New Mutants comic book co-creator Bob McLeod discussed his take on how the box office bomb could be saved.
Speaking to Slash Film, McLeod was asked about how the 2020 film handled the source material. McLeod responded, "I mean, outside of the comic fans, the general public didn't know who the New Mutants were." He continued, "So I really think they should have done an origin story of... Like, the beginning of the graphic novel, I thought was great, the way [New Mutants co-creator] Chris [Claremont] introduced each one of the characters. I think that could have been a good movie, starting the same way we did. But just some kind of more of an origin, introducing them to the public."
The eponymous team of mutants made their first appearance in the Marvel Universe back in 1982's Marvel Graphic Novel #4 by McLeod and acclaimed X-Men writer Chris Claremont. Initially, the team consisted of Karma, Psyche (better known as Mirage), Wolfsbane, Sunspot, and Cannonball, only the latter four of whom appeared in the film. Initially, the New Mutants were brought together by Charles Xavier and longtime X-Men ally Moira MacTaggert during a period when the former was in a deep depression over losing the lives of other students. Over the years, the team has become a mainstay of the mutant corner of the Marvel Universe and has seen over two dozen members come and go.
Unfortunately, The New Mutants feature film wasn't nearly as well-received as its comic book predecessor, despite being considered Marvel's first foray into the horror genre. On that decision, McLeod said, "I mean, the horror slant is interesting. Because maybe some horror fans would watch it that wouldn't normally otherwise, maybe bring some new fans in. That's fine. I wasn't totally against that. I didn't think it was the best way to go, but I was just happy that they were making a movie of something I had something to do with."
The New Mutants starred Game of Thrones alum Maisie Williams, Charlie Heaton, Blu Hunt, Henry Zaga and Anya Taylor-Joy as the eponymous team of mutants. The five are brought together in an enigmatic hospital run by Alice Braga's Dr. Cecilia Reyes, who hopes to help them learn to control their mutant powers. While the team believes they are being trained to eventually join the X-Men, they are in fact being studied and experimented on at the behest of the Essex Corporation, a front for an unseen Mister Sinister's machinations.
McLeod also commented on the film's aesthetic regarding its characters, saying, "I don't see anything that I contributed to the book in the movie, except maybe more girls on the team. I mean, none of the characters look the way I designed them to look. And then again, Magik, who I had nothing to do with, looks spot on, like she does in the comics. You know? So that's basically what I had against the movie."
The New Mutants is currently streaming on multiple platforms.
Source: Slash Film