Note: This article contains spoilers from X-Men: Dark Phoenix.

X-Men: Dark Phoenix's ending almost looked a bit different, according to the movie's concept artist.

In case you forgot, the movie ended with Jean Grey unleashing her power and releasing a burst of energy that takes the shape of a phoenix.

At the very end, Professor X and Magneto are playing a game of chess when a flaming phoenix then appears in the sky.

Houston Sharp, who worked on the movie as a concept artist, shared a few illustrations of how the end nearly looked, writing on one on Instagram: "Jean Grey (@sophiet) Blasting Off into Space. This shot for the final sequence was changed a bit in the released film."

On another, he commented: "Jean's final form. Another concept painted for Dark Phoenix! This was a fun one to design!"

What to Read Next

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

Dark Phoenix hasn't exactly been a big success, garnering the unwanted record of lowest US box office opening of the X-Men franchise to date.

Director Simon Kinberg has since taken the blame for the movie's failure, saying: "It clearly is a movie that didn't connect with audiences that didn't see it, it didn't connect enough with audiences that did see it. So that's on me.

"I loved making the movie, and I loved the people I made the movie with."

X-Men: Dark Phoenix is out in UK and US cinemas now.

Sign up for Disney+
Disney+ Sign up for Disney+
X-Men Collection [Blu-ray]
20th Century Fox/Marvel X-Men Collection [Blu-ray]
Credit: Marvel
Marvel's The New Mutants DVD [2020]
Disney Marvel's The New Mutants DVD [2020]
Marvel Dark Phoenix Pop! Vinyl Figure
Funko Marvel Dark Phoenix Pop! Vinyl Figure
Credit: Funko
Logan [streaming]
20th Century Fox/Marvel Logan [streaming]
Credit: Marvel
Once Upon a Deadpool [streaming]
20th Century Fox/Marvel Once Upon a Deadpool [streaming]
Credit: Marvel
Deadpool Double Pack [Blu-ray]
20th Century Fox/Marvel Deadpool Double Pack [Blu-ray]
Now 20% Off
Credit: Marvel
X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga [Uncanny X-Men (1963-2011)]
Marvel Comics X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga [Uncanny X-Men (1963-2011)]
Marvel X-Men Magneto Pop! Vinyl Figure
Funko Marvel X-Men Magneto Pop! Vinyl Figure
Credit: Funko
X-Men: Days of Future Past - The Rogue Cut [streaming]
20th Century Fox/Marvel X-Men: Days of Future Past - The Rogue Cut [streaming]
Credit: Marvel

Want up-to-the-minute entertainment news and features? Just hit 'Like' on our Digital Spy Facebook page and 'Follow' on our @digitalspy Instagram and Twitter account.

Headshot of Sam Warner

Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International.  Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.