MCU Theory: X-Men's Rogue Is A Captain Marvel 2 Villain

Rogue could appear as a villain in Captain Marvel 2. The power-stealing mutant from Marvel Comics is a prominent member of the X-Men and has been a longtime fixture of the group since the 1980s. As one of their most well-known members, Rogue has been heavily involved in the X-Men’s biggest stories for decades now. Her popularity grew even further when she was chosen to be a part of the main lineup in X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon. She was brought to life on the big screen by Anna Paquin in Fox’s X-Men franchise.

A second live-action version of Rogue could be introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, now that Marvel has regained the rights to the X-Men and the Fantastic Four from Fox. The X-Men property has provided Marvel with dozens of heroes they can choose from when selecting the roster for its first mutant team. Rogue is just one of many options that they’ll have available to them. While Rogue may be on the team when Marvel makes its first-ever MCU X-Men movie, it could be that their plans for the character will materialize prior to Phase 5. While Marvel won’t be making an X-Men film in Phase 4, they could start introducing some of the characters associated with the property ahead of the movie. For instance, Marvel could work Magneto into WandaVision as Scarlet Witch’s father, or find a place for Cyclops’ father and his team of space pirates in Captain Marvel 2.

Corsair and the Starjammers could work in Captain Marvel 2, as they would help set up Marvel’s Merry Mutants. But, they aren’t the only X-Men characters who feel like good fits for the long-awaited sequel. Marvel could also include Rogue, who has been rumored to appear in the movie as a villain.

Rogue's History With Carol Danvers In Marvel Comics Explained

Interestingly, Rogue has a history with Caron Danvers that goes back further than her membership with the X-Men. In her first appearance in Avengers Annual #10 in 1981, Rogue was depicted as a mutant minion of classic X-Men villain Mystique and a member of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. The comic began with Carol Danvers (as Ms. Marvel) falling from the sky, having been beaten into unconsciousness by an unknown assailant. It was revealed that her attacker was Rogue, who was sent by Mystique to take her powers. With her ability to steal powers and memories, Rogue was able to plow through the ranks of the Avengers, taking down heroes like Captain America, Thor, and Wonder Man, before finally being defeated in a one-on-one showdown with Vision.

Normally, when Rogue absorbs someone’s powers, she only gets to use them temporarily, but she was able to retain Ms. Marvel’s abilities for years. In fact, they became a key element of her powerset in the X-Men comics. Rogue’s super strength and ability to fly are typically credited to Ms. Marvel in most versions of her story. One consequence of this, though, was that having Ms. Marvel’s memories had a detrimental effect on her psyche. She developed a Caron Danvers persona that fought for control over her mind.

Carol was also deeply affected by the power transfer. Rogue didn’t just copy Carol’s memories and powers; she stole them. Because of this, a powerless Carol felt that she had lost her identity. She was able to get the memories back, thanks to Professor Xavier, but the emotions tied to those memories couldn’t be restored, leaving Carol in a depressed state. Upset by the direction her life was going in, Carol left Earth, joined the Starjammers, and eventually became a superhero again. For understandable reasons, Carol’s animosity toward Rogue led to more bitter confrontations between the two. Carol also resented the X-Men for letting her join the team and become a superhero in her own right.

Rogue Could Be A Villain In Captain Marvel 2

Rogue’s inclusion in Captain Marvel 2 could help the movie deliver a powerful and emotional arc for the MCU’s Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) in the sequel. It could be that the movie’s take on Rogue is a secondary antagonist. This feels more likely than Rogue being the main villain, especially since it’s hard to imagine Marvel making a fan-favorite hero an evil character, not to mention Carol’s biggest threat. It would make more sense for Rogue to be someone who was manipulated by the main antagonist into fighting Carol. Or, she could be working for them out of loyalty, which isn’t unlike the circumstances behind Rogue’s debut in Avengers Annual #10. Instead of this mastermind behind Rogue’s battle with Captain Marvel being Mystique, it stands to reason that Marvel will pick a more powerful villain who betters fits into Carol’s corner of the MCU. It could even be a character of cosmic origins.

Regardless of who pits the two against each other, their fight could have major repercussions for Carol in the MCU. She already had memory issues in Captain Marvel, but the sequel could address this problem in a different way. Carol losing her emotional connections to her memories (and her powers) could define her arc in the film. Carol left her human life behind her at the end of Captain Marvel, and has become completely wrapped up in being a space-faring superhero. With this in mind, it’s easy to see how emotionally devastated Carol would be if her powers were taken away from her. This would give Carol a new challenge to overcome in the MCU.

Rogue's Captain Marvel 2 Role Could Set Up Her MCU Future

Rogue being a secondary villain who ultimately loses to Captain Marvel (but doesn’t die) would open the door for her to return in X-Men with a different role. What happens between her and Captain Marvel could cause her to rethink her life and use her powers for good. The lessons she learns from Captain Marvel 2 and perhaps the guilt that comes from her past actions against Carol could result in her looking for redemption in a future MCU movie. Also, introducing Rogue early could be advantageous for Marvel. Including a familiar character whose arc has already been setup would give X-Men one less hero to introduce and develop. This could be similar to what Marvel did with The Avengers, as the team consisted mostly of characters that audiences remembered from previous films. This could be a necessary move for Marvel, considering that it will be packing at least a handful of new heroes into just one movie.

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