40 X-Men Characters Who Haven’t Appeared in the Movies But Should

It seems like every major X-Men character has now appeared in at least one of the X-Men movies, right? Not even close! There are still plenty of mutants, whether they are heroic members of the X-Men, one of the many mutant spin off teams, or one of their adversaries. Mutants from every age of comic history just waiting for their call so they can thrill film audiences worldwide.

And there are more coming. The original lineup of New Mutants will be the subject of Josh Boone’s upcoming movie, Deadpool 2 will introduce Cable and Domino (and probably some others), and we might finally get Phoenix done right in X-Men: Supernova. Even with the knowledge that all those are coming, we can still think of over 40 X-Men characters we’d like to see on screen.

A version of this article first appeared in 2014. It has been updated to reflect recent developments in the X-Men movie world.

Armor

First appearance: Astonishing X-Men #4 (2004)

Created by: Joss Whedon and John Cassaday

Armor, a young female mutant with the ability to project a suit of armor (duh) made of energy around her body would be visually mind-blowing in an X-film. She can make her armor into a human size shell or a towering offensive weapon. So essentially, Armor is a human Jaegar from Pacific Rim.

With the Sentinels now part of the film universe, the X-Men are going to need something big to fight those massive robots. Armor and her, err, armor is the perfect answer to all the X-Men’s giant robot needs.

Avalanche

First appearance: Uncanny X-Men #141 (1981)

Created by: Chris Claremont and John Byrne

Boy, would Avalanche’s powers look cool on screen. Imagine, the silver helmeted evil mutant, surfing on a pile of broken earth. Avalanche has the powers to control rock and earth, and can manipulate good old terra firma into mega-powerful earthquakes. That type of thing is why 3D films were invented. Avalanche has deep ties to the Brotherhood and Mystique in particular so when Magneto or Raven need a new heavy, Avalanche could be waiting in the wings to answer the call and shake things up.

Broo

First Appearance: Astonishing X-Men #40 (2011)

Created by: Christos N. Gage, Juan Bobillo

Please Fox, we know you haven’t left Earth much in your films, but please, give us the Brood. The Brood are the creepiest, most vile, and the most dangerous threat from space the X-Men have ever faced. Yes, they are a clear (ahem) homage to H.R. Giger’s Alien, but to contrast the nastiest of the barbaric parasites of the Brood Empire, Fox can introduce the sweetest, Leave It to Beaverist Brood in the galaxy. Cute little Broo, the Jean Grey School’s prize student, voted most likely to become a flesh eating killer and most likely to succeed in the same semester, would make a great addition to everyone’s favorite mutant school.

Chamber

First appearance: Generation X #1 (1994)

Created by: Scott Lobdell and Chris Bachalo

Chamber is one of the most tragic mutants in X-Men history. Many mutants were granted gifts that make them gods; Chamber’s gifts made him a monster that evoked disgust and pity. When Jono Starsmore’s energy powers manifested, Jono blew his own chest and jaw out with his first blast. Now, Jono lives without most of the front of his body, but Chamber fights the good fight in the name of Xavier’s dream. A film Chamber could really drive home the idea of just how dangerous and unpredictable a mutation can be.

Corsair and the Starjammers

First appearance: X-Men #104 (1977)

Created by Dave Cockrum

Many fans have accused the film Cyclops of being rather boring. Want to know how to fix that? Introduce the idea that his long lost father is pretty much Han Solo, a swashbuckler who tools around the galaxy with the coolest bunch of space pirates, well, ever. Raza, Ch’od, Hepzibah, and Sikorsky could be the protagonists the X films need in any potential space adventure, Fox’s answer to the Guardians of the Galaxy, and they could be just the thing to thrust Cyclops (and Havok for that matter) back into the spotlight.

Danger

First appearance: Astonishing X-Men #9 (2005)

Created by: Joss Whedon and John Cassaday

Fans haven’t really been treated to any Danger Room film scenes beyond the stagehand with two mag lights pretending to be a Sentinel atrocity in Last Stand. Well, Fox is making up for that with the introduction of the real Sentinels in X-Men: Days of Future Past, but the Danger Room still gets no love.

