“X2” Writer Agrees with Alan Cumming: The Superhero Sequel Was Intentionally “Gay”
According to TMZ, David Hayter, the writer of X-Men and X2, agrees with actor Alan Cumming’s recent statement that the 2003 superhero sequel X2 was the “gayest film” he’s ever done. Hayter says Cumming, who played the mutant Nightcrawler, is right. The film’s themes were intentional and served an important purpose.
X-Men and X2 were early successes in the superhero genre, before the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Their success came from relatable characters and stories. The mutants hid their unique abilities to avoid persecution and exclusion. These themes resonate with many people who have faced discrimination.
Hayter says the film’s cast and crew, which included LGBTQIA+ members, kept these topics in mind while making the movie. But he stresses that the message is for anyone who has experienced hatred or ostracism for being themselves.
Hayter also praises X-Men star Ian McKellen, a gay rights icon, for recognising the film’s potential to connect with diverse audiences. McKellen encouraged the filmmakers to include deeper parallels without being too obvious.
“The ‘tried not being a mutant’ line in X2 was a direct reference to gay struggles,” Hayter explains. He notes how devastating such a question is coming from a hero’s mother. It shows the impossible situations people face when dealing with bigotry in their own families.
Over the years, many X-Men fans have thanked Hayter at conventions for making them feel seen through his stories. This shows the power of representation in media.
Interestingly, Hugh Jackman, who played Wolverine in the X-Men films, has also faced rumours about his sexuality but in an interview with 60 Minutes while promoting his film The Wolverine, Jackman stated, “If I was [gay], I would be [gay].” His meaning being that if he were gay, he would be out about it.
Fans can look forward to seeing a new X-Men film and Jackman reprising his role as Wolverine in the upcoming movie Deadpool And Wolverine, alongside Ryan Reynolds. The highly anticipated film is set to be released on July 26.
