X2 (also marketed with the subtitle X-Men United, and known internationally as X-Men 2) is a 2003 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics superhero team the X-Men. Directed by Bryan Singer and written by Michael Dougherty, Dan Harris and David Hayter, from a story by Singer, Hayter and Zak Penn, it is the second installment in the X-Men film series and the sequel to X-Men (2000). It stars an ensemble cast including Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn, Brian Cox, Alan Cumming, Bruce Davison, Shawn Ashmore, Aaron Stanford, Kelly Hu, and Anna Paquin. The plot concerns the genocidal Colonel William Stryker leading an assault on Professor Xavier's school to build his own version of Xavier's mutant-tracking computer, Cerebro, to destroy every mutant on Earth and to save the human race from them, forcing the X-Men to team up with the Brotherhood of Mutants to stop Stryker and save the mutant race.
Development on the sequel began shortly after the first film was released on July 14, 2000, by 20th Century Fox. David Hayter and Zak Penn wrote separate scripts, combining what they felt to be the best elements of both scripts into one screenplay. Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris were eventually hired to rewrite the work, and changed the characterizations of Beast, Angel, and Lady Deathstrike. Sentinels and the Danger Room were set to appear before being deleted because of budget concerns from Fox. The film's premise was influenced by comic storyline "Return to Weapon X" and the graphic novel God Loves, Man Kills. Filming began in June 2002 and ended that November, mostly taking place at Vancouver Film Studios, the largest North American production facility outside of Los Angeles. Production designer Guy Hendrix Dyas adapted similar designs by John Myhre from the previous film.
X2 was released in the United States on May 2, 2003, by 20th Century Fox, and received positive reviews for its storyline, musical score, action sequences, and performances. The film grossed $407million worldwide, making it the ninth-highest-grossing film of 2003, and received eight Saturn Awards nominations. A sequel, X-Men: The Last Stand, was released on May 26, 2006.
Plot
At the White House, a teleporting mutant, Nightcrawler, attacks the President of the United States; he is shot and retreats. Meanwhile, Logan explores an abandoned military installation at Alkali Lake in Alberta for clues to his past, but finds nothing. Jean Grey has been having premonitions and struggles to concentrate as her powers become increasingly difficult to control.
Later, Logan returns to Professor Xavier's school for mutants, and Xavier tracks Nightcrawler using Cerebro. Xavier and Cyclops go to question the imprisoned Magneto about the attack, while Jean and Storm retrieve Nightcrawler. Military scientist Colonel William Stryker approaches the President and receives approval to investigate Xavier's mansion for their ties to mutants after the recent attack. Stryker's forces invade the school and abduct some of the students. Colossus leads the remaining students to safety while Logan, Rogue, Iceman, and Pyro escape. Stryker's assistant Yuriko Oyama captures Cyclops and Xavier. During the attack, Logan confronts Stryker, who addresses him as "Wolverine" and appears to be aware of his past.
The shapeshifting mutant, Mystique, helps Magneto escape and finds Cerebro schematics. Logan, Rogue, Iceman, and Pyro visit Iceman's family in Boston. Iceman's brother calls the police after learning he's a mutant. Officers surround the house; one shoots Logan after feeling threatened. Pyro fights back against officers with his pyrokinesis but Rogue absorbs his powers and uses them to put out the fire, while Storm, Jean, and Nightcrawler pick them up in their jet.
Despite Storm and Jean's defenses, the X-Jet is attacked by fighter jets and shot down while returning to the mansion. Rogue is sucked out but is saved by Nightcrawler, while Magneto controls the jet and saves everyone from the crash. He explains that Stryker built a second Cerebro to kill every mutant telepathically, using his mutant son Jason, who can control minds, to coerce Xavier. Stryker previously used Jason's powers on Nightcrawler to attack the White House to justify his excuse for invading Xavier's mansion. Magneto also tells Logan that Stryker grafted adamantium onto his bones and caused his amnesia. Jean, reading Nightcrawler's mind, discovers Stryker's underground base in a dam at Alkali Lake.
Disguised as Logan, Mystique infiltrates Stryker's base and lets mutants in while she and Magneto head to disable Cerebro before a brainwashed Xavier can activate it. Storm and Nightcrawler rescue students while Jean fights a mind-controlled Cyclops; their fight frees Cyclops but damages the dam, causing it to rupture. Logan finds Stryker in an adamantium smelting lab, recalling where he got his skeleton. Logan fights and kills Yuriko then chases Stryker to a helicopter pad and chains him to the wheel. Magneto stops Cerebro and, with Mystique impersonating Stryker to command Jason, has Xavier redirect its powers on humans. They escape in Stryker's helicopter while Pyro stays behind with Magneto. Nightcrawler teleports Storm inside Cerebro where she creates a snowstorm to break Jason's concentration and free Xavier.
As the dam bursts and kills Stryker in the process, the X-Men attempt to flee but their X-Jet loses power and struggles to take off as floodwaters approach. Jean sneaks off the jet to hold back the rising water and raise the jet above. Jean telepathically says goodbye through Xavier as flames erupt from her body until she releases and the flood crashes down on her. In Washington D.C., the X-Men - now featuring Xavier, Logan, Storm, Cyclops, Rogue, Iceman, and Nightcrawler as members - give Stryker's files to the President as Xavier warns that humans and mutants must unite for peace. At the school, Xavier, Cyclops, and Logan remember Jean and Xavier begins a class. Meanwhile, a Phoenix-like shape rises from flooded Alkali Lake.
