Here’s how Marvel Studios can make X-Men’s Emma Frost a successful character in the MCU.
The X-Men are part of the Marvel Universe, but their lives tend to be separate. For whatever reason, the Avengers, Fantastic Four, or other heroes don’t get involved in the X-Men’s problems. When the Sentinels destroyed Genosha in New X-Men, no one came to help or to dig up the bodies. During Messiah Complex, the mutants were on their own again.
It could be because the X-Men always take care of their own. Or it could be what Cyclops said to Captain America during Avengers vs X-Men: The other heroes don’t care about them. This may not be true, you can’t deny the facts. They rarely get help when it’s needed.
There are a lot of important characters in the X-Men’s universe. We all know that Cyclops, Storm, and Wolverine are important to the X-Men’s success. Nonetheless, there are other characters that garner the same respect. Among them is Emma Frost.
Recently, there have been rumors that Marvel Studios may be eyeing the great Lady Gaga to portray the role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Granted, these rumors have yet to be confirmed. That doesn’t mean we can’t talk about whether or not she’d be good in this role and what kind of material she (or another actress) should be given. This article will discuss that and what we need from Emma Frost in the MCU.
Riches, to rags, to riches again
Anyone who knows Emma Frost is aware that she loves the finer things in life. She enjoys caviar, private jets, and shopping at places that don’t have price tags. It’s also not shocking that she was born rich.
She didn’t want much in life, but what may be surprising to some is that Emma left her life of wealth to make her own way. A life that leads her to the Hellfire Club, running a mutant school of her own, and eventually the X-Men.
Now, this is a lot to fit to in an X-Men project and we’ve seen how cramming too much into a movie can ruin it. This is why Emma Frost having her own project is a smart idea.
Her life before the Hellfire Club is important to her story. If you don’t know her story, she won’t be a character people will understand. She’ll just seem spoiled and rich. Now, Emma isn’t supposed to be loved. In fact, she’ll be the first to say otherwise. She once told Kitty Pryde that she turns to diamonds making her her own best friend. It seems harsh, but there are reasons behind it. Sometimes she has to be cold-hearted but most of this is because of how she was raised and what happened after she went out on her own.
You may still hate her, but seeing her story will at least help you understand her.
A villain
We met Emma Frost as a villain in The Uncanny X-Men No. 129. For a while, she was one of the worst the X-Men have ever seen. As a member of the Hellfire Club, Emma did some atrocious things she isn’t proud of. She’s also done some that she wouldn’t change if she could.
Emma has used her psychic abilities on people of power to get what she wants for years. But not just for herself; she did some of them for the betterment of mutant kind. That doesn’t excuse what she did – most telepaths have a code to never use their powers to force people to do things they normally wouldn’t – but some might agree that it was necessary. Either way, the deeds were done.
You can’t talk about where Emma’s at currently without knowing where she’s been. She was a villain – something that she never hides. What’s funny is that a lot of X-Men started out as villains or just bad people. Look at Wolverine. The things he did while under Romulus’ control were disgusting. Now, he’s one of the most iconic heroes in comic book history. Emma went from being part of the worst times in the X-Men’s past (the Dark Phoenix era) to becoming one of their greatest heroes. Her and Kitty Pryde are even friendly with each other. No one would have seen this coming.
A teacher
We’ve discussed her villainy, let’s get into something equally as important. Let’s talk about her true love in life: Her teaching. Emma Frost is an incredible hero and an impressive villain. However, she’s more passionate about teaching young mutants – especially telepaths. Considering she’s one of the most powerful psychics in the world, it makes sense that she’d gravitate towards her own.
Along the way, Emma has made a lot of mistakes. She’s been manipulative and sometimes dangerous, but we can’t deny that she cares. When her students are hurt, she takes it hard. When she gets a chance at revenge, she does so in brutal ways. When X-23 was attacked, she took the last happy memory that her torturer had. During Necrosha, Selene used Emma’s former students to attack the X-Men. Later, she told Cyclops and Wolverine that she wanted Selene killed for what she did.
