X-Men: Days of Future Past (The Rogue Cut)

The Rogue Cut is a fascinating extended edition of the X-Men: Days of Future Past movie, featuring an additional 17 minutes of footage that enriches the narrative and alters the storyline in meaningful ways.

Set across two distinct time periods, the film intertwines the narratives of the original and newer X-Men cast members. The central plot revolves around Wolverine, whose consciousness is transported back to 1973 to prevent the creation of Sentinels—machines designed to annihilate mutants and their human allies.

A standout feature of The Rogue Cut is the enhanced role of Anna Paquin‘s character, Marie, also known as Rogue. Unlike her brief appearance in the theatrical release, Rogue assumes a pivotal role in the climax, stepping in for Kitty Pryde. This adjustment not only amplifies Rogue’s presence but also bolsters the significance of the future X-Men in the storyline.

Moreover, this version introduces additional scenes, including a poignant tribute to deceased mutants and the debut of Quicksilver’s sister, providing greater depth to both the characters and the overarching plot.

While the core narrative remains largely unchanged, The Rogue Cut offers a nuanced variation that doesn’t necessarily surpass the original but presents a fresh perspective for audiences to appreciate. It’s a must-see for X-Men enthusiasts and those curious about an alternate rendition of the well-known film.

The year 2023 unfolds into a grim dystopia where robotic Sentinels relentlessly pursue mutants and those humans destined to bear mutant children or daring to defend them. In the heart of Moscow, a fierce battle ensues as the Sentinels close in on the surviving X-Men: Kitty Pryde, Colossus, Blink, Warpath, Bishop, Iceman and Sunspot. In a valiant effort, the mutants lay down their lives to give Kitty the precious time needed to project Bishop’s consciousness back a few days, warning their past selves of the imminent danger, thus securing their continued existence.

After successfully dodging the Sentinel attack, the group finds sanctuary in an ancient temple in China, where they’re joined by Storm, Wolverine, Charles Xavier and Magneto. Xavier reveals the Sentinels’ origin, tracing back to Bolivar Trask, a military scientist whose death at the hands of Raven Darkhölme in 1973 set a dire chain of events into motion. Captured and subjected to experimentation, Raven’s DNA became the cornerstone for the Sentinels’ ability to adapt to any mutant ability. Determined to rewrite history, Xavier proposes a plan to prevent Trask’s murder. However, when it becomes clear that such a temporal journey could be fatal for him, Wolverine steps up, offering himself for the perilous mission, his unique healing factor making him the only viable candidate to withstand the rigors of time travel.

In 1973, Wolverine awakens and heads to the X-Mansion, only to find out from Hank McCoy that it’s been shut down due to the Vietnam War, and Erik Lehnsherr is in prison for the alleged assassination of JFK. Xavier, now an alcoholic and using a serum that enables him to walk but suppresses his telepathy, agrees to aid Wolverine in hopes of reconnecting with Raven. Together, they enlist Quicksilver, whose incredible speed aids in Lehnsherr’s daring escape from The Pentagon.

Meanwhile, Raven uncovers Trask’s horrific experiments on mutants and decides to assassinate him during the Paris Peace Accords. Her plan is thwarted by Xavier, McCoy, and Logan, leading to a tense confrontation where Lehnsherr tries to kill her to prevent a grim future. McCoy intervenes, allowing Raven to flee but revealing their mutant identities to the world. This incident plays right into Trask’s hands, persuading President Nixon to green-light the Sentinel program. During the incident, Logan spies a young Major William Stryker and freezes.

Haunted by the pain inflicted by Stryker, Logan has a nightmare and inadvertently lashes out, his future self grievously injuring Kitty in 2023. Concealing the extent of her injuries, Iceman suggests a plan to find Rogue, who has the ability to absorb the powers of other mutants through touch, as a replacement. He discloses that Rogue is imprisoned in the heavily fortified Cerebro chamber within the X-Mansion. Despite his reservations about their chances of rescuing her, Professor X assures him that the mansion holds secrets unknown to the enemy, prompting them to depart with Magneto to rescue Rogue.

Guided by Professor X’s instructions, Magneto and Iceman stealthily navigate the building to find Rogue, who is lying helpless. With a wave of his hand, Magneto effortlessly disarms the guards and medics using his mastery over metal, while Iceman rushes to Rogue’s side. He gently touches her face, granting her a portion of his vital energy. As Rogue’s eyes flutter open, the duo prepares to lead her to safety from the X-Mansion. However, their plan is thwarted when Sentinels launch an assault. In a noble act of self-sacrifice, Iceman diverts the Sentinels’ attention, ensuring Rogue’s return to the X-Men, but tragically, he is slain in the process.

