Days of Future Podcast: Examining the X-Men

As the long wait for the MCU's X-Men movie continues, listeners of the show know we've been feeling a little ambivalent and even sometimes down about the current comic book movie scene lately. Is it possible the two big superhero cinematic releases of July 2025 have changed all that? Join us as we take a break from discussing Marvel's merry mutants (well, except Franklin, I guess), as we share our thoughts on both Superman, the new DCU kickstarter from writer/director James Gunn, and the MCU's Fantastic Four: First Steps, the third (fourth?) attempt to bring Marvel's first family to the big screen. We discuss what worked and what didn't for us from both film, how they are similar and different from each other, and what both might hint at in terms of the future of superhero movies. Follow us on Twitter & Instagram: @dofpodcast DOFP Theme Song by Cosmic Monster; cosmicmonster.org; IG: @cosmicmonstersounds

We're about to make a name for ourselves here! It's finally time to read and review the screenplay for the unmade Channing Tatum Gambit movie that was in the works as part of the Fox X-Men universe for oh so long. The version we have is a "Second Draft," dated August 28th, 2015, by screenwriter Joshua Zetumer. Join us as we go through the script scene by scene, offering not only a play-by-play on the story, but also our thoughts on whether or not this truly would have been a worthy solo movie debut for Tatum's version of the Ragin' Cajun. Follow us on Twitter & Instagram: @dofpodcast DOFP Theme Song by Cosmic Monster; cosmicmonster.org; IG: @cosmicmonstersounds

Having had some time to ruminate, Trev and Joe finally offer their thoughts on the various X-Men related casting announcements for Avengers: Doomsday. But first, Joe congratulates Trev on the recent success of Noah Wyle and The Pitt, Trev congratulates Joe on his, errr, Jack Black’s recent success with A Minecraft Movie, and they both congratulate each other on being listed one of the top 15 X-Men podcasts…even as Trev shares some surprising news about who his real co-host might be.  Follow us on Twitter & Instagram: @dofpodcast DOFP Theme Song by Cosmic Monster; cosmicmonster.org; IG: @cosmicmonstersounds

Trev and Joe are here to record a quick DOFP episode about recent MCU X-Men casting rumors. But then, an unexpected visit from Uatu the Watcher sends us into the multiverse, where the guys do not host an X-Men podcast, but instead are the hosts of Casting Podmerica, a show about all things Captain America. Perfect timing, as the multiverse Trev & Joe are able to review the recently released Captain America: Brave New World, to share their thoughts on how the movie not only stacks up to the previous Captain America films, but how strong of an MCU entry it is in general, at a time when the overall franchise is arguably struggling. Does the film do Sam Wilson justice? Is Harrison Ford actually good as Thunderbolt Ross? Can the movie's trouble production history be felt in the finished product? Trev & Joe of another world discuss all this, and more! Follow us on Twitter & Instagram: @dofpodcast DOFP Theme Song by Cosmic Monster; cosmicmonster.org; IG: @cosmicmonstersounds Casting Podmerica Theme Song: "Color Me America" by Dolly Parton

Believe it or not, Days of Future Podcast is ten years old! That's right, a full decade of talking the weather, Richard Kind, and The Single Guy, with the occasional bit of X-Men discussion, as well. To celebrate this important milestone, we're reviewing the original "X-Men #10," from January of 1965, by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. In this issue, the original five X-Men journey for the first time to the Savage Land, as the X-Men and Marvel readers alike are introduced to Ka-Zar, the lord of the jungle, and his sabretooth tiger, Zabu. You've been waiting ten long years to hear us talk about Ka-Zar (uhhh...right?), and now, finally, here is your chance! But first, we reminisce on ten years of DOFP, debate whether the X-Men franchise is a better place today than it was a decade ago, and share our thoughts on which X-Men characters have changed the most since we started the show. Plus, Trev struggles to keep straight the nationalities of X-Men member Banshee and '60s folk rock icon Donovan, while Joe asks which X-Men is most likely to be friends with Bob Dylan?? All this, and more! Here's to another ten years! Follow us on Twitter & Instagram: @dofpodcast Theme Song by Cosmic Monster; cosmicmonster.org; IG: @cosmicmonstersounds

