With the multitude of mutants that have graced our screens in the seven screen X outings so far, one stands out as note perfect in every way, Alan Cummings take on Nightcrawler in X2. There are some great performances in the X canon, but on the whole they feel like cinema-specific versions of the characters, that work great for film, but feel far removed from their printed page counterparts. Everything about Nightcrawler in X2 feels like it is the comic version made flesh Bar the lack of Red, black and white wing-collared jumpsuit. It isnt just the quiet dignity Cummings brings to the role that make it stand out, the Bamf effect, showcased in the opening White House sequence was one of the most perfectly executed versions of a superpower to date at that point, and stands out as a precursor to what we later saw in the awe inspiring Quicksilver sequences of DoFP. The brilliance in this iteration of the character is why his lack of presence in the subsequent X universe has left a void. Much has been written about Singer and Cummings not exactly getting on during the production of X2 and this is no doubt the key reason behind Nightcrawlers disappearance. Cummings has expressed interest in returning to the role though and Singer has name checked the character also, so it remains possible that this is one missed opportunity that could be rectified in the future.
As well as the odd article, I apply my "special mind" to scriptwriting for Comics, Films and Games... Oh and I cut down trees, I skip and jump, I like to press wild flow'rs, I put on women's clothing, and hang around in bars.
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