X1: Mutants Rising

**X1: Mutants Rising** is a superhero film, based on the comic's superhero team of the same name. It is a hard reboot of the X-Men franchise, previously developed by Fox. This film is a sequel to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and was released on February 15, 2024 in the United States. It is the fifth instalment in phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The film stars an ensemble cast led by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Charles Xavier/Professor X, other starring cast members include Lazaro Alonso as Crayton Creed, Daniel Radcliff as Hank Mccoy/Beast, Freema Agyeman as Ororo Munro/Storm, Taron Egerton as Logan Howlett/Wolverine, Dan Peters as John Grey/Marvel Boy, Timothée Chalamet as Billy Maximoff/Wiccan, Tanner Buchanan as Thomas Maximoff/Speed, Rosario Dawson as Lorna Lehnsherr/Polaris with Emma Stone as Ellie Braddock/Pyslocke and Will Smith as Nathan Essex.

A sequel Series entitled "House of X" was released the following year, while a sequel film, X2: Age of Apocalypse" was released in 2026 which was followed by X3: Dark Phoenix in 2027. Doctor Strange and the Illuminati, Captain Marvel: Inhumane Warfare and The Last Avenger also strongly link in with this movie.

## Synopsis

Marvel Studios' *X1: Mutants Rising* features a look at the world following Wanda Maximoff's accidental awakening of the X-Gene within a 1.5% of the Earth's population. Humans are scared and want answers, when Crayton Creed steps forward to make the hard decisions, society proves to be far more fragile than once thought.

## Plot

Following Wanda's expansion of the hex, and thus the activation of the X-Gene in 1.5% of humans, the governments of the world are in chaos. With Maximoff incapacitated at Charles Xavier's home, he and good friend Nathan Essex study mutants and the gene in order to help lower the chances of a rash reaction. Charles uses cerebro to listen into private conversations and overhears a young boy crying out for help.

Logan Howlett is out with his friends the day the Hex expanded, he is drunk and gets in a fight with them, his powers unlock and he accidentally kills one of them. Shortly later, he is arrested and eventually presented to the government, politician Crayton Creed vows to lead the research into mutants alongside scientist, Bolivar Trask. Politician, Ororo Munro, opposes the testing on Logan, naming it a violation of his human rights. Crayton states that Logan is no longer a human, dividing the world.

With Wanda in a coma induced by Doctor Strange, Charles and Nathan run many tests on her as well as Billy and Tommy who are scared, they have now aged up to seventeen years old. Charles realises mutants are in danger from Crayton who is capturing them and taking them somewhere, his powers are not yet strong enough to reach further than a few states, even with Cerebro. The two decide to set out and contact Hank McCoy, a famous scientist also looking into mutants, but more publicly. They meet Hank and he is revealed to be mutating, and trying to find a cure as his "illness" is getting worse all the time, Charles attempts to convince him it isn't an illness, Hank is left unsure while Nathan is interested in Hank's work. Charles offers Hank the chance to work privately on his estate with them and Hank agrees after his assistant notices his mutation is spreading, Charles manages to make her forget it. On the way back they notice chaos at a British pub, they stop by as a young woman is being taken into custody, she is screaming for help,

Ellie Braddock heads to work one day, she works in a British pub run by her family, when several drunken idiots try to cause Havok she ends up activating her power out of anger and is revealed to be a mutant, in fear she accidentally starts using her telekinesis by accident. A man streams it live and agents show up almost immediately, she tries to fight her way free, her family do not help her as they too fear her. She screams for help.

Hank decides to intervene and overpowers all four agents, helping the young woman escape, she introduces herself as Ellie and thanks them, although, she seems distant and distraught due to her families actions. They prepare to head home but Charles splits off, stating he needs to investigate something, he tells them he will meet them back home. Charles heads to a run down area and into an apartment complex, he reaches his destination and enters, he finds a rotting flat inhabited by a scared young man. Charles attempts to talk to him but the boy shout at him to leave, Charles introduces himself and tells the boy he knows his name, Charles gains John's trust by talking to him in a telepathic plain, John agrees to come with Charles when Charles promises to teach John how to make the voices stop.

Back at the estate, Ellie and Hank grow closer, they both show off their mutations, they discuss what will happen now with Nathan when Charles returns with John, who is introduced to Billy and Tommy. Charles reveals that John is extremely powerful and potentially dangerous, a living time-bomb, waiting to go off. He says he will work with John to ensure nothing bad happens, That night, Ellie hears someone breaking in downstairs and comes face-to-face with Logan, they fight and she is easily defeated, he is about to kill her when Hank intervenes, Hank is overpowered as well, they are about to be killed by Logan when suddenly, John distracts him, Logan follows John through the house and John reaches into his mind, taking away the manipulation of Logan's mind, but at the same time, he removes Logan's memories by accident.

