Marvel Studios could help the MCU's Wolverine stand apart with his own Disney+ show. The X-Men are heading toward a massive live-action rebirth as Marvel Studios prepares for a full reboot of the legendary franchise. This new era is set to officially begin with the highly anticipated Phase 7 X-Men movie, directed by Jake Schreier. Moving away from the fragmented continuity of the past, this reboot promises to integrate mutantkind firmly into the heart of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Regardless of whether Hugh Jackman continues his iconic portrayal or a new actor eventually takes up the mantle, Wolverine is destined to remain a cornerstone of the MCU. However, to ensure both Logan and the rest of the X-Men receive the justice they deserve on screen, Marvel Studios must implement a fundamental shift in how they handle the character. This could start by giving Logan his own solo MCU series.
A Weapon X Series Could Be An MCU Phenomenon
A Weapon X Prequel Show Could Introduce The MCU's Wolverine
Weapon X, written and illustrated by Barry Windsor-Smith, is a claustrophobic psychological horror set within the secret Canadian laboratory where Logan fully became Wolverine. It depicts the brutal grafting of adamantium onto Logan’s skeleton while he is treated as a mindless test subject. The 1991 story focuses on the dehumanization of a man whose agency and memories are stripped away to forge the ultimate assassin.
A Weapon X MCU show provides the perfect canvas for a slow-burn exploration of Wolverine's darkest moments. Perhaps under the Marvel Spotlight banner, Weapon X could embrace a more mature, visceral tone, with high-end cinematography, to capture the clinical cruelty of the project. It would ground the MCU’s Wolverine in gritty realism and establish him as a tragic survivor long before he joins the X-Men.
A more independent, slow-burn Wolverine prequel set in the MCU would stand in stark contrast to 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which suffers from a cluttered plot and unnecessary introductions like Cyclops and Deadpool. If anything, Weapon X could adapt Team X again, with more character development this time around. An MCU series would remain intensely focused on the isolation of the lab and the body horror of the experiment.
MCU Disney+ Shows Are The New X-Men's Secret Weapon
Fox's X-Men Franchise Overlooked The Power Of TV Shows
Fox's X-Men franchise primarily focused on big-budget movies, largely ignoring the narrative potential of long-form television. While Legion and The Gifted offered fresh takes on mutants, they remained tangentially connected to the main film continuity at best. As a result, the X-Men's evolving relationships and interpersonal drama were often sacrificed for condensed, action-heavy movie plots.
The X-Men are uniquely suited for television, and shows provide the necessary breathing room to explore the social complexities of mutantkind, especially the intimate bonds of each mutant team. Without the constant pressure of a two-hour blockbuster climax, an X-Men show can dedicate entire episodes to single characters and their internal struggles. This is basically what X-Men comics usually do.
Both obscure and A-list mutants would flourish in this format. Lesser-known characters could lead specialized genre series that might not fit a movie mold. Meanwhile, icons like Kitty Pryde and Storm would benefit from bridging chapters between movies. This hybrid approach ensures every mutant has a voice and no X-Men character gets overshadowed on the big screen.
Besides Wolverine's Weapon X show, Marvel Studios could make solo shows centered on Professor X and Magneto's pasts. Storm's time without powers, Rogue's time as a villain, and Magik's transformation into the ruler of Limbo could all work as MCU Disney+ shows. A Dazzler musical, a horror-inspired Nightcrawler series, and a Mojo meta-comedy are all unique opportunities for the MCU.
Wolverine Starring In A Solo Show Benefits The MCU's X-Men
The X-Men Need Wolverine Away For Some Time
A dedicated Wolverine solo show would act as a vital narrative release valve for the broader MCU, ensuring that the X-Men can finally function as a true ensemble. Wolverine has constantly overshadowed the rest of the X-Men in the movies, having become a top-tier hero at the expense of his teammates' development. Iconic characters like Cyclops, Storm, and Jean Grey were frequently sidelined or stripped of their leadership roles to make room for Logan.
In the MCU, a solo series guarantees that Logan fans get their constant fix of gritty action and healing-factor drama. Meanwhile, the X-Men movies have the breathing room to establish Cyclops as a tactical genius and Storm as a powerhouse without an overexposed protagonist overshadowing them. Solo Wolverine installments can push his journey forward, but the core X-Men films should focus on the whole team's dynamics and the multi-character balance that defines them.
Ultimately, the solo format allows for a more diverse and rotating cast of X-Men to flourish across multiple projects. While Logan is off handling his own high-stakes solo missions, the X-Men movies can introduce audiences to a wide array of mutants, shifting focus from one generation to the next. The X-Men brand isn't dependent on a single face in the comics, and it shouldn't do so in live-action.
