The recent news that director Tim Miller is developing a movie about Kitty Pryde is only the latest surprising and bold move from 20th Century Fox in regards to their X-Men franchise. Though X-Men is one of the properties Fox sold to Disney with the expectation that the mutants will eventually be folded into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the studio still has several X-Men films either set to premiere (Deadpool 2), in production (X-Men: Dark Phoenix, The New Mutants), or in active development (Gambit, X-Force). Kitty Pryde joins that line up with huge potential to be a significant player in the X-franchise.Though Kitty Pryde hitting the big screen is years away at best, the character herself in a unique position to be a bridge across the entire X-Men movie franchise. Most fans of the movies may only know Kitty, as portrayed by Ellen Page, as a relatively minor player within the X-Men. With her mutant power of 'phasing' (i.e. becoming intangible), Pryde's biggest movie moments were an infamous confrontation with the Juggernaut in X-Men: The Last Stand, and later using her newfound time travel powers to allow Wolverine to journey to 1973 in X-Men: Days of Future Past. However, the young mutant sprite also has significant ties to the other big X-Men franchises thanks to Deadpool.Related: All 13 X-Men Films Fox Still Has In DevelopmentThe Kitty of the movies has romantic ties to Iceman, but the Pryde of the X-Men comics' most famous love affair is with the Russian mutant powerhouse, Colossus. By giving him a spotlight role in his madcap mega-hit, Deadpool launched Colossus, who was himself underutilized in the main X-Men films, to a newfound prominence.If Kitty Pryde were to explore her classic relationship with Piotr Rasputin - they are seen teaching a class together at Charles Xavier's School in the 'happy ending' of DOFP, so this was already teased as a possible future direction - it opens up Kitty's ability to effectively tie the X-Men franchise together.Kitty and Colossus (This Page)

KITTY AND COLOSSUS

In the comics, Kitty's romance with Piotr had controversial elements because she was very young when it began. Also known as Shadowcat, Kitty Pryde was only 14 when she originally matriculated at the Xavier School and joined the X-Men. Colossus was several years older than Kitty, but as their relationship grew more serious, she made it clear she wanted to have sex with him. Since Kitty was still underage, this relationship became an issue for the editors at Marvel, who took steps to put an end to it. Colossus was given a new love interest in the original Secret Wars event, while Pryde met someone more age-appropriate, Douglas Ramsey of the New Mutants.

Related: Guardians of the Galaxy Should Bring Kitty Pryde To The MCU

After many years of living separate lives and finding different partners, Colossus and his 'Katya' were reunited by Joss Whedon in the pages of Astonishing X-Men in 2004. Whedon was a fan of their original romance and reignited Kitty and Piotr's spark, even bringing Colossus back from the dead to make it happen. Of course, there was no happily ever after for the two star-crossed mutants; they were separated once more when Kitty was presumably lost in space trying to save the Earth. In the years since, Kitty became briefly engaged to a different 'Peter', Peter Quill, in the pages of Guardians of the Galaxy. She even assumed the mantle of Star-Lord for a time. Colossus, meanwhile, had a tryst with Domino of X-Force.

However, the mutant lovers have not only been reunited in the pages of X-Men Gold, Kitty and Colossus are now engaged. If they do get married, not only will it finally take their romance to the next level, the comics can serve as a template for Kitty and Piotr in future X-Men movies.

HOW KITTY PRYDE CAN MAKE COLOSSUS BETTER

As one of two X-Men who tried to rein in the Merc with a Mouth, Colossus' involvement in Deadpool helped breathe new life into the mutant made of organic steel. The sullen but cool Negasonic Teenage Warhead became a breakout popular character, while Colossus served as more of a straight arrow pitted against Deadpool's fourth-wall-breaking irreverence. Though Colossus was portrayed in a cartoonish fashion in Deadpool, it was still the amplest and most memorable amount of screen time he has received in an X-Men movie. The mighty Russian mutant is set to return in Deadpool 2 as well, cementing his position among Deadpool's supporting cast.

Colossus' potential has never been fully realized by the X-Men movies. While a new spotlight shines on Piotr Rasputin thanks to Deadpool, he still comes off as one-dimensional. Kitty Pryde offers a chance to make Colossus a more well-rounded character as well as the opportunity to have another major X-Men character interact with Deadpool. Most importantly, by bringing Kitty into the mix and exploring their relationship, Piotr in the movies can finally become humanized and move beyond how he's been presented thus far, as just a musclebound oaf with a comical Russian accent. Kitty represents Colossus' best chance to become more like the beloved, noble hero as he is in the X-Men comics.

Related: How Kitty Pryde Could Bring The X-Men Into The MCU

Through Kitty, we can begin to see the softer side of Colossus - the real, flesh-and-blood person beneath the organic steel. Since Kitty and Colossus are no longer mere students and are both adults, as established to at the end of Days of Future Past, there will be no issues about them consummating any romance. Plus, for longtime X-Men fans, the Kitty and Iceman pairing that began in The Last Stand never seemed quite right. A Kitty and Colossus movie relationship would be fan service, true, but it's also a classic love story fans would love to see on the big screen.

KITTY'S TIES TO THE GREATER X-MEN FRANCHISE

Whether or not Kitty and Colossus could ever have a movie romance progress to the point of them being married on screen, a relationship between the two allows Kitty ties to another film in the X-Men franchise, The New Mutants. One of the main characters in next year's highly-anticipated mutant horror film is Colossus' sister Illyana Rasputin a.k.a. Magik. Kitty and Colossus getting involved would create an easy means for a possible future appearance for Kitty in a New Mutants sequel. With Kitty established as being older than Illyana and an instructor at the Xavier School, a guest spot could be easy to conjure and would nicely strengthen the bond between the New Mutants spinoff and the core X-Men films through Kitty. Her comic book ties to the New Mutants could easily be brought to play as well, further pleasing comics fans.

It's also convenient that Kitty now has the power to project someone's consciousness through time since Cable is about to be a major part of the X-Men franchise. The time-traveling mutant soldier will debut in Deadpool 2 alongside Domino before the pair are expected to headline their own superteam movie, X-Force. While this is more of a tertiary connection, Kitty's time travel abilities could be something Cable may need down the road, making her an ideal guest star for X-Force to recruit.

Ellen Page as Kitty Pryde in X-Men: Days of Future Past

Kitty Pryde is not just an all-time great X-Men character who deserves the spotlight her own solo film would afford her, she is a mutant heroine whose prominence and influence in the X-Men universe extends far beyond what we've seen from the movies thus far. Fans have only gotten a glimpse of how vital Kitty is to the X-Men. As the franchise grows with Deadpool becoming its own blockbuster series, and The New Mutants hopefully following suit, Kitty has strong ties to both properties if the filmmakers choose to pull the trigger on making her comic book romance with Colossus a silver screen reality.

Kitty Pryde can become the most important bridge across the various films of the franchise. Kitty may be intangible, but when it comes to her prominence to the X-Men, she is also incomparable.

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