In 1973, Lehnsherr reclaims his helmet and clandestinely seizes control of Trask’s Sentinel prototypes, turning them into steel. At the X-Mansion, Xavier forsakes the serum and, through Logan’s memories, connects with his future self, who encourages him to preserve the mutant-human bond.

Raven goes to the X-Mansion to stay for the night, when she meets Beast and tells him that she has nowhere to go. The two share an intimate moment, on their own and Mystique tries to coax Beast into being proud of his appearance. Mystique goes into Cerebro and destroys the helmet, so that Charles can’t track her down.

In 2023, Rogue returns to the X-Men after the harrowing assault on the X-Mansion. She steps in for Kitty, utilizing her unique ability to absorb powers, which provides Kitty the much-needed respite to recover. This crucial act ensures Wolverine can remain in the past, focused on the mission at hand. It’s a change that Wolverine himself senses through his close bond with Rogue.

During Nixon’s Sentinel unveiling ceremony, the trio searches for Raven. Lehnsherr emerges, commandeers the Sentinels, and encases the White House within RFK Stadium’s walls. In the ensuing clash, he skewers Logan with rebar and hurls him into the Potomac River. Meanwhile, Nixon, Trask, and Raven in disguise flee to the White House Bunker. Lehnsherr, relentless, extracts the bunker to eliminate its occupants. Concurrently, in 2023, the X-Men confront their final battle as Sentinels besiege the temple, with many mutants falling to secure more time. Back in 1973, Raven, revealing her identity, incapacitates Lehnsherr with a plastic gun, thereby rescuing Nixon and his team. She contemplates executing Trask, but Xavier’s telepathic plea sways her to desist, showcasing to the world a mutant’s heroism. This act leads to the Sentinel program’s cancellation, rewriting the timeline and averting the grim future of 2023. The mutants then go their separate ways; Trask faces arrest for espionage.

In 2023, Wolverine awakens at the X-Mansion, delighted to find a flourishing Xavier’s school and all the X-Men, including Rogue, Jean Grey, and Scott Summers, alive and well. Seeking to catch up on events from 1973 onwards, Logan turns to Xavier, who agrees to fill him in, recognizing the Wolverine from the original timeline. Meanwhile, back in 1973, Logan, in a twist of fate, is saved by Raven, masquerading as William Stryker.

Some time later, Trask stares dejected in his cell, staring up at the ceiling. He’s now incarcerated in Erik’s Pentagon cell.

Thousands of years ago, in ancient Egypt, En Sabah Nur is revered by a chanting crowd as he uses his powers to levitate stones, constructing pyramids while his Four Horsemen watch on.

Ω Additional footage includes pictures of deceased mutants on a wall, accompanied by extended dialogue where Wolverine and the other mutants discuss the possibilities of altering the past.

Ω The Rogue Cut presents a heart-wrenching twist to the rescue mission, where Sentinels launch an assault on Magneto, Iceman, and Rogue just moments after their flight to freedom. In a selfless act to divert the Sentinels, Iceman lays down his life, ensuring Rogue’s safe return to the X-Men. This noble sacrifice mirrors his fate in the theatrical release, yet it occurs sooner in The Rogue Cut, setting off a ripple effect that alters numerous subtle details in the climax of the story.

Ω An additional scene in The Rogue Cut reveals how the Sentinels located the X-Men at their secluded base in the Chinese mountains. During the earlier mission to rescue Rogue, a Sentinel’s arm became attached to the X-Men’s Blackbird. Unbeknownst to them, this arm contained an active tracker, which led the Sentinels directly to the X-Men’s location for the climactic battle in the film.

Ω Mystique infiltrates the X-Mansion with the intent to demolish Cerebro. After mingling with Hank and cunningly masquerading as Professor X to gain access to the high-security chamber, she sabotages the device. This strategic move ensures that Charles is unable to use Cerebro to locate or reach out to her within the confines of the mansion. Her ultimate goal, to eliminate Bolivar Trask, the architect behind the Sentinels, played by Peter Dinklage, is now within reach. Despite this setback, Professor X, alongside Beast and Wolverine, cleverly deduces her next move.

Ω Once Rogue arrives to take over for Kitty, all subsequent future scenes are modified to show Rogue in Kitty’s former role. Thus, all subsequent shots of Kitty now depict her seated next to Rogue or on the floor. In the theatrical version, scenes that originally featured Rogue were altered to include Kitty and Iceman instead. Additionally, it is Kitty who rescues Magneto in the final battle, not Blink.