***On the eve of our upcoming 10th Anniversary episode, we're giving you a little bonus - a recent episode of Trev's other podcast, Failure to Franchise, dedicated to failed movie franchise-starters, in which Joe joined Trev and his co-host Chris to discuss 2020's The New Mutants. That's right, it's a comic book style crossover, with two podcasts joining forces to try to figure out just what the hell happened with this movie.*** It's a new year, and a new theme! F2F is transforming - or should we say "mutating" - the month of January into "The Mutant Gene-uary!" That's right, a month dedicated to mutants, and we're kicking it off with 2020's The New Mutants, the last film released from the original regime of the 20th Century Fox X-Men franchise. Based on a popular X-Men spin-off comic, The New Mutants was meant not only to expand the horizons of what a superhero movie could be, by taking a more horror-based approach, but also to add a new offshoot franchise to the overall X-Men cinematic universe, with a brand new team of young mutant heroes. But after a troubled production and multiple release-date delays, The New Mutants ultimately limply arrived after Disney's purchase of Fox meant the existing X-Men film franchise would be no more. Putting the behind-the-scenes politics aside, did The New Mutants truly deserve its fate? To discuss this, in the spirit of shared universes and comic book crossovers, we're joined in this episode by Joe, Trev's co-host on the Days of Future Podcast: Examining the X-Men podcast, for what promises to be an X-cellent conversation. (get it?) DOFP Theme Song by Cosmic Monster; cosmicmonster.org; IG: @cosmicmonstersounds Check out more (and subscribe to) Failure to Franchise at our Libsyn,  Spotify, or Apple Podcast pages.

We're back, just in time for one of our most stressful events of the year - trying to figure out what to do for another DOFP Halloween special! This time around, we have decided to review X-Statix Presents Dead Girl, a five-issue 2006 miniseries from Peter Milligan, Nick Dragotta, and Michael & Laura Allred. Intended as a coda to Milligan and Allred's then recently-completed, critically acclaimed, cult run on X-Force/X-Statix, Dead Girl sees the titular mutant team up with Doctor Strange and a squad of (at the time) dead superheroes, to travel through the various levels of hell in an attempt to thwart the plans of a group of dead supervillains who are trying to use arcane magic to be resurrected. Stylized as a goofy adventure story and a meta-commentary on the impermanence of death in modern superhero comics, Dead Girl is an interesting read today - especially when remembering this was written before the creation of the MCU and the elevation of Doctor Strange to A-List status. But is it any good? We're here to figure that out. But first, a bunch of talk about 30 Rock, Trev's wedding and Vegas adventures, the recently announced X-Mansion Lego set, MTV veejays, and more. Follow us on Twitter & Instagram: @dofpodcast Opening Music: "Werewolf Bar Mitzvah" by Donald Glover & Tracy Morgan DOFP Theme Song by Cosmic Monster; cosmicmonster.org; IG: @cosmicmonstersounds  

It's September, and that means it's officially "Back to School" season! And we're in the academic spirit, reading and reviewing X-Campus, a four-issue miniseries, from 2010. "As told by some of Europe's greatest comics storytellers," including writer Francesco Artibani, X-Campus re-imagines the X-Men mythos and the origins of the team, re-casting the characters we know and love as the faculty and students of the Worthington Foundation, a special High School for gifted youth. Does this reimagining work? Which characters are best suited to this sort of approach, and which feel out of place cast as modern teenagers? And should Marvel try more "Elseworlds"-style re-tellings of the X-Men mythos? We discuss all this, and more! But first, we look at the recent, controversial public dispute between fired X-Men '97 showrunner Beau DeMayo and Disney, offering our take on their war of words and accusations, and where the truth may lie (and, of course, for the second episode in a row, even more stuff about this came out not long after we recorded, so this probably won't be the last of it you'll hear from us, either). Follow us on Twitter & Instagram: @dofpodcast Theme Song by Cosmic Monster; cosmicmonster.org; IG: @cosmicmonstersounds

