The key to the X-Men's integration into the MCU's main timeline may rely on a single character's mutant power, if a wild Marvel fan theory is accurate. Could Marvel Studios truly follow one of the best X-Men comic storylines, to seamlessly bring the franchise into their shared universe?

The introduction of Mutants into the MCU is simply a matter of time, and with Marvel's 2015 Secret Wars crossover event brought Miles Morales into Earth-616 continuity, the answer could be even simpler. Rather than retconning mutantkind into existence, Marvel could welcome the X-Men to the MCU by adapting a specific era of their comic lore.

Marvel's Krakoa Reboot Placed One Mutant in Control of The Universe

Moira MacTaggert Was Cursed To Witness Mutantkind's Destruction Over, And Over, And Over...

In 2019's House of X #2, Jonathan Hickman explained the full extent of Moira MacTaggert's unique mutant nature. Rather than regular superpowers, Moira's mutation led her to be reborn indefinitely, retaining all memories from her previous lives. Moira learned that mutantkind was destined to die at the hands of humans and AI, but sought to prevent it before her tenth life claimed her for good. Along the way, spending nine lives pursuing alternate realities and futures that would make Deadpool blush.

Reaching out to Charles Xavier with knowledge gathered throughout her previous nine lives, Moira hatched the plan to unite mutantkind, which comic readers watched unfold in the House of X event. The plan succeeded, Krakoa became a safe haven from all mutants, whose survival was practically guaranteed thanks to the Resurrection Protocols bringing dead mutants back to life. And Reddit u/OkBad7175 explains exactly why this story could explain mutantkind's absence in the MCU's reality.

Moira's Reincarnation Might Be Key To Bringing Mutants Into The MCU

Moira Kept The World's Entire Mutant Race Secretly Alive In Multiple Marvel Timelines

This theory derives inspiration from Jonathan Hickman's acclaimed X-Men run, specifically Moira MacTaggert's mutation reveal. As in House of X #2, the MCU's Moira MacTaggert may have searched for a way to protect mutants from humans, only to fail in eight of her ten lives. Now, Moira MacTaggert might be on her ninth life, saving mutantkind by keeping their existence a secret from humans. Since humans will inevitably discover artificial intelligence and target mutants, keeping mutants away from the public eye could be the most effective way to avoid tragedy.

This theory gains an additional layer, as "u/OkBad7175" poses the idea that Moira MacTaggert was responsible for getting rid of the Terrigen Mist, thus avoiding an Inhuman-induced mutant extinction scenario and eliminating the Inhumans from the equation. Given that the Inhumans exist in canon MCU timelines like "Earth-838," Agents of SHIELD, and ABC's Inhumans show, Moira's intervention on Earth-616 would explain why not a single Inhuman specimen has appeared in the MCU's main universe.

At the same time, this theory could also correct some mutant-powered heroes who have been given alternative power origins on film. Mutants may have existed all along, but they may be absent from historical records because Moira found a way to erase them from humankind's radar. Namor, Ms. Marvel, Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver are just a handful of MCU mutants who barely understand where their abilities come from.

Moira's Multiversal X-Men Ties Would Fit The Multiverse Saga Perfectly

Moira MacTaggert Could Set The Stage For The Mutant Saga

Other Reddit s add to this theory with possible ties to the TVA, as both a source of Moira's own powers and the idea of pruning every timeline where she fails to save mutantkind. Once Moira starts her final attempt, she may find herself in the Sacred Timeline — the MCU's main universe, where she could finally achieve her goal. That would align quite well with Fox's X-Men franchise, which showed many different timelines, several of which were confirmed to end tragically:

The original X-Men trilogy's timeline ended with a Sentinel apocalypse in X-Men: Days of Future Past, and the "repaired" timeline introduced in X-Men: Days of Future Past likely ended with the mutants' bioengineered extinction in Logan. Deadpool 2 suggested Cable's timeline ends in a dystopian, war-ridden future, and Deadpool & Wolverine confirmed that humans massacred mutants in the timeline where Hugh Jackman's MCU Wolverine originates. In other words, all X-Men movies have already set the stage for an accurate adaptation of Moira MacTaggert's Krakoan-era mission.

How Marvel Studios Can Reveal Moira MacTaggert's Secret Mutant Power

Mutants May Need To Die Once More, Before They Can Thrive In The MCU

There are many ways the MCU could adapt Moira MacTaggert's House of X revelation. Perhaps all multiversal mutants, Moira included, have to die in Avengers: Secret Wars before a multiverse-wide reboot creates a streamlined universe where mutantkind can coexist peacefully with humans. However, that wouldn't last for long, as the MCU's next generation of live-action mutants would be at risk of dying again. Leaving Moira MacTaggert, in her tenth and final life, to convince the MCU's new Charles Xavier and Magneto to put their Krakoa plans into practice.

It's just one theory and solution of countless others, but it's hard to argue there would be a more comic faithful example to follow in bringing X-Men and mutants into the MCU.

Source: Reddit