Dark Phoenix (2019)
- Before Sophie Turner was cast, several major A-list stars turned down the lead role because they felt the script was too risky.
- Many of the practical effects used in the climax were achieved without any CGI.
- Eagle-eyed viewers have noticed a hidden easter egg referencing Simon Kinberg's previous film in the background of the opening scene.
Dark Phoenix is a 2019 American superhero film written and directed by Simon Kinberg, the final entry in Fox's X-Men franchise. Sophie Turner stars as Jean Grey, whose powers are amplified to cosmic levels after absorbing a mysterious solar force during a space rescue mission. As Jean struggles to control her new abilities and uncovers suppressed memories of a childhood trauma that Professor Xavier, played by James McAvoy, had psychically hidden from her, she becomes a target for Vuk, played by Jessica Chastain, the leader of a shape-shifting alien race seeking to harness the Phoenix Force.
Dark Phoenix was the franchise's second attempt at adapting the beloved Dark Phoenix Saga from the comics, after the widely criticized handling in X-Men: The Last Stand. Despite the second chance, the film received poor reviews for its underwhelming execution of one of comics' most celebrated storylines. Dark Phoenix earned $252 million worldwide on a $200 million budget, a significant loss that effectively ended the Fox X-Men franchise.
