Generation X (film)
Encyclopedia
Generation X is a made-for-TV film
which aired on FOX
on February 20, 1996. It is based on the Marvel Comics
series Generation X
. It was produced by New World Entertainment and Marvel Entertainment
.
. They recruit Jubilee, and introduce her to her fellow students; M, Skin, Mondo, Buff and Refrax. The students are learning to cope with their mutant powers, and come into conflict with the "townies" who mock the students. Emma Frost worked previously with a mad scientist
named Russel Tresh who felt that he could extract part of mutant's brains to develop psychic powers, and Russel is back and wants to use Skin's brain in his experiments.
Characters created for the film
, X2: X-Men United
, and X-Men: The Last Stand
, as well as for the home of young Lex Luthor
in the Smallville
series.
. It was later revealed that the lead role in the film was intended for the character Dazzler or Boomer, either of whom has virtually the same powers as Jubilee
but are both White (which would have also gone against the comic adaptation since Dazzler nor Boomer were ever members of Generation X), but the popularity of Jubilee's character from the X-Men animated series prompted the producers to give the lead role to Jubilee.
Two new characters, Buff and Refrax, were created for the movie to replace the characters Husk
and Chamber
from the comics, whose flashy powers would have been too expensive to produce on the film's budget; Mondo, while an existing character in the comics, may have also replaced the character Synch
.
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
which aired on FOX
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
on February 20, 1996. It is based on the Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
series Generation X
Generation X (comics)
Generation X is a fictional comic book superhero team, a spin-off of the X-Men franchise published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Scott Lobdell and artist Chris Bachalo, the team formed during the 1994 "Phalanx Covenant" storyline, and appeared in their own monthly series in September 1994...
. It was produced by New World Entertainment and Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC , formerly Marvel Enterprises and Toy Biz, Inc., is an American entertainment company formed from the merger of Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. and Toy Biz, Inc....
.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Suzanne Davis Suzanne Davis (actress) Suzanne Davis is an American comedian and actress. She made her debut as Buff in the TV movie Generation X.... |
Buff/Arlee Hicks |
| Matt Frewer Matt Frewer Matthew "Matt" Frewer is a Canadian American stage, TV and film actor. Acting since 1983, he is known for portraying the 1980s icon Max Headroom and the retired villain Moloch in the film adaptation of Watchmen.-Life and career:... |
Russel Tresh |
| Finola Hughes Finola Hughes Finola Hughes is an English actress, television host, author and former dancer, best known for role as Anna Devane on the General Hospital, All My Children and General Hospital: Night Shift , and her role as Anna Devane's identical twin sister, Doctor Alexandra Devane Marick, on All My Children... |
Emma Frost/White Queen Emma Frost Emma Grace Frost is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #129 , and was created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer John Byrne.... |
| Heather McComb Heather McComb Heather McComb is an American actress.McComb started acting at age 2 in a commercial for Publisher's Clearing House. When she appeared in the telefilm Generation X in 1996, she became the first actress to portray the X-Men character of Jubilee on screen... |
Jubilation Lee/Jubilee Jubilee (comics) Jubilation "Jubilee" Lee is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superheroine associated with the X-Men.A mutant, Jubilee had the superhuman power to generate "fireworks" of explosive plasma. A teenage "mall rat," she was the X-Men's youngest member in the early 1990s, often playing sidekick to... |
| Jeremy Ratchford Jeremy Ratchford Jeremy Ratchford is a Canadian actor. He starred as Nick Vera on the TV series Cold Case.While in Canada, Ratchford played Marvel Comic book character Banshee in a live action version of Generation X TV movie... |
Sean Cassidy/Banshee Banshee (comics) Banshee is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero who operates as a member of the X-Men. Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Werner Roth, Banshee first appeared in X-Men #28 .... |
| Bumper Robinson Bumper Robinson Bumper Robinson is an American actor and voice artist. Robinson got his nickname because he repeatedly bumped into things while running through his home as a young child.- Life and career :... |
Mondo Mondo (comics) Mondo is the name of two fictional comic book characters that have appeared in the Marvel Comics series Generation X. The first Mondo was a superhero later revealed to be a clone of the supervillain Mondo, who appeared years later. The first Mondo's first appearance was in Generation X... |
| Agustin Rodriguez | Angelo Espinosa/Skin Skin (comics) Skin is a fictional mutant in the Marvel Universe of comics. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #317. -Fictional character biography:... |
| Amarilis Amarilis Amarilis is a television actress. She made her debut as Patty Gilbert in the syndicated TV series Sweet Valley High and has guest starred on the TV series The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air. Amarilis portrayed the Marvel Comics superheroine Monet "M" St. Croix in the television movie Generation... |
Monet St. Croix/M M (comics) M is a fictional comic book superheroine, a mutant who appears in the X-Men family of books published by Marvel Comics... |
| Randall Slavin | Kurt Pastorius/Refrax |
Plot
Banshee and Emma Frost are the headmasters of Xavier's School for Gifted YoungstersX-Mansion
In the fictional Marvel Comics universe, the X-Mansion is the common name for Professor Xavier's mansion. It is the base of operations and training site of the X-Men and the location of a school for mutant teenagers, the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, formerly Xavier's School for Gifted...
