* The X-Men series was once regarded as the greatest superhero franchise.
* Fans criticized X-Men: The Last Stand for its mishandling of Scott Summers's character.
* James Marsden's performance as Scott Summers/Cyclops was consistently praised.
* While Cyclops's death was controversial, Marsden was comfortable with his limited screen time.
* X-Men: The Last Stand is available for streaming on Disney Plus.
The X-Men Franchise: A Heroic Legacy
Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe dominated the superhero genre, Fox's X-Men series reigned supreme. Thanks to its action-packed narrative, respect for source material, and stellar performances, the series was once celebrated as the finest superhero film franchise. In particular, the movies starring Patrick Stewart were often positively reviewed by critics and fans alike.
However, X-Men: The Last Stand, one installment in the series, is widely viewed as a letdown, primarily due to its unrefined screenplay. The disappointment stems from the film's decision to kill off Scott Summers (a.k.a Cyclops), one of the franchise's leading characters, early on.
Cyclops's Controversial Departure
In the comics, Cyclops is one of the leaders of the X-Men and was accurately portrayed in X-Men: The Animated Series and the latest X-Men '97. Yet the live-action adaptations chose to focus more on characters like Wolverine, Magneto, and Patrick Stewart's Professor X, to the detriment of Scott Summers/Cyclops.
James Marsden's depiction of Cyclops, despite the character's reduced role, was warmly received by audiences. Fans valued his sincere representation of the character. However, the character's early death by Phoenix in X-Men: The Last Stand left fans frustrated and disappointed. This incident, although eventually reversed in X-Men: Days of Future Past, is still regarded as an unnecessary and shocking twist in the plot.
Fan Reactions to Scott Summers's Demise
Many fans believe that the story arc of Scott Summers in the X-Men series doesn't do justice to his beloved comic book character. They argue that Summers should have been portrayed more powerfully, similar to his leadership role in X-Men '97. A slew of comments online highlight fans' disappointment with the handling of Scott Summers/Cyclops in X-Men: The Last Stand, expressing the feeling that the character was robbed of a more significant role.
James Marsden's Involvement in X-Men: The Last Stand
While his character's death was controversial, Marsden himself was unperturbed by his limited screen time in the film. Marsden, who played Scott Summers in the first three films of the original trilogy, understands the challenges of fitting multiple characters into a condensed screen time.
He also acknowledged that the franchise became more focused on Hugh Jackman's Wolverine more than the whole X-Men team. Despite this, he felt privileged to have been part of the film and believed in the potential of individual character spin-offs given the vast source material.
In summary, X-Men: The Last Stand remains a point of contention among fans, specifically with its treatment of Scott Summers/Cyclops. While the film's controversial decision impacted the film's reception, it served as an essential turning point in the franchise. As for the protagonist of the debate, actor James Marsden remains content with his contributions to the franchise despite its twists, turns, and unexpected decisions.
