(EDIT: X-Men pitches were the first articles I ever authored for this site. Some of the castings and plot points might seem familiar... because they are. I recycled some elements here and there. They were mine before I willfully took the articles down. Okay, that's all.)
A V E N G E R S : H O U S E O F X
AVENGERS: HOUSE OF X
Directed by David Robert Mitchell
Written by David Robert Mitchell, Josh Safdie, and Ronald Bronstein
Starring
Elizabeth Olsen (
Ingrid Goes West) as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch
Robert Downey Jr. (
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) as Tony Stark/Iron Man
John Malkovich (
Dangerous Liaisons) as Max Eisenhardt/Magneto
John Hawkes (
The Sessions) as Professor Charles Xavier
Louis CK (
Louie) as Senator Robert Kelly
Paul Bettany (
A Beautiful Mind) as Vision
Tom Holland (
The Lost City of Z) as Peter Parker/Spider-Man
Charlotte Gainsbourg (
Antichrist) as Moira MacTaggert
Lucas Hedges (
Lady Bird) as Hank McCoy/Beast
Jharrel Jerome (
Moonlight) as Bobby Drake/Iceman
Kiernan Shipka (
Mad Men) as Kitty Pryde/Shadowcat
Finn Jones (
Game of Thrones) as Danny Rand/Iron Fist
Sebastian Stan (
I, Tonya) as Bucky Barnes/Captain America
Summer Glau (
Firefly) as Raven Darkholme/Mystique
Chadwick Boseman (
Get on Up) as T'Challa/Black Panther
Luke Bracey (
Hacksaw Ridge) as Logan/Wolverine
Dylan Minnette (
13 Reasons Why) as Scott Summers/Cyclops
Lucy Boynton (
Sing Street) as Jean Grey/Marvel Girl
Tessa Thompson (
Creed) as Valkyrie
Gaspard Ulliel (
Paris Je T'aime) as Remy LeBeau/Gambit
Jordan Peele (
Key & Peele) as Jason Wyngarde/Mastermind
Jessica Henwick (
Game of Thrones) as Colleen Wing
Devon Bostick (
Okja) as Mortimer Toynbee/Toad
Raffey Cassidy (
The Killing of a Sacred Deer) as Lucia Callasantos/Thornn
Bill Burr (
F is for Family) as Rouler Marceaux (cameo)
Bruce Campbell (
Ash vs. Evil Dead) as J. Jonah Jameson (cameo)
Marc Maron (
Maron) as Warren Worthington II (cameo)
Rosario Dawson (
Kids) as Claire Temple (cameo)
Marisa Tomei (
The Wrestler) as May Parker (cameo)
Tom Pelphrey (
Banshee) as Ward Meachum (cameo)
Mike Colter (
The Good Wife) as Luke Cage (cameo)
Cinematography by Thimios Bakatakis (
The Killing of a Sacred Deer)
Music by Disasterpeace (
It Follows)
Edited by Joe Walker (
Blade Runner 2049)
Act One - Scarlet Witch
The Mighty Avengers, consisting of Scarlet Witch, Captain America, Spider-Man, Valkyrie, Black Panther, and Vision, return to the Avengers Facility in the Quinjet after a successful mission. They are greeted by Tony Stark, who oversees the team's activity through the use of government-provided bodycams, the negotiation the Avengers and the United Nations made after the Accords were dissolved following the events of
Avengers: Infinity War. Peter Parker leaves to go home, where he and Aunt May have an uncomfortable discussion about his outing with the team that day.
The next afternoon, Peter goes to his new job at the Daily Bugle. His boss, J. Jonah Jameson, calls him into his office, where a SHIELD operative waits for him. The SHIELD agent asks him for his pictures of the last Avengers mission, which he's known to take. Peter obliges, and Jameson informs him that the Bugle plans to run a story about Wanda Maximoff's secret origin: she is the biological daughter of Max Eisenhardt, aka Magneto.
