outcast-forbidden romance of freaks, but havent given us enough material to fully get behind the concept. The Viz-Wanda sacrafice at the end is forced. In fact, the Beast-Mistqiue romance in First Class does a better job at portraying this ''the world will not accept us freaks being together''

Raven: Hank, don’t! You’re beautiful, Hank. Everything you are, you’re perfect. Look at all of us? Look at all we’ve achieved this week? All we will achieve? We are different. But we shouldn’t be trying to fit into society. Society should aspire to be more like us. Mutant and proud.
Hank McCoy: Well then, it behooves me to tell you, that even if we save the world tomorrow, and mutants are accepted into society, that my feet and your natural blue form will never be deemed beautiful.
[she shape shifts back into her human form]
Hank McCoy: You look more beautiful now. We need this cure.
[he gets up and leaves her room]

Followed by Magnetos line later to Raven:

''You want society to accept you, but you cannot even accept yourself''.

Those lines of dialogue are far more comprehensive to convey the dynamic of this type of outcast relationship that Wanda-Viz want to be. I dont remember any lines as powerful as those that occur between Vision-Wanda.


And back to my original answer of Rogue and Bobby being atleast on par if not superior to Wanda-Viz.

X1 Rogue is fragile and has trust issues with a difficult upbringing (as does Wanda) and feels betrayed after what she thinks is Bobby, tells her to run away from the Xmansion. Heartbroken on the train, Logan convinces her to give the X-family another shot (like Hawkeyes peptalk to Wanda in AoU) and she re-unites her romantic interest with Iceman at the end after re-gaining confidence.

X2 she develops into being more confident around her new team (like Wanda) but problems start to occur as her mutation doesnt allow physical contact - and we see this struggle from both Bobby and Rogues perspective (like Wandas mutation causes her to lose control in Civil War). For a deeper layer to this, Pyro becomes jealous of Bobby and Rogues relationship as he sees Bobby as the guy who was raised in a stable traditional loving family who now has a nice girlfriend.

X3, Kitty Pryde and Bobby become romantically attracted and Rogue feels bitterness to Kitty along with a sense of inadequacy and is conflicted over taking the cure. DOFP Rogue cut, Iceman willingly undertakes a suicidal mission to save his long time lover. When Rogue arrives at the temple, a powerful silent moment happens of exchanging looks between her and Kitty, once an object of jealousy for Rogue, to affirm the sacrafice Iceman made for the greater good (just like Wanda at the end of IW)

I feel like an idiot for forgetting Rogue and Iceman's relationship. That was something that X3 actually got right.

 

[Zarex]

Rogue-Bobby's arc over X1, X2, X3 and DOFP Rogue Cut is more relatable, deeper and sympathetic than Viz-wanda. MCU have tried making out Wanda to be a dangerous mutant who herself fears the outside world, pretty much what Xmen is built on, but have done a poor job illustrating it on screen through actions or dialogue. Same with Vision - why is he on the run again in IW? To stop General Ross from tracking them? MCU wants us to feel sympathy for them as an outcast-forbidden romance of freaks, but havent given us enough material to fully get behind the concept. The Viz-Wanda sacrafice at the end is forced. In fact, the Beast-Mistqiue romance in First Class does a better job at portraying this ''the world will not accept us freaks being together''

Raven: Hank, don’t! You’re beautiful, Hank. Everything you are, you’re perfect. Look at all of us? Look at all we’ve achieved this week? All we will achieve? We are different. But we shouldn’t be trying to fit into society. Society should aspire to be more like us. Mutant and proud.
Hank McCoy: Well then, it behooves me to tell you, that even if we save the world tomorrow, and mutants are accepted into society, that my feet and your natural blue form will never be deemed beautiful.
[she shape shifts back into her human form]
Hank McCoy: You look more beautiful now. We need this cure.
[he gets up and leaves her room]

Followed by Magnetos line later to Raven:

''You want society to accept you, but you cannot even accept yourself''.