If Fox ever really focuses on the Danger Room, then it could be time for Danger, the Danger Room given physical form and consciousness. She started out as a villain but ended as a member of the team because, after all, Danger is a mutated machine, one capable of sentient thought and emotions. The films haven’t covered A.I. to any great degree as of yet, but with the introduction of the Sentinels, it might be time for Danger to make the scene.

Dark Beast

First appearance: X-Men Alpha (1995)

Created by: Scott Lobdell and Roger Cruz (based upon the original character by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby)

With the whole alternate world thing being introduced in X-Men: Days of Future Past and with the coming of X-Men: Apocalypse, the door is just wide open for the introduction to the Josef Mengele like Dark Beast. Actor Nicholas Hoult could pull double duty as the good and evil versions of Hank McCoy.

Seriously, Dark Beast is one of the most disgustingly evil X foes, and would be shocking to fans not familiar with this twisted version of the character. To see such a beloved character like the Beast so profaned would send shockwaves to the non-comic reading fan base.

Dazzler

First appearance: Uncanny X-Men #130 (1980)

Created by: Tom DeFalco, John Romita, Jr., Louise Simonson, and Roger Stern

Alison Blaire may have started out as somewhat of a joke, a way for Marvel to take advantage of the disco craze of the 70s, but she hasn’t remained that way. Instead, Dazzler has become one of the most beloved X-Men characters ever. She has the power to turn sound into music and is now the SHIELD mutant liaison. She remains one of the few mutants to ever have a solo comic title and not be given a film role.

If Fox decides to go the Longshot route in the future than Dazzler is a must, as their romance is second only to Cyclops and Jean Grey and Rogue and Gambit in X-Men lore. And how brilliant would her powers look on screen? They had a fun Dazzler reference in X-Men: Apocalypse, and even a fake promotional LP tie in (no actual music, though), but we still want to see her brought to life.

Doop

First appearance: X-Force #116 (2001)

Created by: Peter Milligan and Mike Allred

Is Hollywood ready for a floating green potato thing that has been an international man of mystery, galactic savior, and gourmet cook? Probably not, but fans of X-Statix sure are and have been ever since they met Doop so many years ago. Doop has been popping up a great deal lately over in X-Men and even recently has been featured in his own miniseries. Fox should give Doop due consideration just for the licensing potential alone. I’m ready to pre-order a plushie Doop on Amazon even as I write this.

Dr. Cecilia Reyes

First appearance: X-Men #65 (1997)

Created by: Scott Lobdell and Carlos Pacheco

Dr. Cecilia Reyes has a really cool power, the ability to cast a force field that can protect herself or others, but the true specialness of the character is her desire to be a doctor instead of a superhero. Reyes is the X-Men’s most skilled healer, a woman who seeks true service as a medical professional rather than an adventuring crusader. Reyes is one of the most underutilized but humane of all the X-Men, a woman who has a clear sense of identity and purpose beyond throwing down with Unus, the Untouchable.

Dr. Nemesis

First appearance: (historic) Lightning Comics #6 (1941) (Marvel Universe) Invaders #1 (1993)

A nearly forgotten Golden Age character that became the X-Men’s head science soldier, Dr. Nemesis has been one of the most welcome (and obnoxious) additions to the X-Men in recent memory. Picture Dr. House dressed like a drunken Nazi and gifted with the brain of a mad scientist and you scratch the surface of the true nature of this mutant. He’s a sharp dresser, a scathing wit, and if you threaten the innocent, he will stab you in the brain parts with a number of sharp hypodermics containing various nasty things…and who doesn’t want to experience that on film?

Dust

First appearance: New X-Men #133 (2002)

Created by: Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely, and Ethan Van Sciver

We have the devout Muslim warrior Dust, one of the bravest X-Men to join Xavier’s team in the 21st century. When a slave trader forcibly tried to remove her niqab, Sooraya Qadir manifested her power to turn her body into sand and flayed him alive. Dust remains one of X-Men’s bravest, using her unwavering faith and powers to help other young mutants. For Dust, her eyes tell the whole story, of faith and pain, of belief and bravery.