Cast Patrick Stewart as Professor Charles Xavier:A powerful telepathic mutant who uses a wheelchair, who founded a School for "Gifted Youngsters", Xavier is a pacifist who believes humans and mutants can live together in harmony. He uses the Cerebro device, designed by Magneto and himself, to track and locate mutants across the world. A natural genius, Xavier is regarded as an authority on genetic mutation. Hugh Jackman as Logan / Wolverine:A mysterious mutant who suffers from amnesia and has little to no recollection of his past life before he was grafted with an indestructible adamantium skeleton. Wolverine is a gruff loner, but is in love with Jean Grey and acts as a father figure to Rogue. He wields six highly durable adamantium blades that come out of each of his fists, has keen animal-like senses, can heal rapidly from virtually any injury, and is a ruthless and aggressive fighter. Alan Cumming as Kurt Wagner / Nightcrawler:A kindly German mutant with a strong Catholic faith, yet ironically he has the appearance of a blue demon. Nightcrawler was used by Stryker in an assassination attempt on the President of the United States and gave help to the X-Men. He is capable of teleporting himself (and others) instantly from one location to another. On his body are many tattoos, one for every sin. Cumming had always been Singer's choice for the role, but Cumming could not accept the part due to scheduling conflicts. Neil Patrick Harris auditioned for the role, and Ethan Embry had been reported to be in contention, but the film labored in development long enough for Cumming to accept the part. Singer also felt comfortable in casting Cumming since he is fluent in German. The drawings of Adam Kubert were used as inspiration for Nightcrawler's makeup design, which took four hours to apply. For the scene where Nightcrawler has his shirt off, Cumming went through nine hours.Alan Cumming, Introducing the Incredible Nightcrawler, 2003, 20th Century Fox To best pose as Nightcrawler, Cumming studied comic books and illustrations of the character. Halle Berry as Ororo Munroe / Storm:A mutant and teacher at Xavier's School who can control the weather with her mind. Storm befriends Nightcrawler. Berry dropped out of Jennifer Lopez's role in Gigli to reprise the role. Famke Janssen as Jean Grey:A mutant and teacher at Xavier's school and the X-Mansion's doctor, Jean has begun to experience a growth in her telepathy and telekinetic powers since the X-Men's battle with Magneto. She is Cyclops' fiancée, even though she is attracted to Wolverine. James Marsden as Scott Summers / Cyclops:The field leader of the X-Men, and a teacher at Xavier's Institute, he shoots uncontrollable beams of concussive force from his eyes and wears a visor to control them. He is engaged to Jean. Cyclops is taken prisoner and brainwashed by Stryker. Anna Paquin as Marie / Rogue:A girl who can absorb any person's memories and abilities by touching them. As she cannot control this power, Rogue can easily kill anyone and thus is unable to be close to people. Brian Cox as Colonel William Stryker:A military scientist who plans a worldwide genocide of mutants using Xavier and Cerebro. Stryker has experimented on mutants in the past, including Wolverine, and uses a serum to control them, using his own son as the test subject. Singer opted to cast Cox in the role as he was a fan of his performance as Hannibal Lecter in Manhunter.Singer, Bryan, Sigel, Newton Thomas, DVD audio commentary, 2003, 20th Century Fox Ian McKellen as Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto:Once Xavier's ally, Magneto now believes mutants are superior to humans and that a genetic war is coming. Magneto wields the ability to manipulate metal magnetically, as well as the power to create magnetic fields and fly. He wears a helmet that renders him immune to Xavier's powers and all related telepathic powers. Imprisoned after his scheme in the first film, he is drugged by William Stryker for information about Cerebro and the Xavier Institute, before making his escape and forming an alliance with the X-Men to stop Stryker. He has demonstrated sophisticated knowledge in matters of genetic manipulation and engineering. The character's helmet was slightly redesigned as McKellen found wearing it uncomfortable in X-Men.Louise Mingenbach, United Colors of X2, 2003, 20th Century Fox Rebecca Romijn-Stamos as Mystique:Magneto's shapeshifting henchwoman, Mystique is blue, covered in scales, and acts as a spy. She injects a prison guard with metal, with which Magneto makes his escape, and also sexually tempts Wolverine. Romijn's makeup previously took nine hours to apply during the filming of X-Men, but the make-up department was able to bring it down to six hours for X2. Bruce Davison as Senator Robert Kelly: Although Kelly was killed in the first film, Davison reprised the role for scenes where Mystique uses his persona to infiltrate the government. Shawn Ashmore as Bobby Drake / Iceman:Rogue's boyfriend, he can freeze objects and create ice. His family is unaware that he is a mutant and simply believes he is at a boarding school. After returning home, Bobby reveals to them what he is, much to his brother's derision. Aaron Stanford as John Allerdyce / Pyro:A friend of Bobby and Rogue, Pyro has anti-social tendencies and can control (although not create) fire. The filmmakers cast Stanford in the role after they were impressed with his performance in Tadpole. Kelly Hu as Yuriko Oyama / Deathstrike:A mutant with a healing ability like Wolverine's and who is controlled by Stryker. She wields long adamantium fingernails. Only her first name is mentioned in the dialogue.