When X-Men: Dark Phoenix arrived in theaters, one of the biggest surprises of the movie had nothing to do with the Phoenix story or Sophie Turner’s portrayal of Jean Grey. It wasn’t even the major death that was spoiled ahead of the movie’s release that gained attention. Instead, it was a cameo by a well-known Marvel Comics mutant that fans of the franchise have been waiting to make an appearance–a cameo they’ll be able to watch again and again when Dark Phoenix hits 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD on September 17.
In a scene on the Xavier School campus, Dazzler–played by The Orville alum Halston Sage–is seen performing at a party on school grounds, with her power of turning sound vibrations into light on full display. It’s a tonal shift from the darkness in the film, which was very much the intention.
As writer/director Simon Kinberg explains in a behind-the-scenes featurette from the movie, “Dazzler, as her name indicates as well, is a brighter presence in the film. She brings this sort of vitality and fun and youthfulness. It’s just really the energy that Dazzler has.”
He also openly admits that finding the right person to take on the small role took some time, due to the character’s standing as a “fan favorite.” Based on how Sage approached Dazzler, though, it sounds like they cast the right person.
“I have been working with the choreographer on this scene to try to get the vibe of Dazzler down,” she explained. “We’ve been talking to Simon a lot about how we want the light show to respond with her movements and the rhythm of the music. And we wanted to make it something very unique, and new, and modern. Between the hair, the makeup, and the wardrobe, we’re pretty true to the comics.”
The only significant difference Sage notes between her portrayal of the character and her classic comic book appearance is the mask she wears. “The one thing we did change up a little bit is just the shape of the mask around my eyes,” the actress admits. “We have amazing makeup artists that do it specifically to my face.”
Still, seeing Dazzler finally brought into the live-action X-Men is enough to make you wish there would be more to see in upcoming films. At this point, though, the future of the X-Men film franchise remains something of a mystery.
In the meantime, you can purchase Dark Phoenix digitally now, or pick it up on 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD on September 17. The release comes loaded with special features, which you can take a look at below.
- Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary
- Rise of the Phoenix: The Making of Dark Phoenix (5-Part Documentary)
- Scene Breakdown: The 5th Avenue Sequence
- How to Fly Your Jet to Space with Beast
- Audio Commentary by Simon Kinberg and Hutch Parker
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Author: Chris E. Hayner
Graphic by William Joel / The Verge
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
Photo by Michael Brochstein / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images
Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images
Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures