New X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX Still Features Storm, Cyclops, Nightcrawler And Professor X

The official Dark Phoenix Twitter account has shared a new image from the upcoming X-Men movie, giving us another look at Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and three of his young mutant heroes. Check it out...

By MarkCassidy - Dec 16, 2018 08:12 AM EST

Filed Under: Dark Phoenix

The Dark Phoenix Twitter account has been sharing images from the film ever since the first trailer debuted, but while the majority of them were previously seen promo shots, this latest one gives us a brand new look at several of the main characters.

Here we see Professor Xavier (James McAvoy) surrounded by three of the young mutants that joined the team during the events of Apocalypse: Cyclops (Tye Sheridan), Storm (Alexandra Shipp) and Nightcrawler (Kodi Smit-McPhee).

Despite a pretty good teaser, anticipation is not exactly high for Dark Phoenix, with even some of the franchise's staunchest supporters expressing doubts about what will likely be the final X-Men movie under the 20th Century Fox banner. Still, a great second trailer has the opportunity to assuage those concerns and build some real hype for this retelling of Chris Claremont's classic comic book arc.

We also have a breakdown of the first trailer from director Simon Kinberg, who revealed some intriguing details about the film during a recent interview with Empire.

Simply click on the VIEW LIST (ONE PAGE) button below!

Young Jean

Just like The Last Stand, Dark Phoenix will depict the first meeting between a young Jean Grey and Charles Xavier via flashback, and it sounds like their relationship will be a major part of the story.

“There are not a lot of flashbacks in the movie," said Kinberg. "But that foundational relationship between Young Jean and a younger Charles is one of the core themes of the film.”

Controlling Her Powers

Also very similar to a plot point from the third X-Men movie is the decision to have Xavier limit Jean's capabilities out of fear of how dangerously powerful she could become.

“Charles has been hiding secrets about Jean’s past from her that get revealed over the span of the movie, and only make her more unstable,” say Kinberg.
“It’s the most inopportune time for this character to become unstable emotionally, because she’s becoming unstable in a much different way after this cosmic thing that happened to her in space."

Because of this, the director maintains that Dark Phoenix will be "the most intimate, emotional and personal movie we’ve made."

The X-Men Are Viewed As Heroes In 1992

Kinberg also confirms that Dark Phoenix is set in 1992, nine years after the events of Apocalypse. Yes, Xavier and Magneto are looking well for a couple of dudes pushing 60.

When we catch up with the mutant team in the '90s, they've established themselves as heroes.

“The X-Men have become the X-Men that many of us know from the comics – they are heroes. They’re still viewed as different by society, but they’ve been more embraced than ever before. And when the movie starts in 1992, they are a known superhero team.”

The Costumes

More colorful, comic-accurate costumes were teased at the end of Apocalypse, and in Dark Phoenix the team will be sporting matching yellow and blue outfits, very similar to the ones from Grant Morrison's run on New X-Men back in 2001.

Kinberg reveals that he was just waiting for the opportunity to change-up the designs.

“Avi and Kevin Feige were the chief two people that called me about an X-Men movie 15 years ago. We talked about the costumes, and what Bryan Singer had done I understood and liked, but they were very different to what I had grown up seeing in the comics. So I was excited finally as the director to have more of a say and clothe them in their classic costumes.”

Mystique

Mystique finally chose a side and joined The X-Men at the end of Apocalypse, remaining part of the team in the intervening years. However, it sounds like the events of Dark Phoenix will once again drive a wedge between Raven and Xavier.

“Raven is a part of the X-Men, but she’s critical of some of Charles’ methodologies, in terms of him feeling as though they can just dress up in those costumes and be considered the same as the rest of humanity,” Kinberg explains. “So there is a schism forming between her and Charles."