Those lines of dialogue are far more comprehensive to convey the dynamic of this type of outcast relationship that Wanda-Viz want to be. I dont remember any lines as powerful as those that occur between Vision-Wanda.

Beast-Raven is not a romance or a relationship. The two are barely colleagues. And the fact that Kinberg and company have been walking back the "mutant and proud!" speech due to Ms. Lawrence's distaste for the makeup chair showed that MYSTIQUE THE ULTIMATE MUTANT didn't believe one whit the crap she was spouting.

And there's absolutely zero evidence the MCU wants us to care about Wanda-Vision as outcasts. No one treats them as anything other than a normal couple. Nobody treats either of them as freaks.

Using math I calculated that Vision's dying declaration of "I just feel you" is approximately 75 quadrillion times more powerful than anything said in the Beast-Raven non relationship.

And back to my original answer of Rogue and Bobby being atleast on par if not superior to Wanda-Viz.

X1 Rogue is fragile and has trust issues with a difficult upbringing (as does Wanda) and feels betrayed after what she thinks is Bobby, tells her to run away from the Xmansion. Heartbroken on the train, Logan convinces her to give the X-family another shot (like Hawkeyes peptalk to Wanda in AoU) and she re-unites her romantic interest with Iceman at the end after re-gaining confidence.

X2 she develops into being more confident around her new team (like Wanda) but problems start to occur as her mutation doesnt allow physical contact - and we see this struggle from both Bobby and Rogues perspective (like Wandas mutation causes her to lose control in Civil War). For a deeper layer to this, Pyro becomes jealous of Bobby and Rogues relationship as he sees Bobby as the guy who was raised in a stable traditional loving family who now has a nice girlfriend.

X3, Kitty Pryde and Bobby become romantically attracted and Rogue feels bitterness to Kitty along with a sense of inadequacy and is conflicted over taking the cure. DOFP Rogue cut, Iceman willingly undertakes a suicidal mission to save his long time lover. When Rogue arrives at the temple, a powerful silent moment happens of exchanging looks between her and Kitty, once an object of jealousy for Rogue, to affirm the sacrifice Iceman made for the greater good (just like Wanda at the end of IW)

Rogue-Bobby is a cute flirtation between attractive young people. NOT A RELATIONSHIP! And this non relationship ended with Rogue bailing on her teammates when they were fighting for their lives in Alcatraz and giving up extraordinary powers so she could get the boy. So uplifting!

 

[Charzhin0]

Beast-Raven is not a romance or a relationship. The two are barely colleagues. And the fact that Kinberg and company have been walking back the "mutant and proud!" speech due to Ms. Lawrence's distaste for the makeup chair showed that MYSTIQUE THE ULTIMATE MUTANT didn't believe one whit the crap she was spouting.

I never said it was a relationship, I said the concept of showing ''outcasts'' that Wanda-Viz are trying to portray is better served by Beast Mistqiue

Rogue-Bobby is a cute flirtation between attractive young people. NOT A RELATIONSHIP! And this non relationship ended with Rogue bailing on her teammates when they were fighting for their lives in Alcatraz and giving up extraordinary powers so she could get the boy. So uplifting!

Cute flirtation? Rogue put someone in a coma by kissing them which put her in a terrible mental state regarding future relationships, you think thats cute?

Rogue-Bobby shows us dynamics of difficult relationships, which Vision and Wanda effectivley are also, in more nuance and depth.

You underplay Rogues distress tremendously. Being in a commited relationship is a blessing for anyone. Not being able to touch another being is a curse only she knows. You reducing it down to, ''oh she just left the xmen team to get the cure so she could kiss some boy'' is quite arrogant.

And not like she could be very useful in X3 final battle anyway considering her iteration doesnt have super strength or flight.

 

[Zarex]

I never said it was a relationship, I said the concept of showing ''outcasts'' that Wanda-Viz are trying to portray is better served by Beast Mistqiue

Wanda-Viz were presented as star crossed lovers, but were hardly treated as freaks by their friends and colleagues. It's absolutely ridiculous to compare the two of them to ULTIMATE MUTANT MYSTIQUE and the blank slate who kinda had a crush on her.