. They recruit Jubilee, and introduce her to her fellow students; M, Skin, Mondo, Buff and Refrax. The students are learning to cope with their mutant powers, and come into conflict with the "townies" who mock the students. Emma Frost worked previously with a mad scientist
Mad scientist
A mad scientist is a stock character of popular fiction, specifically science fiction. The mad scientist may be villainous or antagonistic, benign or neutral, and whether insane, eccentric, or simply bumbling, mad scientists often work with fictional technology in order to forward their schemes, if...
named Russel Tresh who felt that he could extract part of mutant's brains to develop psychic powers, and Russel is back and wants to use Skin's brain in his experiments.
Cast
Characters from the comics- Emma Frost/White QueenEmma FrostEmma Grace Frost is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #129 , and was created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer John Byrne....
(Finola HughesFinola HughesFinola Hughes is an English actress, television host, author and former dancer, best known for role as Anna Devane on the General Hospital, All My Children and General Hospital: Night Shift , and her role as Anna Devane's identical twin sister, Doctor Alexandra Devane Marick, on All My Children...
) runs the Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters with Banshee. She takes her job very seriously and wants to make sure the students are sufficiently trained for any situation. Part of the reason for this may be because in her past she trained another group called the Hellions who were lost, something she blames herself for. Before her teaching duties Emma worked as a researcher on a project to develop a "dream machine" to access the dream dimension, she came into conflict with fellow researcher Russel Tresh. Her powers include mind control.
- Sean Cassidy/BansheeBanshee (comics)Banshee is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero who operates as a member of the X-Men. Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Werner Roth, Banshee first appeared in X-Men #28 ....
(Jeremy RatchfordJeremy RatchfordJeremy Ratchford is a Canadian actor. He starred as Nick Vera on the TV series Cold Case.While in Canada, Ratchford played Marvel Comic book character Banshee in a live action version of Generation X TV movie...
), an Irish mutant, runs the Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters with Emma Frost. Sean is much more laid back in his teaching approach than Emma, and wants to make sure that the students bond as a team. He can produce a sonic scream that can stun people.
- Monet St. Croix/MM (comics)M is a fictional comic book superheroine, a mutant who appears in the X-Men family of books published by Marvel Comics...
(AmarilisAmarilisAmarilis is a television actress. She made her debut as Patty Gilbert in the syndicated TV series Sweet Valley High and has guest starred on the TV series The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air. Amarilis portrayed the Marvel Comics superheroine Monet "M" St. Croix in the television movie Generation...
) is one of the students at the Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, she claims that she is the perfect mutant; super intelligent, enhanced physical abilities and "level eight invulnerability".
- Jubilation Lee/JubileeJubilee (comics)Jubilation "Jubilee" Lee is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superheroine associated with the X-Men.A mutant, Jubilee had the superhuman power to generate "fireworks" of explosive plasma. A teenage "mall rat," she was the X-Men's youngest member in the early 1990s, often playing sidekick to...
(Heather McCombHeather McCombHeather McComb is an American actress.McComb started acting at age 2 in a commercial for Publisher's Clearing House. When she appeared in the telefilm Generation X in 1996, she became the first actress to portray the X-Men character of Jubilee on screen...
) is the newest student at the Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, she is highly intelligent, and very curious. She can generate brightly colored bursts of plasma energy which she can fire from her hands. She also seems to have some psychic abilities.
- MondoMondo (comics)Mondo is the name of two fictional comic book characters that have appeared in the Marvel Comics series Generation X. The first Mondo was a superhero later revealed to be a clone of the supervillain Mondo, who appeared years later. The first Mondo's first appearance was in Generation X...
(Bumper RobinsonBumper RobinsonBumper Robinson is an American actor and voice artist. Robinson got his nickname because he repeatedly bumped into things while running through his home as a young child.- Life and career :...
) is one of the students at the Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, he is hot-headed, and gets into fights easily. He has the ability to take on the properties of any organic or inorganic matter he touches. Consequently, he doesn't like Jell-OJell-OJell-O is a brand name belonging to U.S.-based Kraft Foods for a number of gelatin desserts, including fruit gels, puddings and no-bake cream pies. The brand's popularity has led to it being used as a generic term for gelatin dessert across the U.S. and Canada....
, (though this is also a reference to Bumper Robinson's first acting role: a Jell-O Pudding Pop commercial).
- Angelo Espinosa/SkinSkin (comics)Skin is a fictional mutant in the Marvel Universe of comics. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #317. -Fictional character biography:...
(Austin Rodriguez) has skin that can stretch in a variety of different ways, including the ability to wrap himself around objects. He has a younger sister, whom Russel Tresh threatened if Skin didn't obey him. He seems to have some psychic abilities.
Characters created for the film
- Arlee Hicks/Buff (Suzanne DavisSuzanne Davis (actress)Suzanne Davis is an American comedian and actress. She made her debut as Buff in the TV movie Generation X....
