Jean Grey Fan Film Makes Her A Better Villain Than Dark Phoenix
A new abstract fan film digs into the tortured mind of X-Men character Jean Grey. The pages of X-Men comic books are filled with a large and colorful cast of characters, yet Jean often remains one of the most well-known members of the Marvel team. Thanks to the iconic Dark Phoenix storyline, the telekinetic and telepathic Jean has received a great deal of attention over the years. This has also extended to the film side of things, as Jean has been depicted onscreen by two different actresses in Fox's long-running X-Men franchise.
In Fox's early X-Men movies, Famke Janssen played the powerful mutant. 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand was the first film to bring the Dark Phoenix story to life, but it ultimately underwhelmed fans. Years later, amid the rebooted X-Men timeline, Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner stepped into the part of Jean. Once again, the Dark Phoenix storyline played out onscreen, but that was even more poorly received than The Last Stand. Despite Jean's enduring popularity and the impressive actresses who have played her, filmmakers have certainly struggled in giving her a proper arc.
As far as cinematic depictions of Jean go, this fan film from filmmaker Mahmut Akay does a good job of getting inside her head. Even more impressive, it's done in under three minutes. Taking a more abstract approach to Jean and her powers, the short film - titled Grey Café - sees Jean unleash her powers on several unsuspecting enemies. This time around, Jean is played by Scout Taylor-Compton (Halloween). Scroll on to watch the film in its entirety.
Akay is in the midst of creating an X-Men fan film universe focusing on prejudice and identity, and Grey Café marks a noted departure from the first installment, a Wolverine short titled Close Shave. This Jean Grey-centered project is a far more introspective look at the character, and one that suits her rather well. Jean's powers are unique and have caused her a great deal of inner strife. By taking an abstract approach to her mind, Grey Café properly conveys her rage, her fear, and her powers.
As Marvel Studios looks to integrate the X-Men into the ever-expanding MCU, one has to wonder if a third Jean Grey will be debuting sometime in the future. MCU boss Kevin Feige recently confirmed X-Men talks are still ongoing, so it will likely be a while before those plans are unveiled. Still, should Marvel opt to reboot Jean Grey once again, it might be smart to consider an approach like Akay's. It's different in a way that suits the character perfectly, and it would be cool to see it play out in a longer form on the big screen.
Source: Mahmut Akay