The MCU can fix a 19-year-old X-Men mistake with Rogue, and all it would take is one easy move with a major Marvel hero who’s already established.
The MCU has everything it needs to fix the Fox X-Men franchise’s 19-year-old Rogue mistakes. Played by Anna Paquin, Rogue was a central mutant character in the original X-Men trilogy. However, she wasn’t as powerful as she could have been and arguably should have been in the live-action X-Men movies.
As seen in the original X-Men trilogy, Anna Paquin’s Rogue has her original power from the comics where her physical touch allowed her to absorb the life force, attributes, memories, and superpowers of others. However, the movies never took this ability as far as they should have. However, the MCU’s imminent X-Men reboot has everything it needs to correct this Rogue mistake using a classic Marvel hero.
Fox’s Rogue Was Never As Powerful As She Should Have Been
She Never Had Her Powers’ Biggest Advantage
Anna Paquin’s Rogue did have her draining powers in the original X-Men trilogy. Despite temporarily being granted the powers of those she touched, Rogue could end up hurting and potentially even killing those she touched if contact was long enough. The same was true in the comics, leading to Rogue primarily seeing his mutant powers as a gift rather than a curse.
This inability to touch others and the resulting struggle with her powers was a dynamic that Paquin’s Rogue captured quite well. However, it quickly became her only defining trait across Fox’s X-Men trilogy. Likewise, the movies neglected to give Rogue her full backstory from the comics where she was initially a villain before joining Xavier’s School, nor did she receive the greatest advantage her powers ever gave her from the comics and seen in the original X-Men animated series/more recent X-Men ’97 where Rogue is one of the X-Men’s most powerful members.
The MCU Has Everything It Needs To Correct Fox’s Rogue Mistakes
Captain Marvel Is Already An Established MCU Hero
In the original comics, prolonged physical contact with Carol Danvers’ Ms. Marvel resulted in Rogue permanently receiving her powers including her strength, flight, and durability. Additionally, she also absorbed Danvers’ psyche which led to her seeking help from Charles Xavier, eventually becoming a hero and member of the X-Men. This is why Rogue is so incredibly powerful as seen in projects like X-Men ’97 compared to her portrayal in X-Men’s movies. Anna Paquin’s Rogue never received permanent powers from anyone.
However, there’s some exciting potential now that the MCU is rebooting the X-Men within their greater universe of heroes. This includes Carol Danvers’ Captain Marvel who’s already been featured in her own solo movie and Avengers: Endgame in 2019, and in 2023’s The Marvels where she joined forces with Captain Monica Rambeau and Kamala Kahn’s Ms. Marvel. As such, one could easily see a new live-action version of Rogue having an encounter with Captain Marvel in the MCU’s future, especially considering The Marvels’ post-credits scene where Monica ended up in an alternate universe that was home to a version of the X-Men.
How Rogue Claiming Captain Marvel’s Powers Could Solve Two Problems At Once
It Could Be A Natural Transition Away From Carol Danvers
Rogue absorbing Captain Marvel’s powers in the MCU could finally help align her live-action portrayal with her origins from the comics in some very exciting ways. While Captain Marvel still has a confirmed future, it could also be a natural and organic way for Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel to gradually begin exiting the MCU as has been rumored following The Marvels. At any rate, one would hope that Rogue will receive the full scope of her powers in the MCU, allowing her to be an absolute powerhouse member of the X-Men.
As strong as Anna Paquin’s portrayal of Rogue was, her powers were never as fully developed as they could have been to make her as dynamic as she should have been. Now, the MCU’s Rogue has a genuine opportunity to be as strong and capable as the comics’ version. To that end, X-Men ’97 is currently serving as a great proof-of-concept of what a new live-action Rogue could be in the MCU.
New episodes of X-Men ’97 release Wednesdays on Disney+.