Once word breaks out, Wanda isolates herself in her room, where Vision lovingly comforts her. Tony Stark calls forward a press conference, where he addresses the concerns, and promises that the higher-ups are "looking into it". The board of investors has an emergency meeting. Danny Rand, Warren Worthington II, and Senator Robert Kelly (D-NY) are in attendance. Warren and Danny drop their funding in the face of the controversy. A discouraged Tony is pulled aside after the meeting by Kelly, who convinces him to turn Wanda into SHIELD custody before any harm comes to anyone due to the situation. If not, he promises to stop lobbying for the Avengers as well, which would be the final nail in the coffin for them.
That night, the same SHIELD agent that visited the Bugle visits Wanda and asks her to go with her. Wanda agrees, and the two head for what seems to be SHIELD headquarters. However, Peter recognizes the agent from the Bugle, and interrupts. His Spider-Senses goes off, and follows them outside, where the agent reveals herself as Mystique, who tells Wanda that Magneto is waiting for her on Genosha. Peter manages to fend off Mystique, but Wanda gets away.
Wanda runs until she can hail a cab, and using mind control, gets him to drive her to the X-Mansion. When she gets to the door, Professor Charles Xavier sits there, waiting. She's warmly received by the rest of the X-Men and given her own room. Logan walks in, snarkily greeting her. They talk for a bit, bonding over revelations they made about their own troubling pasts.
The next day, Kelly arrives to the Avengers Facility with SHIELD agent Moira MacTaggert, who relays to Tony that the X-Men are housing Wanda, information she knows due to her planting bugs throughout the school after her departure. Kelly reminds Tony of their deal, and convinces him to contact Charles. Tony calls him, and asks for him to peacefully turn over Wanda, who is a fugitive from the law. Charles declines, feeling pity for her and wishing to help her start over, choosing to disregard her ties to Magneto. Taking it as a declaration of rebellion, Kelly orders Tony to send the Avengers to the X-Mansion.
The Avengers team arrive, surrounding the mansion. After a tense verbal exchange between Moira and Charles, Bucky kicks the door in, and a fight breaks out between the two camps. Tony, seeing his side has the disadvantage, activates a remote-control armor of his and sends it over to the X-Mansion, helping take part in the fight. Wanda and Vision pass glances, Wanda's of hurt and Vision's of regret. During the scuffle, Scott and Jean manage to sneak Wanda onto the Blackbird, and when the rest of the team follows suit after efforts to block off the Avengers, leave. Iron Man gives chase, but eventually loses them after Wanda takes the suit apart with her powers and Jean puts the ship into incognito mode. The Avengers, defeated, leave the mansion.
In a press conference the next day, Kelly introduces Tony to the podium, where he declares the X-Men a public threat, branding them criminals and making public the war the Avengers are waging against them. Tony heads back to his office, but Bucky follows, arguing against Tony's militaristic approach to the issue, and calling him "weak" for giving into Kelly's headgames. Tony shouts back, admitting his own confusion about the situation, but asking what choice they have if they wish to keep the legacy of the Avengers intact.
Act Two - Avengers vs. X-Men
HOUSE OF X AIRFIELD BATTLE
The Blackbird lands in New Orleans, where Rouler Marceaux greets them with a stolen limo and pulls into a safehouse of his. Gambit recognizes it as formerly belonging to the Thieves Guild, and asks Rouler to make sure they aren't in a place on interest for any number of crimes the Guild committed. Rouler insists they aren't, and the team rests up.
Bobby and Hank fly the Blackbird back to the X-Mansion with the intention of hiding Cerebro, but once arriving, spot Moira MacTaggert and Vision scoping out the area. Hank and Bobby try to covertly sneak their way to Cerebro, but are spotted by Vision. Before a fight can ensue, Vision pleads the duo to take him to Wanda, promising he only wishes to help the woman he loves evade the Avengers and SHIELD. Trusting him, Bobby and Hank guide him to the Blackbird, disclosing that the team is hidden out with Rouler in New Orleans. Before they can get on the ship, however, Moira holds them at gunpoint. Vision and Hank, citing her betrayal of Charles and the entire team, ask her to do them one favor and allow their escape. Ridden with guilt, Moira lets them leave. A police officer overhears the events that unfolded, but is revealed to be Mystique, who phones Max with word of where Wanda is.