Fantomex

First appearance: New X-Men #128 (2002)

Created by: Grant Morrison and Igor Kordey

For the sixteen really cool people reading this that have always dreamed of an X-Men/Danger: Diabolik crossover, well, here you go. Other than Gambit, Fantomex is the X-Men’s most charming rogue, a French thief bonded with a sentient satellite he calls Eva. He and Eva have an … interestingly physical and mental bond, and Fantomex can basically steal anything in the world.

He can create illusion, has all his senses and strength enhanced by EVA, and is as arrogant as he is charming. Fantomex’s origins tie into the Weapon X program so he is just waiting for a film showdown with Wolverine. He’s like James Bond with super-powers and a stilted moral code, and we can’t wait to see him on screen.

Firestar

First appearance: Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends “The Triumph of the Green Goblin (September 12, 1981)

She may be best known for being one Amazing Friend, but Firestar has also been a member in good standing of the Avengers and most importantly for our purposes, a member in good standing of the X-Men. Angelica Jones is a powerhouse and has a long multimedia presence as part of Marvel’s heroic pantheon. Her recent battle with cancer has added to the already rich history of one of Marvel’s hottest heroes and made Firestar even more of an inspiration to her legions of fans.

Forge

First appearance: Uncanny X-Men #184 (1984)

Created by: Chris Claremont and John Romita Jr.

To see the relationship between Forge and Storm play out on the silver screen would be heaven for old school X fans. When Forge accidently removed Storm’s powers, it forced Ororo Monroe to use her fighting skills and street smarts to become the leader of the X-Men, even while powerless. The moment still stands as one of the greatest X-Men moments of the ’80s, all brought about by Forge, the master builder who can literally create anything out of machines.

Forge has been a glaring omission from the X-films for years. Storm has not been explored that much in any of the previous X films, but with Forge in the picture, there would be so much more story potential for Ororo.

Goldballs

First appearance: Uncanny X-Men #1 (2013)

Created by: Brian Michael Bendis and Chris Bachalo

When Fabio Medina was a victim of a robbery, he manifested his power to create golden spheres that act as offensive and defensive weapons. When the police treated this recently manifested mutant worse than they did the perpetrator, Medina joined Cyclops’ squad of mutant freedom fighter and took the unfortunate but on the nose moniker of Goldballs. It would be nice to see some of the newest mutants created by Brian Michael Bendis make an impact in the film universe, so why not a dude named Goldballs?

Hope Summers

First appearance: X-Men #205 (2007)

Created by: Mike Carey and Chris Bachalo

Y’know that X-Force movie we keep getting promised? The Cable centered team that could be a companion franchise to the X-Men and Deadpool? Well, a story big enough and dramatic enough to fuel an X-Force film would be the story of Hope Summers, the girl who is supposed to be the mutant savior. Cable was her protector, and Bishop, a mutant who just made his film debut, was sworn to take her down to save the future, a conflict that could play out well on film.

Hope Summers and the adventurers of her time hoping father Cable would be a logical progression of some elements of X-Men: Days of Future Past. Hope propelled the plot of the recent X-Men comics for the past few years, and she can do the same for the movies.

Husk

First appearance: Rom Annual #3 (1984)

Created by: Bill Mantlo and William Johnson

There hasn’t been much Generation X inclusion in the X-Men films, and Husk was one of the most compelling members of that particular team. She has familial ties to Cannonball and romantic ties with Toad (ewww). She has the unique power of being able to adapt her epidermis to any situation, but she has to rip off her outer layer of skin to expose her new surface. This power would play very well on film, plus, Husk is one of the bravest natural soldiers ever to wear an X-Men uniform.

Karma

First appearance: Marvel Team-Up #100 (1980)

Created by: Chris Claremont and Frank Miller

Jeez, created by Claremont AND Miller, that alone should make Karma worthy of film inclusion. One of the original New Mutants should be part of the team if they are ever included in their own film or in a future X-Men installment. The New Mutants just wouldn’t seem complete without their resident young telepath.

