They say a door opens for every window that shuts, but as the production of X-Men: Days of Future Past (DOFP) continues, it seems unlikely that Bryan Singer will be opening any new doors for Jean Grey (portrayed by Famke Janssen). Fans of the franchise will no doubt remember the last appearance of Jean as the Phoenix in Brett Ratners 2006 train wreck, X-Men: The Last Stand. After watching Ratner assassinate or handicap a number of characters, he put the final nail in the X3 coffin with an over the top battle, climaxing with Dark Phoenixs death. Since the last credit rolled that opening night, it felt unlikely that anyone would go near the franchise again. In 2011, X-Men fans were rewarded for refusing to do to Ratner what he had done to Jean Grey, and we were given the reboot and prequel, X-Men: First Class. As Bryan Singer continues helming an X-Men salvaging mission with DOFP, many fans are wondering if Janssen will be levitating her trailer into place between those of fellow alumni Shawn Ashmore and Patrick Stewart. For months, X-Men fans have waited with bated breath to see if Janssen would be added to Singers ever-growing roster of mutants (or, maybe it was only me waiting with bated breath, but thats saying something, as I dont bate my breath for just anything!). Anyone who has read anything about the impending 2014 blockbuster knows that Singer is teaming up the mutants from both days future (but not too distant future) and past (groovy, isnt it?). The key to success with this next installment is going to lie in how well Singer can breathe new life into some characters that, sadly, we lost faith in seven years ago. With a colossal number of mutants being cut DOFP paychecks, there is worry that character depth could be about as deep as the water at the bottom of my empty iced coffee. For this reason alone, it might seem unnecessary to resurrect our favorite Class 5 mutant (why waste the screen time, right?). Still, it may be advantageous for Singer to solidify his cast with the well-known Phoenix before allowing Dr. Grey to be reduced to the occasional flashback appearance. Our former Marvel Girl is perhaps the most pivotal of the X3 casualties to feature in the upcoming flick, as Singer undoes the unnecessary doings of his predecessor (and, um, successor?). The question again is, why Jean? First, anyone who stayed for the X3 after credits scene was not shocked to see Professor X slated to return in DOFP, so we can rest easy knowing that our patriarch will be back. Then there is Scott Summers. Sure he had a few no-back-down verbal sparring matches with Logan, and his cheekbones could cut glass, but Cyclops did not exude the power and charisma of a fearless leader; desired traits that fans found in Wolverine instead. Personally, Id rather follow Storm into battle than the former leader turned Daily Planet reporter and stepfather of Supermans son. Furthermore, unlike Jean Grey and this rant about the uselessness of Cyclops, Scott actually died and cant come back. This leaves Jean, the most powerful mutant we have seen, her abilities dwarfed only by her aimless wandering and lack of motivation in X3. Her evolution from a two dimensional co-leading lady in X-Men to a mutant with drive in X2 had fans rooting for full-on Phoenix glory. For Singer to restore Jean to the state of glory we all anticipated seems like an obvious move.
One clear reason to return Jean is that the X-Men seem to be mostly just that: Men. Any X-Fan worthy of the title knows that Kitty Pryde is the point person in the comic book DOFP story, so we know we can count on Ellen Page to add some girl power to the plot. Halle Berry is also on board, having flooded the news with her contract signing a few months back. The return of our favorite new headmaster brought us a sense of solidarity; even as it is expected Storm will stay more in the background this time (given her delicate condition). Rogue was, unfortunately and arguably, one of the most devastating losses in X3. After she got the cure she was left with about as much mutant power as she had personality (color me catty, but I want the sassy Rogue from the days of yore). Where are all the X-Women?! With Kitty taking the most promising role, along with a handful of leading men, this cast could certainly use some more powerful, formidable women to even out the playing field. No, Mystique has not been forgotten. An ever popular, fan adored, shape-shifting badass, Raven Darkholme will no doubt thrill us as a member of the Brotherhood next summer. Though we lost her to the cure almost a decade ago, her younger self is softening the grief we felt. Ok, so now we have two leading females in the limelight. Much like furnishing a room, you need more than the fixtures; you have to accent and accessorize. Having seen what Phoenix can do to a room, Id say the women of Xaviers School for Gifted Youngsters could use the extra power. There are only so many characters that can come back from the dead, and if Bryan Singer really is out to undo some of the damage Ratner inflicted, Jean Grey seems like a pretty good place to start. X-Men: Days of Future Past will be more than another X-Men movie; it will be a chance to demonstrate how a film series can be saved, and how wrongs can be made right - even after fans have lost hope. Jean Grey, in any well-conceived cameo or subplot, will certainly make the film more cohesive; bringing closure to fans and adding that extra touch of female empowerment. If nothing else, bringing Jean back could also kick off a potential storyline for the inevitable third Wolverine installment.