With the release of the first trailer for Dark Phoenix, many X-Men fans are eager to see the latest film adaptation of the seminal late-1970s X-Men storyline. However, since details emerged, nearly a year ago, about Magneto’s whereabouts, longtime readers have wondered just how just how the movie will depict the mutant haven of Genosha.

The previous entry in the Fox franchise, 2016's X-Men: Apocalypse, introduced new, younger versions of Jean Grey and Scott Summers, establishing lofty expectations for this sequel. Not only are the comic books on which Dark Phoenix is based so formative for a lot of fans, but the previous movie to attempt at this storyline, 2006’s X3: The Last Stand, did so poorly. What fans perhaps weren’t expecting to see is a reimagining of Jean's possession by the destructive, cosmic Phoenix Force is the island of Genosha, which wasn't introduced into the comics fore more than a decade after "The Dark Phoenix Saga."

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Located off the coast of Madagascar, Genosha first appeared as an independent state that used mutants as a slave race. Every child born on the island with the X-Gene was "processed" so that his or her mutant abilities could be exposed and best utilized for the good of the state, which usually meant servitude. Members of the X-Men were kidnapped and held on Genosha multiple times, leading to the death of the New Mutant Warlock, and the eventual toppling of the government. Magneto and his Acolytes soon heard of the atrocities committed there against mutants, and sought to overthrow the nation's rulers.

Dark Phoenix trailer

Soon Genosha was in the throes of a civil war between humans and the rebellious mutant underclass. Under pressure from Magneto to cede to him a nation-state for mutants, and confronted with the chaos on Genosha, the United Nations granted him the right to govern the island nation with his Acolytes. There were initial problems, as the human population fought against mutant rule, but soon Magneto’s control was definitive and complete, and Genosha was declared a mutant haven.

With the threat of the Legacy Virus, a deadly plague that targeted the X-gene, fast becoming a distant memory, mutants began to thrive on Genosha. Magneto was a benevolent leader, allowing thousands of his people to flock to the crescent-shaped island for sanctuary from a world that hated and feared them. Schools, businesses and thriving cities became the heart of Genosha, turning it into a realistic and viable way for mutants to live in peace. Unfortunately, that haven was not meant to last.

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In 2001's New X-Men #115, by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely, Genosha was decimated by Wild Sentinels, under the command of Charles Xavier’s demented twin sister Cassandra Nova. More than 16 million mutants -- over half of the population of mutants in the world at that time -- lost their lives as Genosha was reduced to rubble and ash in the attack. It’s the single biggest genocide of mutants in the history of the Marvel Universe, and to this day Genosha is nothing more than a deserted wasteland, only seen a handful of times as various heroes and villains hide in the empty, broken buildings.

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The Genosha we see in the trailer for Dark Phoenix, however, looks to be very different. It’s difficult to tell if it is actually an island still, although we see a brief establishing shot that looks to be so, as Jean approaches Magneto’s mutant sanctuary, it’s vastly smaller than the Genosha from the comics. We see Erik and a handful of mutants living in what appears to be a commune of some sort, with makeshift buildings and rudimentary vegetable patches, not unlike the post-apocalyptic communities seen on AMC's The Walking Dead. This haven looks to be a much smaller, more peaceful affair than the bustling cities of the comics, and rather than home to 16 million mutants, this appears to hold only a few dozen.

Dark Phoenix trailer

Of course, Magneto may only have been here a short time, and who knows what Genosha is to become. That is, if its fate is not as disastrous as its comics counterpart. “I came looking for answers,” declares Jean as she approaches Magneto in the trailer. “You didn’t come here for answers,” replies Erik. “You came here looking for permission.” Permission for what, exactly, remains to be seen, but there’s a real sense in the movie that Jean will lean into the "dark" part of Dark Phoenix, and sooner rather than later.

The arrival of a large, omega-level threat like Jean Grey would surely threaten not only Genosha but the world. It’s an interesting contrast to the relative peace that Magneto appears to be seeking by establishing a mutant commune. Rather than it being the global player that Genosha is in the comics, Erik’s sanctuary in Dark Phoenix appears to provide shelter, and a new way of life, for mutants that very much wants to avoid conflict at all costs. We’ll have to wait for the release of Dark Phoenix to see whether he succeeds, or if Jean Grey will bring that conflict to him.


Written and directed by Simon Kinberg, Dark Phoenix stars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Sophie Turner, Tye Sheridan, Alexandra Shipp, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Evan Peters and Jessica Chastain. The film opens Feb. 14, 2019.