The X-Men movie timeline is notoriously complex, a multi-branched narrative plagued by retcons and conflicting continuity points. Essentially, the timeline fractured with X-Men: Days of Future Past, creating a new, altered future that both preserves and replaces elements of the original continuity.
A History of Continuity Chaos
Understanding the X-Men movie timeline requires accepting a certain degree of chaos. From early inconsistencies to full-blown timeline alterations, the franchise has struggled to maintain a unified narrative thread. Let’s break down the major eras:
The Original Trilogy (and Origins)
- X-Men (2000): Introduces the core team and sets the stage for mutant conflict.
- X2: X-Men United (2003): Expands the mutant world and explores deeper themes of prejudice.
- X-Men: The Last Stand (2006): A controversial film that concludes the original trilogy with significant character deaths.
- X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009): A prequel focusing on Wolverine’s origins, widely criticized for its inconsistencies.
These films establish a general baseline, but even within this era, contradictions arise. The ages of characters, particularly Professor X and Magneto, don’t always align perfectly. X-Men Origins: Wolverine introduces plot points that actively clash with established canon.
The “First Class” Era and the Timeline Split
- X-Men: First Class (2011): A prequel set in the 1960s, effectively rebooting the franchise with younger versions of Professor X and Magneto.
- The Wolverine (2013): Set after The Last Stand, dealing with Wolverine’s grief and immortality.
- X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014): The crucial turning point; Wolverine travels back in time to 1973 to prevent a dystopian future. This act rewrites the timeline.
Days of Future Past effectively creates two distinct timelines. The original timeline continues, albeit potentially altered by Wolverine’s actions in The Wolverine. The new timeline, however, becomes the dominant focus.
The New Timeline (and Further Complications)
- X-Men: Apocalypse (2016): Set in the 1980s, introducing younger versions of classic characters like Jean Grey, Storm, and Cyclops.
- Logan (2017): Set in 2029, a grim and tragic future for Wolverine in the original timeline, existing outside the scope of the altered timeline. It’s considered the canon endpoint of the original timeline.
- Dark Phoenix (2019): Another attempt at the Dark Phoenix saga, set in the 1990s within the new timeline, but largely disregarded.
- Deadpool (2016) & Deadpool 2 (2018): These films exist in their own self-aware bubble, acknowledging the X-Men universe but not strictly adhering to any particular timeline.
- The New Mutants (2020): Supposedly connected to the main X-Men films, but its placement and canonicity are ambiguous.
The new timeline attempts to smooth over some inconsistencies, but it introduces new ones. Character relationships, motivations, and even powers sometimes differ from their original counterparts. The handling of the Dark Phoenix storyline in both The Last Stand and Dark Phoenix has been a recurring point of contention.
The Disney Acquisition and the Future of the X-Men
With Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox, the X-Men now reside under the Marvel Studios banner. This opens the door for a complete reboot or integration into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). How and when the X-Men will officially join the MCU remains to be seen, but it offers the potential for a more cohesive and well-managed continuity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions about the X-Men movie timeline, answered definitively:
FAQ 1: What is the “Days of Future Past” timeline?
The “Days of Future Past” timeline is the altered timeline created when Wolverine travels back to 1973 and changes the events leading to the dystopian future depicted in the film. This effectively creates a new branch in the X-Men movie universe, with different events and character outcomes.
FAQ 2: Does “Logan” still happen?
Logan is generally accepted as the canonical ending of the original timeline. Wolverine’s sacrifice and the death of Professor X in Logan are poignant conclusions to the characters’ arcs in that continuity. However, Logan does not occur in the altered “Days of Future Past” timeline.
FAQ 3: Where does “Deadpool” fit in?
The Deadpool films operate in their own meta-aware space. While they reference the X-Men universe, they often break the fourth wall and acknowledge the absurdity of the timelines. They aren’t strictly tied to either the original or altered timelines, existing more as humorous commentary on the franchise.
FAQ 4: Is “Dark Phoenix” (2019) connected to “X-Men: The Last Stand”?
Yes, Dark Phoenix (2019) is connected to X-Men: The Last Stand in that both films attempt to adapt the same comic book storyline. However, Dark Phoenix (2019) takes place within the altered timeline created by Days of Future Past, and its depiction of the Phoenix Force and Jean Grey’s story differs significantly from The Last Stand.
FAQ 5: What are the biggest inconsistencies in the timeline?
Some of the biggest inconsistencies include:
- The ages of Professor X and Magneto in X-Men Origins: Wolverine versus X-Men: First Class.
- Mystique’s allegiance changing drastically between the original trilogy and the “First Class” era.
- The handling of the Dark Phoenix saga in both The Last Stand and Dark Phoenix.
- Wolverine’s bone claws inexplicably returning in later films after being replaced with adamantium in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (which the later films basically ignore anyway).
FAQ 6: Which X-Men movies are considered “canon”?
This is a subjective question. Generally, X-Men, X2, X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: Apocalypse, and Logan are considered essential to understanding the overall narrative, though not all aspects are congruent. X-Men: The Last Stand, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, The Wolverine, Dark Phoenix, and The New Mutants are often considered less canonical due to inconsistencies or poor reception.
FAQ 7: How did Wolverine get his adamantium claws back after “The Wolverine”?
This is never explicitly explained. In The Wolverine, his adamantium claws are severed and replaced with bone. The reappearance of adamantium claws in Days of Future Past and subsequent films is a continuity error that is largely ignored.
FAQ 8: What happened to the characters who died in the original trilogy?
The timeline alteration in Days of Future Past means that the events of the original trilogy are essentially erased from the new timeline. Characters who died in The Last Stand, such as Jean Grey and Cyclops, are alive (though their fates remain ambiguous in the new timeline).
FAQ 9: What’s the significance of the “Flashpoint” timeline?
The X-Men movies do not have a “Flashpoint” timeline in the same way as DC Comics. While Days of Future Past involves time travel and timeline alterations, it doesn’t create a completely separate and divergent universe like the “Flashpoint” event in DC. It simply overwrites parts of the existing timeline.
FAQ 10: Will the X-Men be rebooted in the MCU?
It’s highly likely that the X-Men will be rebooted, or at least significantly reimagined, within the MCU. While some actors might be recast, it’s also possible that some familiar faces could return in new roles or within a new context. The exact approach remains a mystery.
FAQ 11: Where does “Legion” fit into the X-Men movie timeline?
Legion, the FX television series, is loosely connected to the X-Men universe. It shares character connections, but its canonicity and specific placement within any of the established timelines are unclear. It’s best viewed as a standalone story with thematic ties to the X-Men.
FAQ 12: What is the best way to watch the X-Men movies in chronological order?
There is no universally agreed-upon chronological order due to the timeline inconsistencies. However, a suggested viewing order, prioritizing narrative flow over strict chronology, might be: X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: Apocalypse, X-Men, X2: X-Men United, X-Men: The Last Stand, and Logan. Deadpool and Deadpool 2 can be watched at any point. X-Men Origins: Wolverine, The Wolverine, Dark Phoenix, and The New Mutants are optional, depending on your tolerance for inconsistencies.