10 Ways The X-Men Films Nearly Turned Out Very Differently

10. The Phoenix - X-Men: The Last Stand

In the Marvel comics, a cosmic force called The Phoenix bonds with the founding X-Man, Jean Grey, turning her a borderline omnipotent and corrupted entity. Not only was this story epic, it was emotional since the superheroes were forced to battle their friend and teammate to the death. Decades later, The Dark Phoenix saga is still considered one of the best comics ever.

And when X-Men 2 concluded with a phoenix symbol, comic fans went nuts, knowing the follow-up would adapt this iconic story. But when the director, Bryan Singer, abandoned the project to make Superman Returns, the script was heavily rewritten. In this version, the "Phoenix" is Jean Grey's dormant subconscious, which goes into overdrive after she suffers a trauma.

Before Singer left, he intended to follow the original story pretty accurately, depicting the Phoenix as an alien force. After it fused with Jean, she uses its power to free mutants across the globe. After being manipulated by Emma Frost (played by Sigourney Weaver) to join the Hellfire Club, she awakens the darker nature of the Phoenix, turning her evil. After going on a murder spree, Jean takes her own life, causing her to be reborn as a "star-child" being.