Tony is called by Kelly, who lambasts him for the Avengers' failure to detain Wanda and the X-Men. Tony promises results, but acknowledges he needs more help. Suddenly, Tony has an idea of where to get it, and hangs up. He makes way for Rand Enterprises, and speaks with Ward Meachum about seeing Danny. Ward initially turns him down, but Colleen Wing lets him in. Tony explains to Danny the Avengers' plight and practically begs for help. Danny says he already decided to pull funds, but Tony tells him he doesn't need his money, but that he does need "the fist." Danny, taken aback by Tony's knowledge of his secret, agrees to help, but only if information about his status as the Iron Fist is erased from every database SHIELD and the Avengers have. Tony agrees to these conditions, and the three head off.
The Blackbird lands once again in New Orleans, and Bobby and Hank get off initially, telling Charles they brought a defector with them. Vision gets off the plane, and while the rest of the X-Men get into defensive stances, Wanda welcomes him with open arms, crying and voicing her happiness to see him again. Vision assures them he is to be trusted.
Moira goes about her nightly routine, and drifts off to sleep. She is awakened in the middle of the night by Toad, who leers over her. She goes for a gun, but it is pulled away by Magneto, who stands beside fellow Brotherhood members Mystique, Thornn, and Mastermind. He asks where Wanda is, and after a torture session conducted by Thornn and Toad, confesses. When the Brotherhood leaves, Moira phones Kelly with news of Magneto's plans.
Tony calls for an emergency Avengers meet, including the recently-brought on Danny and Colleen, where they get up to speed with Magneto's arrival and plans to take Wanda. Hoping to get her first and bring both the Brotherhood and the X-Men into custody, they start for the Quinjet. Before Moira boards, she is taken aside by Kelly, who says this is her last mission as a SHIELD agent, planning to fire her once they get Wanda.
Magneto and the Brotherhood arrive in New Orleans. Rouler confronts them, but is swiftly gutted by Thornn. The X-Men, alerted by the murder, engage the Brotherhood. Both units are alerted by multiple Quinjets landing on the airstrip behind the safehouse, which dispatch multiple units of SHIELD soldiers and the Avengers. Tony's remote-control Iron Man armor lands between Magneto and Wanda, threatening both with repulsors if they step too close or make any sudden movements. Magneto easily destroys the armor, which leads to all three teams coming to blows with one another. In the aftermath of the fight, Magneto and the Brotherhood get away with Wanda, and the Avengers, with help from SHIELD agents, arrest Scott, Jean, Logan, Charles, Remy, and Vision. Hank, Kitty, and Bobby manage to escape.
Kelly calls for another press conference, where he introduces the public to the Mutant Registration Act. Citing the recent "heel turn" of the X-Men as the bill's inspiration, he intends to require all mutants to register under a special FBI watch list by law. Peter reluctantly snaps an image of Kelly's speech, and gives it to Jameson that night to run a story with. The reactions to the bill by the public are positive, but the Avengers seem more conflicted. Bucky once against presses Tony about the issue, but before things escalate, Tony demands he leave the room with subtle hurt over their situation.
Act Three - House of X
HOUSE OF X FINALE
The Brotherhood make it back to Genosha. That night, Magneto attempts to ease Wanda into comfort on the island, but she is repulsed by his many attacks on humanity. Magneto tries to convince Wanda of why his judgement of the world is right, but no matter how hard he tries, she won't budge. He shows to her Kelly's speech on TV, but even still, Wanda stands her ground. Realizing it to be a lost cause, he has Mastermind brainwash her. With Wanda under their influence, they make plans to head for Avengers HQ that night, hoping that killing mankind's heroes will "send a message" to Kelly.
Peter gets a knock at his door, which Aunt May answers. She says "two kids" are at the door, who ask Peter to come outside. They get into a black car, where a man with a hoodie drives. The two kids reveal themselves as Bobby and Kitty to Peter, and Hank pulls down his hood to reveal his face. They drive off, and ask Peter why he continues to support the Avengers' misdeeds, remembering his name under pro-Avengers articles as a photographer. He breaks, telling them of his own disgust with the events of their war thus far, but that it's really Kelly's dictation that has brought things this far. The three ask for his help in getting Wanda back, and Peter, remorseful over his role in progressing things this far, agrees to help.