In this episode, Trev and a Covid-brain addled Joe discuss the Marvel Hall H panel at last month's San Diego Comic Con. Are we excited for Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts, and Fantastic Four? Are we happy the Russo Brothers are returning to comic book movies? What do we think of the return of Robert Downey Jr. to the MCU, as...Doctor Doom?? And, most importantly, how disappointed are we that no X-Men or mutant related movies were announced, and how do we see the X-Men possibly fitting into these upcoming projects, if at all? Plus, Joe reflects on the perils of being a "Jack Black type" nowadays, and we discuss a few other recent pieces of X-news, including X-Men '97 creator Beau DeMayo complaining that he wasn't invited to the Emmys. NOTE: This episode was recorded literally an hour before more details about the alleged behavior that may have led to DeMayo's X-Men '97 firing was made public. Don't worry, we'll be discussing all of that in our next episode! Follow us on Twitter & Instagram: @dofpodcast Theme Song by Cosmic Monster; cosmicmonster.org; IG: @cosmicmonstersounds

Deadpool & Wolverine is finally here, breaking box-office records and generating lots of discourse. So of course we are legally and morally bound to add our voices to the mix. Our mixed feelings on Ryan Reynolds and the Deadpool franchise is well recorded, but so is our love of Hugh Jackman's portrayal of Wolverine, so what did we think of this eagerly anticipated team-up? Is it the saving grace of the MCU it was suggested to be? Is it anything more than a cameo-filled nostalgia fest? Which surprise characters did we enjoy seeing? Why did Marvel and Disney spoil some of the surprises? Were we correct in any of our pre-movie predictions? Did the movie make us laugh? Did it make us cry?? We examine all this and more, in our in-depth discussion of Deadpool & Wolverine! But first, for no good reason other than our own amusement, an update on actor Joey Slotnick's Twitter account, and Joe shares his dismay at J.D. Vance's love of Diet Mountain Dew. Follow us on Twitter & Instagram: @dofpodcast Theme Song by Cosmic Monster; cosmicmonster.org; IG: @cosmicmonstersounds

We're only days away from Deadpool & Wolverine. It's been commonly positioned as a "make or break" moment for the MCU, but is also - perhaps more importantly to our purposes - is essentially the true beginning of the MCU's "Mutant Saga." Are we excited for the movie? In this episode, we discuss our general enthusiasm (or lack thereof) levels for the film, as well as each share five predictions (cameos, storylines, etc.).  Note: This episode was recorded on June 29th, before Marvel Studios and Disney announced/spoiled some additional Deadpool & Wolverine information. But hey, now they're also saying some of their leaks might be purposefully fake and misleading, so maybe it doesn't matter! Maybe nothing matters! We're all about nihilism in 2024!! Follow us on Twitter & Instagram: @dofpodcast Theme Song by Cosmic Monster; cosmicmonster.org; IG: @cosmicmonstersounds

On Saturday, June 29th, Trev and Joe got together and recorded an incredible episode about all the exciting new X-Men related merch hitting the shelves nowadays. And then, due to an audio-related SNAFU, they decided the episode was un-releasable. Now, join us as we re-do the episode, weeks later, trying to cover the same material without simply repeating the same conversation. So here is Take Two of Capitalist Joe discussing the X-Men toys, Lego sets, and video games that he's happy to see, and what he thinks it means for the property's current stature in pop culture. PLUS, we reminisce about the lost discussions from the previous version of the episode, including a debate about Martin Short's Jiminy Glick character, thoughts on broken fandoms, and a way too in-depth Martin Mull tribute. Follow us on Twitter & Instagram: @dofpodcast Theme Song by Cosmic Monster; cosmicmonster.org; IG: @cosmicmonstersounds

The long-awaited X-Men '97 is finally here, and yep, you know we watched it. What our overall thoughts on the series? How do we think it stacked up against the original X-Men: The Animated Series. What do we think it means for the X-Men as an IP and franchise moving forward? We discuss all this, and more, including the controversial exit of showrunner Beau DeMayo. Plus, for OG Trev and Joe fans, some late night TV talk-show thoughts! And, Joe shares an embarrassing story about his encounter with I Think You Should Leave's Tim Robinson. Follow us on Twitter & Instagram: @dofpodcast

