The MCU’s First Mutants Mention Almost Didn’t Make The Cut

While many are waiting for the X-Men to join the MCU, mutants were first mentioned in Ms. Marvel, but this surprising tease almost didn’t make the final cut. The moment came in the season finale of Ms. Marvel when Bruno mentioned to Kamala Khan that she had a mutation, paired with a musical riff of the theme from X-Men: The Animated Series. While Ms. Marvel is part-mutant in the comics, many were not expecting any mention of mutants in this series.

In a recent interview with THR, Ms. Marvel actress Iman Vellani discussed being the first mutant in the MCU. The Canadian-Pakistani actor said it was a “late surprise” because they weren’t sure if it was going to make the final cut. Vellani wanted it to happen, and she even emailed Kevin Feige to ensure that it did. She said:

We did do that in additional photography, but I think they were just waiting on the go-ahead to be able to film it. Even when we were filming it, we didn’t know if it was going to make the cut at the end of the day. So I was praying. I emailed Kevin and I was like, ‘This needs to be real,’ because what an honor it is to be called the first mutant in the MCU. It’s just so cool.

Ms. Marvel

Release Date

June 8, 2022

Cast

Matt Lintz, Laith Naki, Rish Shah, Nimra Bucha, Iman Vellani, Yasmeen Fletcher, Saagar Shaikh, Travina Springer, Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur, Aramis Knight, Azher Usman

Seasons

1

Writers

Bisha K. Ali, Adrian Alphona

Directors

Adil El Arbi

Since this reveal, two members of the X-Men have appeared in the MCU, albeit in different universes. Professor Charles Xavier appeared as a member of the Illuminati in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Kelsey Grammer’s Beast made a cameo in a post-credit scene in The Marvels. Vellani isn’t sure how Marvel is going to incorporate the X-Men but she is excited to see them becoming more involved:

Yeah, I think they’re connecting a lot of things. They’re sprinkling in the mutants here and there. We saw [Charles Xavier] in Multiverse of Madness. So I honestly am not privy to what they’re doing with the X-Men and how they’re going to incorporate them, but it is extremely cool and a really big flex to have one in our own movie. Well, two, if you count me.

Why Ms Marvel Was The Best Introduction To Marvel Mutants

There are many theories surrounding how the X-Men will enter the MCU. Some have speculated that the X-Men will enter the MCU via the multiverse, while others believe the mutant gene will be awakened throughout the universe thanks to the use of the Infinity Stones. However, Ms. Marvel‘s mutant reveal suggests that none of these theories are true, and the X-Men might have been in the MCU the whole time.

While this isn’t an exciting way to reveal it, it’s a simpler way and one that doesn’t bog down viewers by explaining it in some convoluted way. The X-Men are somewhere in the MCU, but haven’t made their presence known yet. Since alternate versions of other heroes like Spider-Man exist in other universes, it would make sense that there is an alternate Wolverine, Magneto, or Mystique somewhere in the MCU. Deadpool 3 will feature several X-Men in the MCU, like Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, but it’s unclear if there will be a brand new X-Men team moving forward or if Ms. Marvel will be part of it.