Marvel Just Introduced The MCU's Most Powerful Mutant Before The X-Men

The X-Men have yet to debut as a concept in the MCU, but even before that happens, Doctor Strange 2 already teased Marvel's most powerful mutant.

WARNING: This contains SPOILERS for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

The X-Men have yet to make their MCU debut, but Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has already introduced the most powerful mutant in the Marvel universe. Although the film is at its heart a Stephen Strange story, Doctor Strange 2‘s cast goes to show how the film deals with many more elements than just the former Sorceror Supreme. Thanks to the possibilities of the multiverse, nods to previously unexplored corners of the Marvel world can finally take place in the MCU.

It is curious how 15 years after Iron Man, the MCU has only scratched the surface of Marvel’s full potential. As a consequence of Disney’s acquisition of Fox, properties like the Fantastic Four and the X-Men can now be integrated into the franchise—something Doctor Strange 2 has already made use of. As a consequence of America Chavez’s powers, Stephen Strange was able to navigate through several alternate universes, including one in which mutants and the Fantastic Four help protect the Earth as much as the Avengers.

The mutant representative in the Earth-838 Illuminati lineup may have been Professor X, but it was John Krasinski’s Mister Fantastic that teased the existence of Marvel’s most powerful mutant. When trying to talk Scarlet Witch out of possessing Earth-838 Wanda, Reed Richards mentions that he also has kids–a direct reference to Franklin and Valeria Richards, the children of Reed and Sue Storm. While in the comics, Valeria does have a mutation that grants her incredible intelligence, Franklin Richards’ abilities make him not only the most powerful Marvel mutant but also one of the most powerful comic book characters in general. Franklin has the ability to bend reality, similar to what Scarlet Witch does in WandaVision and Doctor Strange 2, except on a much bigger scale. In fact, Franklin’s own X-Gene was a consequence of his reality warp ability, which goes to show how insanely powerful he is. Franklin has already created and destroyed entire universes in the comics, all without breaking a sweat. The MCU’s plans for Earth-616 X-Men and Fantastic Four are still a mystery, but now there is a Franklin Richards in at least one corner of the multiverse.

How the MCU will introduce the X-Men and the Fantastic Four now that several world-ending events have happened without their intervention is challenging and will take time. With that in mind, having Reed Richards and Professor Xavier in Doctor Strange 2 served to give audiences a taste of what is to come, and Franklin Richards could be one of the characters in which the MCU will invest in the future. Even if the 616-versions of Reed and Sue are not parents yet when they are introduced, Franklin’s existence on Earth-838 ensures that the character can be part of upcoming events in the franchise – especially if the MCU is heading towards Secret Wars. Doctor Strange 2‘s first post-credits scene teased that an incursion is happening, which could become a bigger problem for both Earth-616 and Earth-838 if a vengeful, mourning Franklin Richards is involved.

Patrick Stewart’s cameo as Professor X in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a historic moment on its own, but it is in the teases for the future, such as the Franklin Richards nod, that the multiverse’s most exciting possibilities lie ahead. Franklin’s history with the X-Men and with his own identity as a mutant is a complicated one, which could make for a number of interesting storylines in the MCU, whether on Earth-838 or Earth-616. With the apparent Scarlet Witch’s death, Franklin Richards can step into the role of an all-powerful, unpredictable character in the MCU.