Logan explains to them all that Crayton knows where they are and he'll be coming for them with greater force now that he knows his weapon has failed. Charles asks Logan if he can lead them to Crayton's base, Logan says he could but he wont as he can't go back and he's not a hero, he apologises before leaving. This leaves them angry, John goes after Logan and talks to him telling him, he is scared as well but they need to do this, Logan asks if John is the one who brought him back, John says he is and that technically means, Logan owes him this, they agree to be brave together. Logan explains everything to them and they formulate a plan, Nathan stays back to watch over Wanda, while Charles, Hank, Ellie, Logan, Billy Tommy and John all set out to stop Crayton from finishing his weapons.

Logan leads the group top Washington where Crayton is operating underground, he attempts to re-enter as Wolverine, the codename given to him, after a struggle, he is allowed in, once past the guards he kills the door operator and unlocks it, meanwhile, Hank and Ellie fight the guards and beat them. They all move inside, Tommy scouts ahead and incapacitates several guards. The group split up with Charles, John, Logan and Billy going to find Crayton while Hank, Ellie and Tommy go to free the prisoners.

Crayton Creed and Bolivar Trask test on mutants to work out their weaknesses as well as how to develop an anti-mutant vaccine. It is revealed that they are collecting mutants whenever possible in order to keep them stored away and to use them for testing. It is also revealed that if Crayton cannot control the mutants, he wants to enslave them. Furthermore, a flashback reveals Crayton's wife was killed by his son when Wanda expanded the hex and mutated him, which has causes his hatred for mutants.

In congress, Ororo Munro opposes Crayton's imposed legislation against mutants and begins to win favour, however, after she is revealed to be a mutant, she loses credibility, one night she is attacked by someone and is forced to defend herself with her powers, civilians are injured and she is arrested, being taken to a concentration camp with other mutants. While there, she meets Lorna Lehnsherr, a powerful yet fearful woman, as well as Sophie Summers, a pleasant young woman who cannot open her eyes as well as her father, Alex Summers, who is defensive of his daughter. The four stick together, keeping spirits high with prisoners, eventually Lorna is taken away which upsets everyone. Trask experiments on Lorna, attempting to use the same manipulation he used on Logan, who is now a living weapon for Crayton, on her. Crayton sends Logan after Charles and Nathan after seeing the footage of them saving Ellie.

Ororo and Crayton come face-to-face, she is horrified by him but he reveals he just wants to find a cure, Ororo reminds him that's what people said about homosexuality many years ago, Crayton says homosexuals are humans, mutants are not. Ororo attempts to attack him but suddenly she is grabbed by a large android which reflects her power. Trask laughs at her attempts and the sentinel beats her senseless. Meanwhile, Crayton watches over this with Lorna at his side, he smiles at her. Suddenly, alarms go off.

After breaking into the holding block, Tommy manages to unshackle all the prisoners while Ellie ushers everyone out, Hank helps the weak as does Tommy. Eventually, only a few people are left, Ellie meets Alex and Sophie who state that their friends are somewhere else, Ellie promises they will find them. Alex states he's coming to help, Sophie also wants to help but Alex says no, Tommy is instructed to lead her away, he does but she makes him stop. She convinces him to help her stay to help. Alex goes with Ellie to catch up with Charles and the others.

Charles, John, Logan and Billy reach the area where Crayton is, John and Billy attempt to rip down the door but it opens on Crayton's orders, Ellie and Alex catch up with them and they all go inside to speak to Crayton who is holding Ororo hostage, she is levitating in the air with the help of energy fields created by Lorna, now named Polaris. Logan is welcomed back before an implant in his neck is detonated, killing him. John is shocked by this and loses focus on the situation, meanwhile, three large sentinels rise out of the ground and surround them. Crayton declares he is the winner, he also turns on live footage of the crowd of escapees, Charles argues that the prisoners will reveal what has happened but Crayton states that the world will never know as that crowd is a bomb, and when it goes off the Sentinels will be released to stop them all. Charles realises that Crayton has more weaponised mutants in the crowd, ready to attack the public and make the whole crowd seem like an army. He begs Crayton to stop but he doesn't. The plans begins and chaos erupts in the streets. Everyone watches on horrified, Crayton receives a call from the president who authorises the use of the sentinels.

Two sentinels rise up through wholes in the ground, meanwhile, the others all follow in a small ship. Watching the slaughter, Alex is horrified, thinking that Sophie is down there, he attacks Crayton with his Havok powers which causes a fight to kick off, both Polaris and the Sentinel stop it quickly. John is still so focuses on Logan being dead, Crayton walks over to mock him but suddenly, claws impale Crayton's side as Logan is revealed to be alive. In the chaos, Alex, Ellie and Billy attack the Sentinel while John panics. Charles fights with Crayton in hand to hand, while Sophie manages to free Ororo who joins the fight, Ororo fights Polaris.