Jean And Scott

The relationship between Jean Grey and Scott Summers/Cyclops has been the backbone of several major X-Men comic arcs, and it carried over to the initial big-screen adaptations. Here, Kinberg confirms that the pair will indeed be an item in Dark Phoenix, with Scott refusing to give us hope that Jean can be brought back from the void.

"As Jean starts to become more unstable, there are people in the X-Men who don’t think she can be helped and saved, many of whom think the world and others need helping and saving from her. And so Scott is probably the most prominent person who’s holding on to the hope that Jean can be saved.”

Genosha

As we figured, the lush commune where we see Jean encounter Magneto in the trailer is indeed Genosha... or at least, it will be.

“What you’re seeing is the beginnings of Genosha,” confirms Kinberg. “That’s where Erik is when we meet him. It’s like Magneto’s Israel – a land built for mutants, a homeland where they can be safe and self-sufficient."

It seems Jean will seek Eric out because he's the only person she knows that has done terrible and destructive things in the past before finding a way to turn things around.

The Villain

Unfortunately, Kinberg doesn't reveal exactly who Jessica Chastain is playing here, but he does reiterate that she is an extra terrestrial threat of some kind.

“I won’t say much more in detail on the specifics of that. While everyone else is trying to control this power inside of Jean, she’s much more interested in essentially encouraging her to go further with it and try to be the peaceful side of herself. She is the devil on Jean’s shoulder, so to speak.”

The Skrull Queen? Lilandra? Someone else entirely? We'll just have to wait and see.

Phoenix Force

Towards the end of the teaser we get a glimpse of Jean enveloped in flames, followed by a shot of her face streaked with glowing white lines. This signifies that whatever the entity was that latched onto her in space is beginning to manifest - but according to Kinberg, it's far from her "final form."

“That’s not maximum [Phoenix]. That’s a two or a three on the Dark Phoenix spectrum,” warns Kinberg. “It is a manifestation of her transformation from the Jean we know into Phoenix."

The Title

The Dark Phoenix title treatment is very different from the previous movies in the franchise - and not just because Fox decided to drop the "X-Men" part altogether in The US.

Kinberg explains that the non-metallic, slighter font is "emblematic of a new tone for the franchise."

"I wanted it to feel more naturalistic, I wanted it to feel edgier, more handmade, more real. I was very inspired by what James Mangold did with Logan, and I felt like if I could bring a measure of that aesthetic in the film that all of the intergalactic and larger-scale things that happen in the movie would feel more shocking, more realistic, more emotional."

Simon Kinberg Reflects On How To Properly Tell The DARK PHOENIX Saga For Film Or Television

Recommended For You:

DARK PHOENIX Star Jessica Chastain Hopes To Play A More Established Comic Book Villain Next Time

DISCLAIMER: ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and... [MORE]

ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

Do you have what it takes to write for us?

Want to contribute?

116 Comments

1 2 3

MarkCassidy - 12/16/2018, 9:03 AM

I've loved/liked more of Fox's X-movies than I haven't, so I'm hoping against all odds that they go out with a bang here.

WeaponXCII - 12/16/2018, 9:03 AM

Can’t wait for that “great second trailer” so they can delay the movie several months yet again....

ThunderThighs - 12/16/2018, 9:04 AM

A really wasted opportunity to bring Jim Lee's iconic and best costumes onto the big screen. Especially when this story takes place in 1992.

DarkSuperman - 12/16/2018, 9:11 AM

Boo!! Give the rights back to marvel! Oh, wait...nevermind. :)

1 2 3

Related Headlines

Dark Phoenix

Simon Kinberg Reflects On How To Properly Tell The DARK PHOENIX Saga For Film Or Television

MarkJulian

Sep 03, 2023 09:09 AM

X-Men

Taylor Swift Belts Out A Tune As Dazzler In Resurfaced Fan-Art As DEADPOOL 3 Rumors Persist

MarkCassidy

Aug 15, 2023 06:08 AM

Dark Phoenix

DARK PHOENIX Star Jessica Chastain Hopes To Play A More Established Comic Book Villain Next Time