Lilandra

First appearance: X-Men #97 (1976)

Created by: Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum

Lilandra, the true love of Charles Xavier, the Majestrix of the Shi’Ar Empire and the sexiest birdlady this side of Alpha Centuri. If Fox want things to get cosmic, Lilandra can be the catalyst. Xavier first became aware of his future space wife in vivid dreams, dreams that led to some of the greatest space opera in comic history. The introduction of Lilandra can open up a universe of possibilities for the X-Men; a Star Wars sized galaxy of new characters and locations that can begin with Xavier’s soulmate.

Longshot

First appearance: Longshot #1 (1985)

Created by: Ann Nocenti and Art Adams

While not a mutant, the hero known as Longshot still served with the X-Men, the Exiles, Excalibur, and X-Factor. With that kind of history, the film world of the X-Men seems a bit empty without this luck controlling adventurer. In fact, Ann Nocenti and Art Adams did such a great job world building, a Longshot solo film shouldn’t be out of the question. There is certainly enough story there.

M

First appearance: Uncanny X-Men #316 (1994)

Created by: Scott Lobdell and Chris Bachalo

You can’t have enough female powerhouses, and M is one of the strongest females in the X-Men Universe. Monet Yvette Clarisse Maria Therese St. Croix (whew) came into her own as a character in Peter David’s X-Men and the coolest thing about M is she knows how powerful, brilliant, and beautiful she is. M is an arrogant, cold, and abrasive, but she fights as hard for Xavier’s dream as any of the X-Men. M may not be the friendliest mutant, but most mutants don’t come close to M on the power scale.

Madison Jeffries

First appearance: Alpha Flight #16 (1984)

Created by: John Byrne

Some much needed Alpha Flight goodness; Madison Jeffries has the awesome power to bend machines to his will. He can literally make anything, like the Cake Boss but with super computers and high tech suits of armor. Jeffries was always one of the more compelling members of Alpha Flight with the powers of a technological god but a humble personality. Jeffries, who once wore the Box armor, has deep ties to Wolverine and would fit in well to any future solo Wolvie movie.

Magma

First appearance: New Mutants #8 (1983)

Created by: Chris Claremont and Bob McLeod

A founding member of the New Mutants, Amara Quillais is from an underground hidden race of people descended from ancient Rome. While that might be a little much for the usually grounded X-Men film Universe, Magma (it’s just impossible to type that name without doing the Dr. Evil voice in my head) has been around seemingly forever, a powerhouse that would enhance the intimidation factor of any X-Men squad. She’s a living volcano and a fierce and confident fighter

Morph

First appearance: (Changeling) X-Men #35 (1967), (Morph) Exiles #1 (2001)

Created by: Roy Thomas and Werner Roth

Who can forget that when the Saturday morning X-Men cartoon debuted, the character known as Morph was killed in the very first episode? This told fans that this wasn’t your typical safe Saturday morning destination, that the world of X-Men had consequences. The inclusion of Morph into the X films would be a tribute to that beloved ’90s cartoon that made so many fans fall in love with the X-Men in the first place.

Or Fox can go with the Morph from the late, lamented Exiles book. Morph was a loyal companion to Blink and can be used to flesh out a little more of her character in the films. With Mystique such a major part of the movie universe, it’s hard to imagine a film utilizing a character like Morph with such similar powers, but from the comics or the cartoons, Morph is a name that carries a great deal of weight with many X fans.

Mr. Sinister

First appearance: Uncanny X-Men #221 (1987)

Created by: Chris Claremont and Marc Silvestri

Mr. Sinister was teased in X-Men: Apocalypse, and there are hints that he might be lurking in the background of Logan after all, but we’re still not certain, and thus he makes this list. Sinister is really the last of the major master X-Men villains yet to appear in a film. Sinister, the master geneticist, has been the leader of both the Reavers and the Nasty Boys so look for a great deal of soldier villains to accompany Sinister when and if this vile genius makes his film debut.

Mimic

First appearance: Uncanny X-Men #19 (1966)

Created by: Stan Lee and Werner Roth

One of the earliest additions to the X-Men’s Silver Age roster, Mimic has a very cool power that could come across even better on the big screen. He’s an amalgamation of all the original X-Men, and a film could potentially make Mimic a mash-up of all the movie X-Men.

