Following Disney's acquisition of Fox, the fate of director Josh Boone’s The New Mutants was put in question. But, two years after its original release date, Disney confirmed the X-Men spinoff will finally arrive April 3. What's more, the studio seemingly confirmed the film will be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, only to swiftly remove the reference from the D23 website.
However, we're left to wonder whether that significant piece of information was simply an error, if a large one. Naturally, fans have begun to speculate how The New Mutants might connect to the MCU, despite the film having only the thinnest of ties to Fox's X-Men franchise, and no obvious links to Marvel Studios' shared universe. The answer to the conundrum, as it so happens, could be simple -- and effective.
While plot details for The New Mutants are uncertain, it's clear from the trailers that it's largely self-contained. The film is set to focus on the titular group of superheroes, as they work to escape the confines of a twisted hospital. If the film is loosely connected to the X-Men, then it can only work in its favor. While Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has plans to introduce the mutants to the MCU, his plans are supposedly a long ways off. So how could these mutants fit into the ever-growing franchise, without disrupting his carefully constructed plans?
In the recently released second trailer for The New Mutants, it became obvious that Magik will be, surprisingly, faithful to the comic books. Her magical armor and Soulsword were on full display in the new look. These abilities are creations that are the result of Magik's connection to a hellish dimension known as Limbo. Now, as we know, Doctor Strange is attuned to other dimensions, as well as other realities. Since Anya Taylor Joy's character is a powerful magic user, Doctor Strange could eventually seek her out, whether through Limbo... or even a parallel reality, perhaps.
After all, we know the Doctor Strange sequel, in the Mutliverse of Madness, will take us on a trip through the Marvel Multiverse. The reality of The New Mutants could easily take place on an alternate Earth, one that could be visited by Strange. In fact, the X-Men film could even work as a partial setup for the Sorcerer Supreme’s next adventure.
What’s more, this could all be part of an intricate plan that involves Marvel’s comics division. Recently, the publisher announced that Doctor Strange would recruit Magik for his fight against the evil sorcerer Kulan Gath in February’s Savage Avengers #0. It's possible that Marvel is preparing us for a Doctor Strange/Magik connection, a month before she makes her debut on the big screen.
Directed and co-written by Josh Boone, The New Mutants stars Maisie Williams as Rahne Sinclair/Wolfsbane, Anya Taylor-Joy as Illyana Rasputin/Magik, Charlie Heaton as Sam Guthrie/Cannonball, Henry Zaga as Roberto da Costa/Sunspot, Blu Hunt as Danielle Moonstar/Mirage and Alice Braga as Dr. Cecelia Reyes. The film arrives in theaters April 3.