We're back! Yes...again! That's right, as the X-Men's Krakoan era ends, DOFP begins a new era, returning from a nearly full-year hiatus to once again discuss all things X-Men. First up, we gotta catch up! We share our thoughts on some of the X-related topics we missed while we were gone, including Beast's cameo in The Marvels, and where we currently stand on the Krakoan era in the comics. We also give our take on each of the new X-Men titles announced for the upcoming post-Krakoa relaunch event, "From the Ashes," offering our opinions on each book's character roster, premise, and creative team. And, of course, what would an X-Men podcast be without some talk about, uh, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes? Oh, and yeah, you know we gotta talk about that weather. Welcome back, everyone! We've missed you. Follow us on Twitter & Instagram: @dofpodcast

We are finally going to lock in our 2023 dream casting (fan-casting?) of what we want to see for the X-Men in MCU. Plus Joe does the intro? And Trev is still mad about Mario. Note: This episode was originally recorded before the release of the Deadpool 3 set photos, or the announcement of the current Hollywood strikes, which is why neither of those are discussed.  This episode can also be viewed on YouTube. Click Here to check it out. facebook.com/daysoffuturepodcast Twitter & Instagram: @dofpodcast

We're back once again to review the recent Ex-Terminators miniseries, by Leah Williams. A tribute to grindhouse exploitation pitting some of our favorite X-Women against vampires and a surprise mystery villain, the book seems like it should be right up our alley. But do we think it lived it up to its premise? We discuss this, and well as also talk the Super Mario Brothers movie, award show hosts (of course) and more.  Note: This episode can also be viewed on YouTube. Click HERE to check it out. facebook.com/daysoffuturepodcast Twitter & Instagram: @dofpodcast

We're back!! Again!!! That's right, after a lengthy hiatus, DOFP finally returns. For our catch-up episode, we're discussing our thoughts on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and it's portrayal of Namor (Marvel's first mutant, don't you know?). Then, we're sharing our take on Hugh Jackman returning to play Logan in the upcoming third Deadpool movie. Are we happy or disappointed with this news? We also speculate on the recently announced casting of Emma Corrin in the same movie. Plus, X-Men shoes, the MCU's X-plans, and much more. Give it a listen! Note: This episode can also be viewed on YouTube. Click HERE to check it out. facebook.com/daysoffuturepodcast Twitter & Instagram: @dofpodcast

We've reconvened, in person together for the first time in years, to discuss the current state of mutants in the MCU, and more. We're sharing our thoughts on both Thor: Love & Thunder and Ms. Marvel (including THAT big reveal in the final episode), plus what why we believe there were no X-Men related announcements at this year's San Diego Comic Con. SDCC did, however, give us our first official look at the upcoming X-Men '97 animated series, and we discuss the lack of surprises in the character designs, but the interesting revelation of who will be team leader in the show. All this, and more! Note: This episode can also be viewed on YouTube. Click here to check it out. facebook.com/daysoffuturepodcast Twitter & Instagram: @dofpodcast

In this episode, you get to hear both our pre and post Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness thoughts. First up, a conversation recorded before we saw the film, in which we discuss our expectations and predictions. And then, our post-movie thoughts, where we talk about what we got right, what we got wrong, and what we thought of the movie overall. Plus, what do we think this film says about the future of mutants in the MCU? Note: This episode can also be viewed on YouTube. Click here to check it out. facebook.com/daysoffuturepodcast Twitter & Instagram: @dofpodcast

In their first ever video episode, Trev and Joe are x-amining the "Elite 8" of our annual Mutant March Madness tournament (which kicked off in episode 156 of the podcast). This time, it's a battle to determine the "Most Stylish Mutant." Join us as we decide whether Cable, Cyclops, Domino, Magik, Mister Sinister, Mojo, Storm, or Warlock will take this year's crown (or is it a trophy? As discussed in the episode, Trev doesn't know much about B-Ball). Note: This episode can also be viewed on YouTube. Click here to check it out. facebook.com/daysoffuturepodcast Twitter & Instagram: @dofpodcast