Key Takeaways:
– The late pop icon, Michael Jackson, harbored a dream of playing the character of Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men series.
– Jackson went as far as negotiating to buy the entire Marvel property, his request was however turned down.
– Beyond Spider-Man, the King of Pop was a major fan of Marvel and held knowledge of all its characters.
– With artists like Megan Thee Stallion taking up cameo roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Jackson's dream has opened a path for others.
Michael Jackson's Vision to Tap into X-Men Franchise
Michael Jackson's influence in modern pop culture was indisputable. Not only was he a force to be reckoned with in the music world, but he also envisioned his entry into the realm of film. His interest piqued when the X-Men series landed on big screens in the year 2000, under the directorship of Bryan Singer. Jackson harbored the dream of embodying the character of Professor Charles Xavier, despite producers' attempts to dissuade him, stating the character was of an older white man.
Jackson's Fascination with Marvel
Moreover, Jackson's adoration extended beyond X-Men, encapsulating the entire Marvel universe. According to his nephew, Taj Jackson, the King of Pop was so enthralled with this universe that he endeavored to buy the entire Marvel property, despite prohibitive negotiations with Stan Lee. His fixation was not limited to Professor Charles Xavier; he also had a fascination for Spider-man.
A New Trend in the Marvel Universe
Despite Jackson's superhero fantasies not materializing, the future has been favorable to others in his career lane. Megan Thee Stallion has already taken an MCU cameo in a disputable scene with Tatiana Maslany in She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, and Donald Glover has appeared across the spectrum in MCU's Spider-Man: Homecoming and Sony's Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
In addition, speculations are swirling about Taylor Swift joining the Marvel universe as Blonde Phantom. Although these rumors are yet to be confirmed, they have sparked much intrigue among fans. Even famed artist Bad Bunny had an impressive, albeit brief, stretch as the lead in Marvel's first Latino superhero, El Muerto.
Legacy of X-Men and Spider-Man in Marvel Universe
The popularity of X-Men: The Animated Series and the Wesley Snipes-led Blade trilogy prompted studios like 20th Century Fox, Sony, and Universal to capitalize on their Marvel properties. Resultantly, they churned out blockbusters like X-Men, Spider-Man, and Hulk in close succession.
But despite the iconic status of Bryan Singer's X-Men and Sam Raimi's Spider-Man, both these IPs began to suffer under the pressure of lack of direction and creative depression. Issues with X-Men's later sequels alongside Sony's problems with Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man arc appeared to mark a low phase for Marvel.
Emerging Hope for X-Men Series
The silver lining to this cloud is the recent acquisition of both Marvel and 20th Century Fox by Disney. Under the watchful helm of Kevin Feige, there is a renewed optimism for the revival of the X-Men franchise in the MCU. The return of the seasoned duo of Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds in the Marvel franchise's upcoming film, Deadpool & Wolverine, fuels this hope.
In conclusion, the aspirations of late pop icon Michael Jackson to stride into the Marvel Universe might have fallen through, but they have paved the way for other artists to realize this dream, keeping his memory alive.
