Summary:
- X-Men’s black leather costumes inspired by “The Matrix” success.
- Fans criticized the departure from comic book designs.
- MCU’s “Deadpool & Wolverine” and future X-Men films moving towards classic looks.
The black leather uniforms worn by the X-Men in the first live-action film were a significant departure from their colorful comic book counterparts. This design choice, according to CBR and other sources, was directly influenced by the success of “The Matrix” in 1999.
Studio executives believed that the popularity of the black leather aesthetic in “The Matrix” would translate to box office success for the X-Men film. This decision, however, wasn’t universally praised.
Fan reception to the black leather costumes was mixed. Many fans felt the costumes strayed too far from the source material and yearned for a more comic-accurate representation, like the classic blue and yellow suits seen in the comics and X-Men: The Animated Series.
Even the recent animated series “X-Men ’97” poked fun at the black leather, with Cable questioning his uniform and Cyclops replying with a sarcastic “What did you expect? Black leather?”
There seems to be a course correction happening with the X-Men’s movie costumes. In the upcoming “Deadpool & Wolverine,” trailers and promotional materials reveal Hugh Jackman‘s Wolverine sporting a more comic-faithful outfit, complete with the iconic yellow accents.
Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, expressed his personal desire to see Wolverine in his classic costume. He acknowledged that Wolverine’s popularity transcended the costume, but having him wear it was still important.
While the black leather design might be a thing of the past for the MCU‘s X-Men, the franchise isn’t shying away from established characters. Multiverse cameos from actors like Kelsey Grammer (Beast) and Patrick Stewart (Professor X) demonstrate this.
A new X-Men film is planned for the MCU, though details like cast, title, and release date remain under wraps. Feige has hinted at a diverse roster featuring both fan favorites and lesser-known characters from the comics.
With “Deadpool & Wolverine” embracing the classic yellow and black Wolverine costume and Feige’s comments suggesting a mix of established and new characters, the future of X-Men costumes in the MCU seems to be headed towards a more comic-inspired direction.