JoshWilding

Jan 06, 2022 10:01 PM

Related Headlines

Dark Phoenix

Simon Kinberg Reflects On How To Properly Tell The DARK PHOENIX Saga For Film Or Television

MarkJulian

Sep 03, 2023 09:09 AM

X-Men

Taylor Swift Belts Out A Tune As Dazzler In Resurfaced Fan-Art As DEADPOOL 3 Rumors Persist

MarkCassidy

Aug 15, 2023 06:08 AM

Dark Phoenix

DARK PHOENIX Star Jessica Chastain Hopes To Play A More Established Comic Book Villain Next Time

JoshWilding

Jan 06, 2022 10:01 PM

Dark Phoenix

DON'T LOOK UP Star Jennifer Lawrence On Hollywood Hiatus: "I Just Think Everybody Had Gotten Sick Of Me"

MarkCassidy

Nov 22, 2021 02:11 PM

Dark Phoenix

X-MEN Comic Book Writer Chris Claremont Reveals How He'd Rewrite X-MEN: APOCALYPSE And DARK PHOENIX

JoshWilding

Oct 13, 2021 06:10 AM

Dark Phoenix

Sci-Fi

ATLAS: Jennifer Lopez Learns To "Trust A.I." In Full Trailer For Netflix's Sci-Fi Thriller

MarkCassidy

1 hour ago

Deadpool & Wolverine

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: Rumored New Details About [SPOILER], [SPOILER], And [SPOILER]'s Roles Revealed

JoshWilding

2 hours ago

Latest Headlines

X-Men '97

X-MEN '97 "Bright Eyes" Recap: Breaking Down Those TWO Surprise Marvel Universe Cameos (And Who Played Them)

JoshWilding

16 mins ago

Sci-Fi

ATLAS: Jennifer Lopez Learns To "Trust A.I." In Full Trailer For Netflix's Sci-Fi Thriller

MarkCassidy

1 hour ago

Deadpool & Wolverine

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: Rumored New Details About [SPOILER], [SPOILER], And [SPOILER]'s Roles Revealed

JoshWilding

2 hours ago

Marvel Comics

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #4 Sees An Unexpected Character Deliver Classic "Great Power" Line - SPOILERS

JoshWilding

2 hours ago

The Batman

THE BATMAN Star Zoë Kravitz Makes Her Directorial Debut With BLINK TWICE - Check Out The First Trailer

MarkCassidy

3 hours ago

Deadpool & Wolverine

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: New Statues And Standee Offer Another Look At Wade Wilson And Logan's Costumes

JoshWilding

3 hours ago

Hot Headlines

163 comments

MAN OF STEEL Director Zack Snyder Says Superman Would Be "Fake" If He Hadn't Killed General Zod

JoshWilding

19 hours ago EST

160 comments

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Official Trailer Features Ultimate Team-Up & Promises The Wildest MCU Movie Of All-Time!

RohanPatel

2 days ago EST

92 comments

Former X-MEN '97 Showrunner Beau DeMayo Says Show Will Address Mr. Sinister's Racism

MarkCassidy

20 hours ago EST

81 comments

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: Every Major Marvel Cameo In The New Trailer - Possible SPOILERS

JoshWilding

2 days ago EST

67 comments

More Sci-Fi & Fantasy ►

X-MEN '97 Showrunner Breaks Down Cameos, Easter Eggs And More In Bright Eyes - SPOILERS

More Cartoons & Animated ►

New DESTINY 2: THE FINAL SHAPE Trailer Takes Us Into The Pale Heart Of The Traveler

More Anime & Manga ►

BLINK TWICE: Channing Tatum Invites You To Pussy Island In First Trailer For Zoë Kravitz's Directorial Debut

More Horror ►

MONKEY MAN Exclusive Interview With Mask Designer Eddie Yang; Dev Patel Film Now Available On Digital HD

