This morning’s trailer for The New Mutants surprised a lot of fans by almost completely downplaying the fact that it’s a superhero movie by emphasizing “teen horror” elements. Naturally, this led to a lot of interesting discussion online…
As to be expected from this kind of movie, a lot of support appeared shortly after the trailer was revealed. But uniquely for New Mutants, a lot of the praise comes from just how different it is from a standard superhero movie:
We've been promised CBM's that defy genre conventions for years, and it looks like New Mutants is the closest to doing that.
— ☕Stephen M. Colbert (@smcolbert) October 13, 2017
Love how Fox are experimenting with their X-Men series. Deadpool, Logan, Legion, #NewMutants now… Very cool. https://t.co/zPCbDMJPiO
— Petr Hrubý (@petr_hruby) October 13, 2017
Pretty excited about the New Mutants trailer, and generally really happy to see how much Fox is playing with genre in X-franchises! -J
— Jay & Miles (@XPlaintheXmen) October 13, 2017
It's also so fundamentally a comic that it's impossible to adapt directly–I'm frankly really relieved that they're not trying. -J
— Jay & Miles (@XPlaintheXmen) October 13, 2017
But where there’s fan hype, there’s also bound to be a bit of ambivalence or even backlash. One fan stated that they really weren’t sure about what they just watched and another outright called the adaptation unrecognizable to the source material:
Guys I don't know how I feel about the New Mutants trailer. What is a budget in on that movie because it looks not expensive.
— ZAK FLOATS TOO (@Zakiyyah6) October 13, 2017
Google Image New Mutants. Go ahead, do it. Now imagine you know NOTHING about them and see this. Is this what you saw in that trailer? pic.twitter.com/qyxHuVGzv8
— A Leaf in the Wind (@TASKvsTheWorld) October 13, 2017
I’m down with it being Demon Bear and the horror theme goes with that. But no powers? No costumes? WTF IS THIS? pic.twitter.com/Jz01z4eMZX
— A Leaf in the Wind (@TASKvsTheWorld) October 13, 2017
Now that could still be IN the film. But I judge based off what I see. And that was trash. When people show you who they are, believe them. pic.twitter.com/CXZIXux58Q
— A Leaf in the Wind (@TASKvsTheWorld) October 13, 2017
It didn’t take long for X-Men comic contributors – like New Mutants artist Bill Sienkiewicz and Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe writer Cullen Bunn – to throw their hats into the ring, both supporting the trailer:
The New Mutants are coming.
Be afraid. Be very very afraid.And excited…. https://t.co/I0WjoHt4vZ
— Bill Sienkiewicz (@sinKEVitch) October 13, 2017
The #NewMutants trailer looks great. To me, the New Mutants have always been stuck in a horror story. pic.twitter.com/ozTqtQZLo0
— Bunnkinhead (@cullenbunn) October 13, 2017
Other than that, a few of the more notable responses include a Game of Thrones joke, praise of Anya Taylor-Joy’s take on Magik, and an observation that comic book movie fans can never seem to be pleased with “different” superhero movies:
A girl is a mutant now. #NewMutants pic.twitter.com/1TBqqzFnkt
— The Geeks Core (@TheGeeksCore) October 13, 2017
The new Queen of Horror is bringing her Magik to the X-Men universe and I couldn't be more excited@anyataylorjoy #NewMutants pic.twitter.com/bjKjzzO43a
— David Opie (@DavidOpie) October 13, 2017
CBM Twitter: We want more variety in CBM's! They should be different!
*New Mutants trailer drops*
CBM Twitter: Not that different!— Alex (@apbattman) October 13, 2017
Suffice to say, The New Mutants is not what many had expected to see. Hopefully, that will play out in its favor when the movie is released early next year.
New Mutants will arrive on April 13, 2018. The movie is directed by Josh Boone and has a cast that includes Anya Taylor-Joy as Illyana Rasputin (Magik), Maisie Williams as Rahne Sinclair (Wolfsbane), Henry Zaga as Roberto da Costa (Sunspot), Charlie Heaton as Sam Guthrie (Cannonball), Blu Hunt as Danielle Moonstar (Mirage), and Alice Braga as Cecilia Reyes.
8 X-Men Characters Who Deserve Their Own Movie
So it’s probably safe to assume everyone here has seen Logan? Well, based on how well it did in the box-office I think 20th Century Fox is taking notes. Now that they have both Deadpool and Logan under their belts, I’m sure they will be bringing more X-Men characters to the big screen as soon as possible.
There are so many great X-Men arcs to choose from, but I think focusing on personal stories and fewer characters is a way to ensure the movie connects with an audience. Mutants were originally composed as a metaphor for the Civil Rights movement, and that issue is still very much so alive in our society. I’m not saying every movie needs to be political, but they all have the potential to be about so much more than destruction and boss battles. Fox focuses on smaller, personal stories that show mutants in a different light. Sure they can kick ass, but let’s make sure they always feel like real people, as Logan did.
Hit Next to see the eight mutants I think Fox should bring to the big screen next!
