How do the characters from The New Mutants movie differ from their original depictions from the comics? The X-Men adjacent title has a long and expansive history, but the youngsters’ relative obscurity allowed for greater flexibility than previously displayed in Fox’s other superheroic movie outings. That said, the adaptation wasn’t a total departure from the source material.
The long-awaited and frequently-delayed The New Mutants made its theatrical debut on August 28, 2020 before reaching larger audiences (kept from movie theaters due to the entertainment-altering COVID-19 pandemic) on November, 17. Directed by Josh Boone (The Fault in Our Stars), the film stars a predominantly young cast who find themselves locked away in a strange hospital for super-powered teens and overseen by a mysterious caretaker. From interviews with Boone prior to the film’s release and a horror-injected trailer dropped back in 2018, it was clear that “The Demon Bear Saga” – one of The New Mutants‘ most popular arcs from the comics – would be used as the film’s primary source material.
The X-Men spinoff was first published as a graphic novel in 1980 and was written by the franchise’s “godfather” Chris Claremont, whose historic seventeen-year run authoring the X-line was incredibly important to Marvel’s success during that era. Having created all but one of the characters in the film (Cecilia Reyes was introduced a bit later by Scott Lobdell in 1997), it is exciting to so see so many of Claremont’s under-sung creations finally making their way to the big screen. Here is how The New Mutant‘s characters and cast relate to their comic book counterparts.
Dani Moonstar (Mirage)
Portrayed by actress Blu Hunt, the cinematic depiction of Danielle Moonstar stays true to her traditional Cheyenne heritage – as in the comics, her association to the legendary Demon Bear serves as the main catalyst for the story’s action. Physically, Hunt appears similar to Dani, however, unlike the comics, the film chooses to tamper down the character’s more headstrong tendencies and makes her one of the younger mutants in the cast. In the original source material, she is one of the older team members and co-leaders.
Mirage’s powers are slightly different in the comics, as well. As in the movie, Dani is able to manifest a person’s greatest fear with her psionic abilities, although Hunt’s version appears to use her gift at a far greater range, able to project her apparitions from across the hospital. The movie is never clear as to whether or not Dani, like her comic book counterpart, is able to also create her target’s greatest desire (although this may be implied when she unknowingly creates a seductive mirage of Illyana Rasputin who swims and flirts with Bobby). Additionally, her comics-accurate ability to communicate with animals doesn’t make its way into the movie.
Sam Guthrie (Cannonball)
Charlie Heaton (who also plays Jonathan in Stranger Things) embodies another fairly comics-accurate portrayal of his character. Kentucky native Sam Guthrie, like Heaton, is blonde, gangly, mild-mannered, and has a past involving the loss of his father (in the comics, Sam doesn’t cause the mining accident which resulted in his death, however). Cinematic Sam has similar powers to his comic book version, as he’s able to launch himself into the air like a cannonball. However, the character’s broken arm may imply that he injured himself while using his abilities, going against his comic-book counterpart’s oft-made assertion that he is “nigh invulnerable while blastin.’“
Roberto Da Costa (Sunspot)
Played by Henry Zaga, Roberto “Bobby” Da Coasta is perhaps the New Mutant who strays the furthest from the comics. At the time of Zaga’s casting, there was controversy and accusations of white-washing the character, who Claremont introduced as being Afro-Brazilian. The actor, though Brazilian, has far lighter skin than Bobby does in his original appearances, although the character has unfortunately been subject to whitewashing in the comics over the years, as well. Additionally, Bobby is the second youngest of his teammates, often explaining his immaturity and impulsivity. Zaga is the eldest New Mutant in the film.
Bobby’s powers are also drastically different in the film. In the source material, Da Costa is able to absorb solar energy and convert it to physical strength, assuming his “sunspot” form. Zaga’s version of Sunspot is capable of burning victims with his touch, which appears to be an invention for the movie.
Rahne Sinclaire (Wolfsbane)
Fans were thrilled to learn that Game of Thrones‘ Maisie Williams would join the film as Wolfsbane, the team’s youngest and most innocent mutant. Like her onscreen counterpart, the shapeshifting mutant is slight, kind-faced, has short red hair, and is capable of turning into a wolf (and any of the intermediary stages between human and animal). While the character’s strong religious background and persecution prior to joining the team is borrowed from the comics, the character is not cruelly branded by the villainous Reverend Craig in the source material.
Illyana Rasputin (Magik)
Like Williams, Anya Taylor-Joy (star of The Queen’s Gambit) is physically a perfect fit for the blonde and mysterious Magik. The Russian Illyana Rasputin (sister to X-Man Colossus) is known for her oddness and swagger, well-captured by the actress in the film.
However, the appearance and nuances of onscreen Magik’s teleportation powers differ from Claremont’s original version. In the source material, Illyana (who is also a skilled sorceress) is the ruler of the hell-like “Limbo” dimension, where she spent much of her childhood after a misadventure with her elder brother and his mutant teammates (in the film, Rasputin says that she constructed Limbo herself as a means to escape her real-world childhood trauma). Crucially, in the comics, Illyana must pass through Limbo when teleporting, a detail not entirely consistent in the film. Furthermore, the cinematic Magik is accompanied by puppet/dragon Lockheed, a creature who – in the comics – is the companion to Illyana’s good friend Kitty Pryde.
Cecilia Reyes
Medic and surgeon Cecilia Reyes has played a supporting role in the X-Men comics since her debut in 1997. Played by Alice Braga in The New Mutants, the creators (again) failed to cast a black actor for the role, despite the character’s stated Afro-Puerto Rican background, furthering criticisms of the film’s whitewashing. Reyes’ forcefield abilities are consistent with her comic book counterpart, who is also capable of constructing barriers (clear in the comics, as opposed to the orange ones in the film).
Although The New Mutants has received some mixed reviews and experienced some box office struggles, the film has found its financial footing since its release to VOD, bringing these powerful teens to their widest audience since Claremont invented them. While Fox’s X-Men franchise may have come to a close after its decades-long run, hopefully, these super-powered kids will make their way back to the big screen soon.