Mimic was an X-Man and an Exile, so maybe Fox can also join him with the freshly introduced Blink. 

Mojo and Spiral

First appearance: Longshot #1 (1985) 

Created by: Ann Nocenti and Art Adams

As we said, there are enough great elements in Longshot’s world to fill a movie all their own, and two of those main elements are Mojo and Spiral. First off, think of the fight choreography that would be needed for Spiral. Six arms, six blades, that would be enough to turn even the most jaded fan’s brain to pudding. And Mojo, this corpulent bag of greed would be a Hunger Games like condemnation of modern voyeur culture. Mojo might be a bit obvious thematically, but his unique brand of avarice would make for a great film villain.

Northstar and Aurora

First appearance: Uncanny X-Men #120 (April 1979)

Created by: Chris Claremont and John Byrne

Canada’s greatest heroes, the brother and sister combo of Northstar and Aurora would make for some great onscreen friction. Aurora with her dual personalities and Northstar with his unparalleled arrogance would certainly make life interesting for our merry band of mutants. It’s long overdue that Alpha Flight appear in an X-Men movie, since Canada’s team of heroes are a huge part of Logan’s past. Both siblings, Northstar in particular, have been an important part of recent X-Men history and it would rock pretty hard to see this pair shining brighter than the sun on the big screen.

Phoenix

First appearance: X-Men #1 (1963)

Created by: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

Yes, yes, Jean Grey has been a part of the X films since day one. Yes; in X-Men: The Last Stand she became Phoenix and went absolutely mental until Wolverine had to kill her. And yes, there were serious hints of her proper Phoenix future in X-Men: Apocalypse.

Fans deserve a Phoenix film, a real Phoenix film, not just Famke Janssen with funky contacts. They deserve a cosmic throw down with a Jean Grey in full Phoenix force, the flaming silhouette of the fiery Phoenix bursting from the screen, not some watered down, “grounded” version. To heck with grounded, we want Jean Grey, destroying worlds, murdering races of broccoli people, acting like the Lovecraftian space god she was meant to be. As far as Jean Grey is concerned, always go full Phoenix. It’s time to show the world the true majesty of the Phoenix Force!

Pixie

First appearance: New X-Men: Academy X #5 (2004)

Created by: Nunzio DeFilippis, Christina Weir, and Michael Ryan

Always on the lookout for strong female members to join the film X-Men, Fox should look to Pixie to bring in some of the young female demographic that pretty much rules genre fiction these days. She’s like Tinkerbell, but she can teleport and she has Wolverine’s number on speed dial. Don’t let Pixie’s adorableness factor fool you, she has fought side by side with both the X-Men and the New Mutants, is always on the frontlines of any battle, and by golly, she is marketable.

Polaris

First appearance: X-Men #49 (1968)

Created by: Arnold Drake, Don Heck, Werner Roth, and Jim Steranko

Wow, that’s some serious talent that created Polaris. Polaris is one of the oldest X-Men characters yet to appear in a film, but let’s face it, it’s Lorna Dane’s lineage that make her potential inclusion in a future movie so compelling. Magneto’s children, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch will soon be everywhere thanks to Fox and Disney. But there is one child of Magneto left, and only Fox has her.

Havok was introduced to great effect in X-Men: First Class and fans want more. Polaris and Havok are one of the longest standing power couples in X-Men lore and that bond would make for some story fodder for a future film. Since the films handle Magneto’s powers so well, there might as well be two Masters of Magnetism.

Proteus

First appearance: Uncanny X-Men #125 (1979)

Created by: Chris Claremont and John Byrne

One of the most fascinating additions to the film universe from X-Men: First Class was secret agent Moira MacTaggert, friend and confidant of the young Charles Xavier. MacTaggert was ironically responsible for crippling the young Xavier but that is not the only dark secret in the history of the character. Moira had a son with the mutant power to alter reality and matter. A son so powerful that she kept him locked up in an island prison until he broke free and made mommy pay. Proteus would be a great way to continue Moira’s tale and introduce a tragic but deadly threat to the X Universe.