More Action Movies & TV ►

Cameron Grimes Shares An Emotional Video Confirming He's Been Released By WWE

More Pro Wrestling ►

APPLE TV+'s NEUROMANCER Casts Callum Turner As Series Lead Case

More Sci-Fi & Fantasy ►

More Cartoons & Animated ►

More Anime & Manga ►

More Horror ►

More Action Movies & TV ►

More Pro Wrestling ►

New X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX Still Features Storm, Cyclops, Nightcrawler And Professor X

The official Dark Phoenix Twitter account has shared a new image from the upcoming X-Men movie, giving us another look at Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and three of his young mutant heroes. Check it out...

Young Jean

Controlling Her Powers

The X-Men Are Viewed As Heroes In 1992

The Costumes

Mystique

Jean And Scott

Genosha

The Villain

Phoenix Force

The Title

Simon Kinberg Reflects On How To Properly Tell The DARK PHOENIX Saga For Film Or Television

DARK PHOENIX Star Jessica Chastain Hopes To Play A More Established Comic Book Villain Next Time

Simon Kinberg Reflects On How To Properly Tell The DARK PHOENIX Saga For Film Or Television

Taylor Swift Belts Out A Tune As Dazzler In Resurfaced Fan-Art As DEADPOOL 3 Rumors Persist

DARK PHOENIX Star Jessica Chastain Hopes To Play A More Established Comic Book Villain Next Time

Simon Kinberg Reflects On How To Properly Tell The DARK PHOENIX Saga For Film Or Television

Taylor Swift Belts Out A Tune As Dazzler In Resurfaced Fan-Art As DEADPOOL 3 Rumors Persist

DARK PHOENIX Star Jessica Chastain Hopes To Play A More Established Comic Book Villain Next Time

DON'T LOOK UP Star Jennifer Lawrence On Hollywood Hiatus: "I Just Think Everybody Had Gotten Sick Of Me"

X-MEN Comic Book Writer Chris Claremont Reveals How He'd Rewrite X-MEN: APOCALYPSE And DARK PHOENIX

DARK PHOENIX Star Jessica Chastain Didn't Know Her Character's Name Until She Saw The Movie

Popular Headlines

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: Rob Liefeld Responds To Trailer's Shot At His Apparent Inability To Draw Feet

DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE Rumored To Feature An Appearance From [SPOILER] As [SPOILER]

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: 7 Biggest Easter Eggs, Reveals, And Spoilers In The New Trailer

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: Rumored New Details About [SPOILER], [SPOILER], And [SPOILER]'s Roles Revealed

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: What Happened That Led To Logan "[Letting] Down His Entire World"?

X-MEN '97 "Bright Eyes" Recap: Breaking Down Those TWO Surprise Marvel Universe Cameos (And Who Played Them)

ATLAS: Jennifer Lopez Learns To "Trust A.I." In Full Trailer For Netflix's Sci-Fi Thriller

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: Rumored New Details About [SPOILER], [SPOILER], And [SPOILER]'s Roles Revealed

X-MEN '97 "Bright Eyes" Recap: Breaking Down Those TWO Surprise Marvel Universe Cameos (And Who Played Them)

ATLAS: Jennifer Lopez Learns To "Trust A.I." In Full Trailer For Netflix's Sci-Fi Thriller

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: Rumored New Details About [SPOILER], [SPOILER], And [SPOILER]'s Roles Revealed

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #4 Sees An Unexpected Character Deliver Classic "Great Power" Line - SPOILERS

THE BATMAN Star Zoë Kravitz Makes Her Directorial Debut With BLINK TWICE - Check Out The First Trailer

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: New Statues And Standee Offer Another Look At Wade Wilson And Logan's Costumes

Hot Headlines

MAN OF STEEL Director Zack Snyder Says Superman Would Be "Fake" If He Hadn't Killed General Zod

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Official Trailer Features Ultimate Team-Up & Promises The Wildest MCU Movie Of All-Time!

