WARNING: The following contains spoilers for The New Mutants, now in theaters.
The New Mutants finally hit theaters after a three-year delay, introducing a new brand of young misfits to the X-Men movie universe. Adapting Chris Claremont and Bob McLeod's 1982 comic of the same name, the film took some creative liberties with several concepts from the source material -- including changing how Mirage and Wolfsbane's telepathic connection works.
From the very first issues of New Mutants, Danielle Moonstar and Rahne Sinclair have a special connection. In the comics, Danielle is quasi-telepathic and somewhat of an empath, powers that allow her to form a rapport with various animals, such as her winged horse, Brightwind. For Rahne Sinclair, whose mutant power involves turning into a wolf, this meant the two were able to form a telepathic connection. There's a very specific rule though: Rahne and Dani can only connect this way when Rahne is in her wolf or half-wolf form.
Their telepathic connection becomes increasingly important as the series continues, especially in the Demon Bear Saga, which the movie adapts. In that story, Dani is in intensive care in the hospital after she attempts to fight the demon bear. As the kids worry for their friend's health, Sam instructs Rahne to turn into a wolf so she can check in on Dani. From there, Rahne turns into her half-wolf form and is able to telepathically connect with Dani's mind.
This bond can traverse any boundary, no matter the distance. In the "Runaway!" arc in New Mutants #44, Rahne is living on Muir Island with Moira MacTaggert when Legion attacks. When Rahne shifts into wolf form to defend herself and Moira, Dani wakes up in her bed at Xavier's School.
Startled and worried for Rahne, Dani's panic alerts the New Mutants to Rahne's perilous situation. From there, the team is able to teleport to Scotland to fight Legion and locate Rahne.
The New Mutants film takes a much less technical approach to Mirage and Wolfsbane's shared connection, however. In the comics, the connection exists solely because of Dani's telepathic bond with animals, but in the movie, the pair's bond is interpreted as romantic. What's more, their telepathic connection occurs while Rahne is in her human form, not her animal form.
When asked about the girls' relationship, Wolfsbane actor Maisie Williams said making Dani and Rahne a couple "made a lot of sense," citing the telepathic connection specifically. She noted, "If you could actually read someone’s mind, I think that’s kind of what love is -- being able to detect someone’s body language and understand how they’re feeling and try to make them feel better, even if you’re in a social setting. If these two characters do have a telepathic connection, I think that is kind of synonymous with love."
That romantic love allows Rahne to speak to Dani when no one else can reach her. After Cecilia Reyes tries to kill Dani and the other kids, Dani is left unconscious as the Demon Bear tears the hospital to shreds. Wolfsbane cradles her head to her chest, begging her to wake up. In her unconscious state, Dani can hear Rahne's voice as a wolf runs alongside her in the snowy landscape of her mind.
This wolf is obviously meant to be Rahne, and the scene as a whole is clearly meant to represent the telepathic bond between the girls. In her mind, Dani calls out to Rahne, trying to communicate. Wolfsbane pleads with her, saying she knows she can hear her and attempts to bring Dani's body to safety. With Rahne's support and, later, the support of her dead father from her mindscape, Dani is able to wake up and conquer her fear of the Demon Bear.
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. Cecilia Reyes. The film is now in theaters.