Cute flirtation? Rogue put someone in a coma by kissing them which put her in a terrible mental state regarding future relationships, you think thats cute?

I was obviously referring to Rogue and Bobby's flirtation as "cute", not bringing Marie's tragic first boyfriend into this. But you know that already.

Rogue-Bobby shows us dynamics of difficult relationships, which Vision and Wanda effectivley are also, in more nuance and depth.

You underplay Rogues distress tremendously. Being in a commited relationship is a blessing for anyone. Not being able to touch another being is a curse only she knows. You reducing it down to, ''oh she just left the xmen team to get the cure so she could kiss some boy'' is quite arrogant.

And not like she could be very useful in X3 final battle anyway considering her iteration doesnt have super strength or flight.

Boo, hoo, poor Marie can't go to the box social with her best fella. Real heroes suck it up and save the world. In my head canon Rogue flew into Alcatraz with her teammates and tried to suck the Phoenix force out of Jean. It didn't work, but at least my version didn't bail on her teammates.

The Rogue-Bobby relationship started out like it could be something. But then, like the rest of the franchise, it got Ratnered.

 

[Charzhin0]

Boo, hoo, poor Marie can't go to the box social with her best fella. Real heroes suck it up and save the world. In my head canon Rogue flew into Alcatraz with her teammates and tried to suck the Phoenix force out of Jean. It didn't work, but at least my version didn't bail on her teammates.

She already made her mind up of taking the cure, before it could have been destroyed by Magnetos squad

 

[Zarex]

She already made her mind up of taking the cure, before it could have been destroyed by Magnetos squad

It was an selfish, unheroic decision that did a great disservice to the character. Here's hoping we'll get a great Rogue in the Captain Marvel sequel.

 

[henzINNIT]

I feel like an idiot for forgetting Rogue and Iceman's relationship. That was something that X3 actually got right.

Really? I thought X3 threw Rogue and Bobby in the toilet. She faced a life-changing decision and it was side-lined by a lousy love-triangle.

 

[Spider-Fan]

I don't necessarily think having Rogue take the cure was a bad choice. But, that type of choice should not have been something for her arc to end on. Like, maybe they could find something to reverse the cure's effects, so she could choose to take it and accept her mutant powers sometime in the 3rd act or something. That I think could have made the she is cured angle work. But yeah, as an end to her arc...not a good look.

 

[Mutant 77]

These are fine assumptions, but there is only room for them because the films don't bother to fill in these blanks with character depth or history.

Likewise, it's unclear how long Havok spent with the school, nor what became of his relationship with Hank. .

1- The movie is perfect the way it is. Hank's character arc ended in DOFP. He's using his human form in "Apocalypse" as cover-up. He's Xavier's main man and the only X-Man left. He is Xavier's biggest "agent" at this point.
I think that they spent the first years (1973-1977 or so) in rebuilding a reputation for the school, improving the tech (Cerebro, the Blackbird) and so on.

And by the way, Hank loves Mystique, despite it not being a romance or a relationship. It's proper and legit storytelling.

2- Havok and many other students (X-Men?) departed to join the Vietnam War. Years later the events of "First Class" (1962). That's pretty much hinted in DOFP.
Technically, Havok, Banshee and Beast had been X-Men for 3 years or more, and had some missions anyway.

 

[The Original Bamfer]

“The movie is perfect the way it is”? What? What?! I love this series, but, wow.

 

[SumT]

Really? I thought X3 threw Rogue and Bobby in the toilet. She faced a life-changing decision and it was side-lined by a lousy love-triangle.

X3 script was horrible in all aspects.
ALL of them. (Jean, Cyclops, Charles, Storm, Rogue..... ughhhh. worst x-men movie ever)

and now we are getting its co-writer writing and directing Dark Phoenix in 2019