Former X-MEN '97 Showrunner Beau DeMayo Says Show Will Address Mr. Sinister's Racism

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: Every Major Marvel Cameo In The New Trailer - Possible SPOILERS

SHE-HULK: ATTORNEY AT LAW Guest-Star Megan Thee Stallion Sued For Workplace Harassment

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

APPLE TV+'s NEUROMANCER Casts Callum Turner As Series Lead Case

DUNE: PART TWO Director Denis Villeneuve Breaks Down The Sequel's Ending And Teases MESSIAH Plans - SPOILERS

Jennifer Lopez Battle An A.I. Simu Liu In New Trailer For Netflix's ATLAS

REBEL MOON: Zack Snyder Says Director's Cuts Are "More Like A Parallel Universe Than An Extended Version"

Daisy Ridley Teases The Different STAR WARS Film That Will Hopefully Be A "New Adventure"

Zack Snyder's Animated Norse Mythology Series TWILIGHT OF THE GODS Will Be Released This Fall

Cartoons & Animated Features

X-MEN '97 Showrunner Breaks Down Cameos, Easter Eggs And More In "Bright Eyes" - SPOILERS

X-MEN '97 Finally Reveals Its True Villain In "Bright Eyes" As We Get A Few Shocking Returns - SPOILERS

X-MEN '97: "Bright Eyes" Unleashes Rogue And Features TWO Huge Marvel Universe Cameos - SPOILERS

X-MEN '97: Rogue Is Out For Revenge In First Clip From Tomorrow's New Episode, "Bright Eyes"

JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS - PART 2 Is Likely To Disappoint Fans Of BATMAN BEYOND - SPOILERS

X-MEN '97: Former Showrunner Beau DeMayo Says Series Will "Touch On" Mr. Sinister's Racism

Gaming

New DESTINY 2: THE FINAL SHAPE Trailer Takes Us Into The Pale Heart Of The Traveler

GTA 5 Voice Actor Reveals Plans For "Agent Trevor" DLC Before Rockstar Apparently Scrapped It

TALES OF THE SHIRE: A LORD OF THE RINGS GAME Official Announcement Trailer Released

FALLOUT Series Showrunners Strongly Hint Season 2 Will Take Us To An Iconic Location From The Games

Billie Eilish Headlines FORTNITE FESTIVAL Season 3

LaKeith Stanfield To Star In Film Based On EL PASO, ELSEWHERE Vampire Video Game

Anime & Manga

New Trailer For GAROUDEN: THE WAY OF THE LONE WOLF Released Ahead Of Netflix Debut

Netflix's ONE PIECE Finds New Showrunner In PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS' Joe Tracz

DRAGON BALL SUPER Interval Special Announced By Jump While Manga Remains On Indefinite Hiatus

New Teaser And Key Art For Live-Action TRILLION GAME Movie

Netflix's PARASYTE: THE GREY Is Now Streaming; Here's What The Critics Are Saying

MY HERO ACADEMIA Tops X-MEN '97, INVINCIBLE And More In Social Media Engagement

Horror

BLINK TWICE: Channing Tatum Invites You To "Pussy Island" In First Trailer For Zoë Kravitz's Directorial Debut

THE WATCHERS New Trailer Sees Dakota Fanning Terrorised In Ishana Night Shyamalan's Directorial Debut

EVIL DEAD RISE Director Lee Cronin Shares Gruesome New BTS Photos To Mark Movie's One-Year Anniversary

Happy 4/20! Check Out The Red Band Trailer For New Stoner Horror Movie TRIM SEASON

ABIGAIL Spoilers: Find Out What Happens - And Who Shows Up - In New Horror Comedy

TRAP: First Trailer For M. Night Shyamalan's Latest Spoils The Big Twist

Action Movies & TV