Eventually, the ship crashes to the ground and destroys one of the sentinels, the other within the ship is defeated by the mix of attacks. Crayton and Polaris escape outside to the one remaining Sentinel for protection while the team follow them. Polaris stays back to continue the fight, she fires a deadly burst of energy at Ororo but it is redirected at the Cops, by John, who turn on her. She is shot before being finished off by Ellie, who impales her.

Crayton is picked up by the Sentinel, it fires at everyone and knocks several of them unconscious, and injures Tommy who is helped by Billy and Alex. Finally, John, Ororo, Logan and Charles stand opposing the Sentinel and it's master. Crayton declares this is a new world order, Ororo attempts to talk him down alongside Charles, this gives John the opportunity to focus enough to tear open the chest of the Sentinel while Hank throws Logan at it, who impales it. Crayton stands defeated, bleeding badly, Charles offers him a hand up but he doesn't take it, Charles lectures him about acceptance, he then turns to the cops to inform them on what has happened but Crayton draws a gun on Charles, John sees this and manages to shake Crayton's aim, this lodges the bullet in Charles spine, as Charles collapses John lets off a shockwave in panic which instantly kills Crayton and knocks John unconscious.

A week later, John sits in his room alone, he is visited by Billy and Tommy as well as Sophie, who is sporting a special visor to allow her to see again. Eventually, they leave and Logan arrives to speak to John, he thanks John for being brave and they agree to stay brave together, finally, Ellie arrives and says Charles is home from hospital, in a wheelchair, Charles greets everyone, John awkwardly stands at the top of the stairs but Charles welcomes him down, stating he doesn't blame John, they hug and Charles promises they'll start their lessons soon.

Charles reveals he is planning on turning the estate into a home for the displaced children and young people who's families abandoned them. Ellie is granted Asylum as well, Ororo decides to stay and help Charles set things up, he welcomes the help. Finally, Nathan reveals that Wanda has awoken, Billy and Tommy are relieved and she is shocked that they have aged, she asks what she has missed which leads to a great deal of laughter.

In a post-credit scene, an older man, living in a secure apartment receives a letter which states his sister has died thanks to Crayton Creed, in a fit of anguish, he lifts all the metal in his apartment.

## Cast

* Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Charles Xavier/Professor X
* Lazaro Alonso as Crayton Creed
* Daniel Radcliff as Hank McCoy/Beast
* Freema Agyeman as Ororro Munro/Storm
* Taron Egerton as Logan Howlett/Wolverine
* Daniel Peter as John Grey/Marvel Boy
* Timothée Chalamet as Billy Maximoff/Wiccan
* Tanner Buchanan as Thomas Maximoff/Speed
* Rosario Dawson as Lorna Lehnsherr/Polaris
* Emma Stone as Ellie Braddock/Pyslocke
* Will Smith as Nathan Essex
* Patrick Wilson as Alex Summers/Havok
* Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlett Witch
* Giancarlo Esposito as Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto
* Chloe-Grace Moretz as Sophie Summers/Cyclops
* Shawn Ashmore as Bolivar Trask
* To-be-confirmed-actress as Raven Darkholme/Mystique

## Appearances

### Locations

* New York
* London, England
* Los Angeles, California

### Sentient Species

* Humans
* Mutants

## Production

* On July 20, 2019, at San Diego Comic-Con 2019, Kevin Feige confirmed that many projects, including a *Mutants* movie, were in development.
* On December 10, 2020 Marvel confirmed that Professor X would be debuting in "*Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness*" and would later co-lead an ensemble movie with Elizabeth Olsen's Wanda Maximoff.
* On December 21, 2020 it was confirmed that Christopher Nolan had been hired to write the script and direct the movie. Nolan previously wrote and directed *The Dark Knight* trilogy for D.C. It was also announced that Nikolaj Coster-Waldau would portray Charles Xavier/Professor X.
* In July 2021, the full main cast was revealed at Comic-Con. Giancarlo Esposito was announced to be playing Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto, Emma Stone was set to portray Ellie Braddock/Pyslocke, Taron Egerton to play Logan/Wolverine and Will Smith was set to play Nate Essex. It was also announced that Cyclops and Marvel Girl were going to be gender-swapped with Chloe-Grace Moretz set to play Sophie Summers/Cyclops and Danny Peter set to play John Grey/Marvel Boy.
* In August 2021, it was revealed that Daniel Radcliff was set to play Hank McCoy/Beast and Freema Agyeman was set to play Ororo Munro/Storm.