Disney-Fox Merger: What about the MCU’s next big villain?

Credit: Jim Lee (Marvel Comics); Alternate cover for X-Men vol. 2 #1

4. Magneto

Why Magneto works as the next major MCU villain: Since the X-Men and all the merry mutants are now at Marvel Studio’s disposal, there’s no doubt we can expect an appearance from Erik Lensherr, a.k.a. Magneto at some point. Since mutants are a metaphor for persecuted minority groups, the inclusion of the Master of Magnetism and his militant philosophy is mandatory for an X-Men film. It’s also because of his stance on Homo Superior that has made Magneto go toe-to-toe with the Avengers almost as often as he has with the X-Men in the comics.

There’s even the perfect storyline Marvel could adapt as means for introducing both the X-Men and Magneto into the MCU: The X-Men Vs. The Avengers. It wouldn’t be a direct adaptation, of course, and, for marketing purposes, would likely be called Avengers Vs. X-Men, but the basic idea would be the same. The Avengers are ordered to apprehend Magneto for several acts of terrorism, but the X-Men intervene saying Magneto deserves a trial by a jury of his peers. It’s Captain America: Civil War with an even greater sociopolitical relevancy.

Best of all, there’s no need for recasting. Michael Fassbender has proven an excellent Magneto in the First Class movies, and it would be very smart if Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige to keep him around. His presence, along with James McAvoy’s Charles Xavier and Ryan Reynold’s Deadpool, would show genuine respect to the franchise by acknowledging what came before even as they’re also rebooting it.

Why Magneto doesn’t work as the next major MCU villain: Quite simply, he’s not a villain; at least not in the traditional sense. In the comics and in all media adaptations, Magneto has evolved into an anti-hero, whose adversarial relationship with Xavier is due more to philosophical differences and not outright hatred. There are even those within the X-Men fandom who’d argue that Magneto is the real hero of the franchise.

Also, even though he does have crossover appeal, he’s forever tied at the hip with the X-Men, whose goals and motivations exclusively deal with the rights of mutants. Besides, even if Marvel does an Avengers Vs. X-Men movie, it’s more than likely Magneto would side with the heroes against the next major threat for the sake of protecting his fellow mutants. As great a character as Magneto is, it’s likely the audience would prefer him working with the good guys instead of against them.