Peter pulls the car up to the Avengers Facility and tries to sneak them in. When they approach the containment unit, they are stopped by Valkyrie, T'Challa, and Colleen. Kelly, Tony, and Moira arrive to defuse the situation. When Peter and the three refuse to stand down, Kelly orders Moira to shoot them. Charles looks on, saddened. Noticing her own wrongdoing, she drops the gun, referencing Kelly's firing of her. Kelly yells at Tony to at least arrest them all, if he refuses to kill them as well. Suddenly, a security breach is alerted, and monitors show Magneto, the Brotherhood, and the brainwashed Wanda standing outside of the facility. Tony, realizing that there are much bigger issues at hand, lets the imprisoned X-Men and Vision go. Kelly storms off, guarded by SHIELD agents who guide him to a protected bunker. Tony heads to his own protected room, where he initiates his second remote-control armor, which is made of a plastic-like alloy.
Wanda unleashes the full might of her powers on security, killing many and tearing apart the facility. Vision flies to her, but Tony tries to stop him, reminding him of his weakened state since having to replace the Mind Stone. Vision is nearly killed by Wanda, but manages to draw her into the forest, where he tries to diffuse the situation and minimize destruction. The heroes and the Brotherhood fight, with the latter slowly becoming overpowered. Magneto tries to run, but Bucky chases him down and tackles him. He manages to break free and goes for Tony's armor, which doesn't budge due to its lack of metal. Tony flies for Magneto, but as he does, Magneto shoots a wink over to Wanda. Tony then unleashes a powerful arc reactor blast, which kills Magneto.
Logan spots Mastermind hiding off in the distance and runs for him. Mastermind puts up something of a fight, but is eventually bested by Logan, who kills him. Valkyrie and Moira combat Toad, and Moira shoots him to the point of incapacitation, but not before having her throat cut by Thornn. T'Challa manages to get his hands on Thornn, and subdues her. Mystique takes the form of a facility security guard and gets away. Wanda passes out once freed from Mastermind's influence. Vision cradles her in his arms, crying out for help. Danny and Colleen guide him towards Claire's house, with him following their car. Danny and Colleen ask Claire to let them in, but both her and Luke Cage are shocked to see Vision and Wanda. Once snapped out of her disbelief, she manages to revive Wanda.
After the fight's end, the Avengers and X-Men alike begin to rebuild the Avengers facility. Tony calls for a press conference and welcomes Kelly to the stage, where he announces both the pardoning of Wanda and the X-Men and the stalling of the Mutant Registration Act. Moira looks on happy, and Peter gladly snaps a picture of the defeated Kelly. Jameson throws his TV out the window, aggravated by the news. Vision finishes construction of a new school on Genosha, a safe haven for superhumans run by him and the now-pregnant Wanda, who both retired from the Avengers. Danny Rand agrees to finance Wanda and Vision's project, along with Charles' school and the Avengers, who grant him membership. Bobby and Kitty decide to leave Charles' school, and enroll into Midtown High. Tony and Charles meet in Central Park after the press conference, where Charles mourns the losses of Max and Moira. A sympathetic Tony pitches to him the concept of a group of individuals to oversee superhero activity in case things get out of hand like they had during the events of the Avengers-Mutant War. Charles simply replies, "I'll get back to you on that."
After-Credits Scenes
In a mid-credits scene, a SHIELD agent walks about the halls of the rebuilt Avengers facility, checking up on security. The agent makes his way into the information room and reads Pietro Maximoff's file. The agent's eyes glow read, signifying the agent is in fact Mystique.
In a post-credits scene, Peter sits with Ned (Jacob Batalon), MJ (Zendaya), Bobby, and Kitty in his living room, where they're studying for an exam. Aunt May comes in and leaves a pizza on the table for them.
So, what did we think? Is this how you envisioned the first crossover between the X-Men and the Avengers would go? Is there a more comic-inspired take you wish to see brought to the big screen for an event like this? As always, leave your thoughts and comments down below, and don't forget to upvote and share the article.
Anyway, it's about that time... for movie sign! Cheers!