) is one of the students at the Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, she is a friendly likable person, whose mutation increases her muscle mass and strength. She is insecure about her new physique and wears loose clothing to cover it up. She replaced Paige "Husk" GuthrieHusk (comics)Husk is a fictional character from Marvel Comics. Guthrie is a superhero associated with the X-Men.A mutant, Husk has the ability to remove one layer of skin - or "husk" - revealing an epidermis of a different composition beneath...
as Husk's powers were too expensive to portray within budget.
- Kurt Pastorius/Refrax (Randall Slavin) is one of the students at the Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, his eyes emit radiation giving him X-Ray vision and heat beams. He is a practical joker who has a crush on Buff. He wears special glasses to control his powers and is best friends with Mondo. He is probably based on CyclopsCyclops (comics)Cyclops is a fictional character, the leader of the X-Men superhero team in the . A mutant, Cyclops emits a powerful energy beam from his eyes...
.
- Doctor Russel Tresh (Matt FrewerMatt FrewerMatthew "Matt" Frewer is a Canadian American stage, TV and film actor. Acting since 1983, he is known for portraying the 1980s icon Max Headroom and the retired villain Moloch in the film adaptation of Watchmen.-Life and career:...
) an unethical scientist and researcher who is investigating subliminal and psychic powers. He worked on a project with Emma Frost, who got him fired for his unethical behaviour. Following this he put his talents towards the advertising industry where he uses the money to build a machine to access the "dream dimension".
Movie prologue
The following is a prologue quote that appeared at the beginning of the movie, which was later emulated in the X-Men theatrical films with similar defining quotes on mutation and evolution, respectively, albeit in voice-over rather than on-screen text:Locations
The mansion used for the Xavier Institute is Hatley Castle which was also used in the X-Men films X-MenX-Men (film)
X-Men is a 2000 superhero film based on the fictional Marvel Comics characters of the same name. Directed by Bryan Singer, the film stars Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Anna Paquin, Famke Janssen, Bruce Davison, James Marsden, Halle Berry, Rebecca Romijn, Ray Park and Tyler Mane...
, X2: X-Men United
X2 (film)
X2 is a 2003 superhero film based on the fictional characters the X-Men. Directed by Bryan Singer, it is the second film in the X-Men film series...
, and X-Men: The Last Stand
X-Men: The Last Stand
X-Men: The Last Stand is a 2006 superhero film and the third in the X-Men series. It was directed by Brett Ratner and stars an ensemble cast including Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Famke Janssen, Kelsey Grammer, Anna Paquin, Shawn Ashmore, Aaron Stanford, Vinnie Jones,...
, as well as for the home of young Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
in the Smallville
Smallville
Smallville is the hometown of Superman in comic books published by DC Comics. While growing up in Smallville, the young Clark Kent attended Smallville High with best friends Lana Lang, Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross...
series.
Team members
Although not a factor in the decision to abandon the creation of a series, Jubilation Lee was not portrayed as a character of Asian descent. The X-Men comics and animated series have always portrayed her as Chinese AmericanChinese American
Chinese Americans represent Americans of Chinese descent. Chinese Americans constitute one group of overseas Chinese and also a subgroup of East Asian Americans, which is further a subgroup of Asian Americans...
. It was later revealed that the lead role in the film was intended for the character Dazzler or Boomer, either of whom has virtually the same powers as Jubilee
Jubilee (comics)
Jubilation "Jubilee" Lee is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superheroine associated with the X-Men.A mutant, Jubilee had the superhuman power to generate "fireworks" of explosive plasma. A teenage "mall rat," she was the X-Men's youngest member in the early 1990s, often playing sidekick to...
but are both White (which would have also gone against the comic adaptation since Dazzler nor Boomer were ever members of Generation X), but the popularity of Jubilee's character from the X-Men animated series prompted the producers to give the lead role to Jubilee.
Two new characters, Buff and Refrax, were created for the movie to replace the characters Husk
Husk (comics)
Husk is a fictional character from Marvel Comics. Guthrie is a superhero associated with the X-Men.A mutant, Husk has the ability to remove one layer of skin - or "husk" - revealing an epidermis of a different composition beneath...
and Chamber
Chamber (comics)
Jonothon "Jono" Evan Starsmore, better known as Chamber or Decibel, is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero associated with the X-Men and the New Warriors....
from the comics, whose flashy powers would have been too expensive to produce on the film's budget; Mondo, while an existing character in the comics, may have also replaced the character Synch
Synch (comics)
Synch is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics mutant superhero. Created by Scott Lobdell, he first appeared in X-Men #36, September, 1994.-Fictional character biography:...
.
Different versions
The British version and the United States version contain slight differences:- In the British version, Jubilee is forced to strip for a full body print. While this scene did not appear in the later showings of the United States version, it did appear in the original showing.
- In the British version there was significantly more swearing, racial slurs and extreme situations. After discovering the Dream Machine, Jubilee and Skin compare notes. In this scene Jubilee uses three swear words. These were edited out of the United States version.
- When Skin encounters Russel Tresh in the Dream World, Tresh calls Skin a "wetback" and threatens to mind-rape Skin's sister if he doesn't help get Tresh back into his body. This scene was edited to remove the racial slur and mind-rape wording in the United States version.