A lot about the future of the X-Men series is currently unclear, but that hasn't stopped fans speculating about where the superhero films will go next.
As we wait for confirmed info, one very convincing theory has surfaced. LRM has asked whether it's possible the Dark Phoenix could be the focal point of the next movie in the series, citing well-placed insiders.
Now, this would be pretty exciting, because the Dark Phoenix story is about the strongest singular force in the Marvel universe – so strong, in fact, that at times she even poses a threat to the X-Men.
Jean Grey's frighteningly powerful alter ego has already been referenced in the movies.
We got a glimpse of her in X-Men: The Last Stand, where Famke Janssen played Jean, which directly referenced the Dark Phoenix storyline.
More recently, Jean channeled the Phoenix Force to help defeat Apocalypse in the film X-Men: Apocalypse (where she was played by Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner).
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And fans are speculating that along with this storyline, a new cast of characters will be introduced - could Colossus and Gambit make an appearance?
But nothing along these lines has been confirmed by the production team so far.
What we do know for sure so far is that director Bryan Singer has officially left the series for the second time, and producer Simon Kinberg is now working on a new X-Men movie that will attempt to reset the franchise.
Kinberg's script is said to prominently feature James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jennifer Lawrence's return as Professor X, Magneto and Mystique even though their contracts have expired.
So although the Dark Phoenix has been on the back burner, we reckon she's rightly ready for a moment in the sun.
Fox, Marvel... you know what to do...
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Kate (they/she) is a freelance writer, editor, digital editorial trainer and data technician who first joined Digital Spy as an overnight freelance sub-editor in January 2011, after studying a postgraduate diploma in journalism at Salford University while working part-time as a social researcher.
In July 2013, Kate joined the DS staff team as chief sub-editor and following six years as the site's managing editor, their role expanded to incorporate Hearst UK's entertainment portfolio (including Digital Spy and its sibling titles Best and Inside Soap) between late 2024 and early 2026.
Kate has worked as a writer and editor since 2006, with bylines syndicated across the Hearst network and at organisations including Metro. They started their career as a TV production runner for the BBC and contributed to various music websites, blogs and zines while based in Manchester.
During her time at DS, Kate has previously been a freelance sub-editor and chief sub-editor.
Kate's team at Digital Spy were proudly nominated in the Best Subbing/Production Team category at the BSME Talent Awards 2022. Over the years, she has contributed to coverage of many, many Prime Days and Black Friday/Cyber Monday, and was part of the team that launched the DS weekly TV newsletter in November 2019 – followed by the Top of the Shops e-commerce newsletter in May 2024.
Kate's screen passions include Taskmaster (their biggest career regret remains turning down the opportunity to visit the house), nature documentaries, and live sport (up there with the greatest of all soap operas although if asked to choose, it's Corrie… every time).
Her highlights while working at DS have included interviewing Stevie Nicks on the red carpet for her documentary In Your Dreams, sitting at a press roundtable with Formula 1 commentary icon Murray Walker, watching a life-sized LEGO car being driven around Silverstone, writing an album-by-album retrospective of Lady Gaga's genre-defying career for Living Legends, and raising awareness of receiving and understanding a late-in-life ADHD diagnosis through the lens of Bianca and Freddie's EastEnders storyline.
Upon remembering to log off the internet, Kate enjoys live theatre, dance and comedy, appreciating nature, baking (badly), tending a recently-rented allotment (equally badly) and pampering one very spoiled rescue cat named Jolene.
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