This shows the gift and the curse of Emma as an X-Man. She does care about the younger generation of mutants. The problem is she can be too harsh. She forgets that they’re still children. Sure, they’ve had to grow up at a rapid pace, but that doesn’t negate the fact that some of them aren’t old enough to vote or legally drink.
Ultimately, however, showing this more caring side of her will make Emma a more well-rounded character, ensuring that a potential MCU project would just focus on her more wicked side.
Her love for Scott Summers
The Cyclops and Jean Grey love story has had more bumps than an alligator’s back. Logan was constantly hitting on Jean Grey and sometimes she went with the advances. Angel used to flirt with Jean as well and he’s one of Cyclops’ oldest friends. Let’s not forget that they have both died along the way as well. Then there’s Emma Frost.
Cyclops actually stepped out on Jean with Emma. He justifies it by saying it was only cheating psychically, but it was still infidelity. What started as a game for Emma turned into real love for Scott Summers.
Jean Grey is probably going to die at some point following her introduction in the MCU. It’s inevitable. Before that happens, the Emma Frost and Cyclops affair could be an interesting story to tell. Did Emma really exploit Cyclops at a bad time in his life or was this something he wanted?
This story would probably make fans detest Cyclops and Emma but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be told. At the time, Emma is better for Cyclops than Jean. Cyclops was at a point in his life where he was harder and more stoic than ever. Emma allowed him to be his own man, but also checked him when it needed to happen.
Her powers
As it was mentioned earlier, Emma Frost is one of the most powerful psychics in the world. She’s a step below Xavier and Jean Grey in terms of power but when it comes to creativity, she’s probably above them.
Emma has a devious mind and has no problem being creative with her punishments. In New X-Men, she was given a secondary mutation. She could turn into diamond. While in diamond form, she’s impervious to both pain and emotions and she’s also super-humanly strong. Depending on who the writer is determines whether or not she can use her telepathy while in that form but she is a powerhouse that can destroy you mentally or physically.
X-Men: First Class did a fantastic job displaying Emma’s powers – especially how she would use her psychic abilities. In one scene, Emma used them to make it seem like she was getting intimate with someone. Meanwhile, she was sitting in a chair without a care in the world.
The hubris in which she uses her powers is also entertaining. She knows how good she is and has no qualms telling or showing someone. We need that in the MCU movies whenever she arrives. Emma crossed Jean Grey knowing that she had no chance if a fight occurred. Whoever plays her has to display a kind of self-assuredness that rivals the gods. It’s a huge part of her personality.
Can Lady Gaga be Emma Frost?
Lady Gaga was phenomenal portraying The Countess in American Horror Story: Hotel. In fact, it was this season of AHS that made this writer believe she’d be perfect for this role. She showed the level of arrogance and manipulation that Emma has had her entire existence in comic books and, on the other hand, we also saw her showcase an emotional side to her character as well.
Before she was a vampire, The Countess mourned over the loss of someone she loved and it was very believable. When Emma loses students, she’ll have to play stone-faced headmistress or teacher in public. In private, she’ll have to cry her eyes out. As we’ve just established, Lady Gaga can do both.
Lady Gaga has the look as well. We’ve seen her dressed in all white or wearing something revealing. She makes it work. Emma Frost uses her beauty to her advantage whenever she can. It wouldn’t be a stretch for Lady Gaga to play the role of evil seductress or the psychic dominatrix in the Hellfire Club. Since Lady Gaga isn’t afraid of her sensuality, she could do this effortlessly.
There’s nothing that Emma Frost can’t do that Lady Gaga can’t emulate. It would be wonderful to see her play the character in a fight against – and later with – the X-Men.
What do you think? What else do we need from Emma Frost in the MCU? Do you think Lady Gaga should play the role, and would she be the right pick? Let us know in the comments below.