The latest trailer is out for what could be the final installation in this iteration of the X-Men franchise — and things don’t look great (either for our heroes or for the franchise).
The Dark Phoenix saga is one of the most famous (and well-loved) narrative arcs in the comic book series long history, and one that would always prove tricky to reproduce on the big screen.
Setting aside the split over the rights to the franchise (which was owned by Fox, while Disney owned the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe), the Phoenix saga in the comics depends heavily on some plot elements that have yet to be introduced to the MCU.
Fox is only getting this second shot at recreating the storyline because the first time it was attempted it was a colossal mess.
The first trailer for ‘X-Men: Dark Phoenix’ looks appropriately ominous
Disrupt 2026: The tech ecosystem, all in one room
Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to $400.
Save up to $300 or 30% to TechCrunch Founder Summit
1,000+ founders and investors come together at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 for a full day focused on growth, execution, and real-world scaling. Learn from founders and investors who have shaped the industry. Connect with peers navigating similar growth stages. Walk away with tactics you can apply immediately
Offer ends March 13.
After two strong showings (both creatively and at the box office), Fox’s latest foray into the wild world of the Uncanny X-Men team hit a stumbling block with the messy and misguided “Apocalypse”.
There’s still the individual narrative arcs of characters like “Logan” and “Deadpool”, which were both successes at the box office.
However, the franchise needs a good box office showing to sustain it. At least it has the beyond stellar cast of James McAvoy as Professor Xavier, Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique, Michael Fassbender as Magneto, plus “Game of Thrones” star Sophie Turner, who’s returning as Jean Grey.