Quentin Quire

First appearance: New X-Men #134

Created by: Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely

The most popular new X-Man of the new century, Quentin Quire is a modern day mutant for a new generation. Make no mistake; Quire is an arrogant little SOB, and any film that would do him justice must show his more abrasive side. Quire is like the anti-Harry Potter, a smug little know it all that is perfectly aware of just how powerful and brilliant he is. He has always been the perfect foil to Wolverine and through it all, maybe, just maybe, Quire could become the greatest X-Man of them all. Quire would be ideal for a film and a character that a new generation of fans can love to hate, or sadly, look up to.

Sauron

First appearance: X-Men #59 (1969)

Created by: Roy Thomas and Neal Adams

Karl Lykos here is a mutant energy vampire pterodactyl. Who wouldn’t want to see that? Sauron has the power to drain any mutant of their powers, plus, he’s a pterodactyl named after the main baddie in The Lord of the Rings. Sauron has a long history as one of the X-Men’s deadliest master villains, plus, who doesn’t love dinosaurs and vampires? Sauron is both.

The Stepford Cuckoos

First appearance: New X-Men #118 (2001)

Created by: Grant Morrison and Ethan Van Sciver

Emma Frost made a splash when she debuted in X-Men: First Class, but fans never got to see the teacher side of the diamond skinned White Queen. The Stepford Cuckoos are Head Mistress Frost’s prize students, five ultra powerful telepaths with the same attitude and fashion sense as their beloved teacher.

Esme, Celeste, Erma, Phoebe, and Sophie are the most Grant Morrisony of all the X-Men created by Grant Morrison. Five frightening and super powerful mutants who walk alike, talk alike, and mentally lobotomize enemies alike. Fans will go nuts for these sisters, five potent forces to battle against the X-Men or as part of the Xavier School. Some lucky actress would have to play five separate characters. Someone get Tatiana Maslany on the blower.

Sunfire

First appearance: Uncanny X-Men #64 (1970)

Created by: Roy Thomas and Don Heck

Sunfire has been around the Marvel Universe for a very long time and is the only still living X-Man from Giant Size X-Men #1 that hasn’t appeared in a film yet. This fiery tempered Japanese national could bring an international flavor to any team he joins. He has not been the most visible mutant in X-Men history, but anywhere Sunfire appears he makes an impact as evident in his recent addition to the Uncanny Avengers.

Tempus

First appearance: All-New X-Men #1 (2013)

Created by: Brian Michael Bendis, Stuart Immonen

Again, timey wimey. Tempus, another of the new X-Men has the power to stop time and travel through the time stream. This Australian mutant has made the past year of Uncanny X-Men seem fresh and new. These newer mutants are all fine additions to the world of the X-Men and the films should reflect the latest characters that make the comics such a fun place. Of all the characters introduced into the X-Men lately, Tempus is one of the best.

Thunderbird

First appearance: Giant-Size X-Men #1 (1975)

Created by: Len Wein and Dave Cockrum

Warpath made his film debut in X-Men: Days of Future Past, but we have yet to see big bro Thunderbird in all his cinematic glory. Thunderbird’s dramatic self sacrifice as written by Len Wein and drawn by the late, great Dave Cockrum in the pages of the very first new X-Men story set the tone for the coming Claremont era. Thunderbird’s death was a stark wake up call to the fans of the Bronze Age that anything can and probably will happen in this new era of X-Men, and it would be beyond cool to see this classic moment come to life.

Vanisher

First appearance: X-Men #2 (1963)

Created by: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

The second foe the X-Men ever faced, the Vanisher, certainly is a villain deserving of some film love. The Vanisher has the power to disappear and reappear anywhere he desires, and in recent years, Telford Porter (get it?), has been a kind of Dickensian taskmaster that uses young mutants as thieves and pickpockets. Not a bad launching point for a film about young mutants. Plus, the villain of X-Men #2 deserves a film appearance just for being around for so many years.

Who are your favorites? Let us know!