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X-Men: Days of Future Past ending explained: Undoing X-Men’s biggest mistake

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X-Men: Days of Future Past ending explained: Undoing X-Men's biggest mistake

As a long-time fan of the X-Men franchise, I must say that “X-Men: Days of Future Past” was a breath of fresh air for me. Having grown up with the comic books and watching the various adaptations over the years, I’ve seen my fair share of ups and downs. But this film managed to strike a perfect balance between staying true to the source material and making necessary changes to keep things interesting.

The X-Men franchise led by Fox boasts numerous achievements, but arguably its finest moment is X-Men: Days of Future Past. With the controversy surrounding the conclusion of the initial trilogy leaving uncertainty about the series’ future direction, it branched out in two ways: Revisiting past events through a new prequel film, and advancing current narratives via the Wolverine spin-offs. This exceptional entry skillfully merged these threads into an unforgettable tale of storytelling expertise.

In 2014, the movie “Days of Future Past” was unveiled, bringing to life one of the X-Men’s most renowned stories. The production boasted actors from both instalments of the X-Men film series. Leading the pack was Hugh Jackman, reprising his role as Logan / Wolverine. He was accompanied by Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Shawn Ashmore, and Elliot Page, along with a few other unexpected additions. However, it was primarily the cast of “X-Men: First Class” who joined Jackman for this film, including James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, and Nicholas Hoult.

As a devoted fan, I was thrilled with how the movie version stayed true to the original Fox film series’ essence while simultaneously correcting past mistakes.

Logan successfully saves the future

In “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” the story hinges on Logan’s mission to prevent a grim future where mutants and humans are wiped out by Sentinels. To accomplish this, he travels back in time to persuade former comrades Charles Xavier (Professor X) and Erik Lenscherr (Magneto) to join forces against Mystique, who intends to trigger the chain of events leading to that future by assassinating Bolivar Trask. Despite the challenges and Magneto’s independent efforts, Logan manages to bring about a more hopeful future for all mutants.

In the future, when Logan roused from slumber once more, he observed the fruitful consequences of his past deeds. The Professor Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters was flourishing anew, tranquility reigned, and mutants prospered, thanks to his actions in 1973. Conversely, due to its earlier demise, the Sentinel program failed to metamorphose into the relentless, unending army of destructive machines that it had become in the original sequence.

In the revised sequence of events, Logan now works at the school, yet he may not be aware of this fact since his last recollection is from 1973. Upon sharing this information with Professor X, Charles responds with a knowing grin, understanding that the older Logan who had assisted him long ago had resurfaced in this new timeline. We can only speculate about the ensuing dialogue between them, as they likely discussed their divergent histories to bring each other up to speed. Additionally, it’s plausible that Charles could help Logan regain memories of his more recent past.

How Jean Grey and Cyclops are alive in X-Men: Days of Future Past

In the final scenes of X-Men: Days of Future Past, one pivotal moment occurred as Logan walked through the mansion and encountered a woman with long red hair. Could it be? Indeed, it was! It was Jean Grey, looking vibrant and healthy. Famke Janssen had reprised her role, leaving Logan both surprised and elated. However, before he could greet her, Scott Summers appeared, played once again by James Marsters. And surprisingly, Logan was thrilled to see him too.

As a longtime fan of the X-Men franchise, I can’t express enough how refreshing and satisfying it was to witness the way this scene in the recent X-Men film undid the damage caused by “The Last Stand” from 2005. Having grown up with these characters and their stories, I couldn’t help but feel disillusioned after the trilogy’s disappointing treatment of beloved characters like Cyclops and Jean Grey. The way Jean Grey’s Phoenix persona callously took Cyclops’ life early in the film, only to be ultimately killed by Wolverine in the final scenes, felt like a betrayal to their rich character development and the classic X-Men storylines I held dear.

X-Men: Days of Future Past ending explained: Undoing X-Men's biggest mistake

In the altered reality I’m fond of, Logan’s past decisions reshaped their destiny. This meant Jean and Scott avoided the same unfortunate ends as in the original storyline. It feels great to witness this shift, and it brings an exciting new dimension to the continuing tale of these prequel films. With this fresh timeline, there’s a wealth of possibilities for unique stories to unfold.

Regarding modifications, I’m glad Rogue returned to the Mansion, continuing her romance with Bobby Drake, a.k.a. Iceman, without undergoing the treatment to suppress her mutant powers. Anna Paquin’s brief reappearance brought a more pleasing future for the beloved Marvel character, rectifying an unsatisfactory storyline from “The Last Stand.”

Mystique rescues Logan, posing as William Stryker

In “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” Mystique played a pivotal role. Her choice to eliminate Trask in the past led directly to the creation of the Sentinels. Consequently, it was crucial for Wolverine to guide the young X-Men in preventing Mystique from repeating that error in the emerging new timeline.

When Magneto and Trask threaten the lives of humans, she bravely intervenes to save them. Though she had once pondered taking the same action, Charles’ persuasive words prevent her from carrying out a lethal response. This act of mercy from a mutant leaves the humans believing they were granted a reprieve, ultimately altering the course of events and leading to the abandonment of the Sentinel program in this revised timeline.

X-Men: Days of Future Past ending explained: Undoing X-Men's biggest mistake

While Logan remained imprisoned in rebar beneath the sea at Magneto’s mercy, it appeared that he was rescued by young William Stryker. However, upon closer inspection, Logan discovered that Stryker wasn’t who he seemed – his eyes gave him away with their yellow glow, revealing Mystique in disguise.

In this storyline, Logan’s experiences from 1973 to 2023 are largely unknown to us. However, an important event transpired where he ended up at the X Mansion and became a history teacher for young mutants. This outcome wouldn’t have occurred if Raven hadn’t rescued him from the depths of the ocean earlier. It’s ironic that Logan had traveled back in time to save Mystique, but she ultimately saved him from an uncertain future by finding him when he needed it most.

The Age of Apocalypse begins in the post-credits scene

By the release of X-Men: Days of Future Past, Marvel Studios had become synonymous with exciting post-credits scenes. Nonetheless, Fox wasn’t about to be left behind. They crafted a remarkable scene that foreshadowed their upcoming sequel, introducing one of the X-Men’s most infamous adversaries in live-action for the very first time.

X-Men: Days of Future Past ending explained: Undoing X-Men's biggest mistake

In ancient Egypt’s backdrop, a youthful mutant raises pyramids before an admiring crowd, who echo his moniker, “En Sabah Nur.” This name instills fear in comic enthusiasts. Marking their debut in this universe, Apocalypse and his Four Horsemen make their entrance, foreshadowing their confrontation with the X-Men during a past (or present) encounter.

In the final scene after the credits rolled in X-Men: Apocalypse, which came out in 2016, the foundation was set for the next installment. I, as an excited fan, couldn’t contain my excitement when I saw Oscar Isaac make his entrance as the menacing Apocalypse. He faced off against the young X-Men, with the talented cast members from the earlier films reappearing. The stakes were high as an epic battle between the villain and his horsemen commenced, leaving the fate of humanity and mutantkind hanging in the balance.

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2024-07-16 01:01

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