Fox’s X-Men screenwriter David Hayter recalled the simple origin story behind Magneto’s iconic helmet.
On X (formerly Twitter), Hayter was asked by a fan why Magneto’s ability to block Charles Xavier’s telepathic powers with the helmet was not a factor in the comics until Fox’s first X-Men installment from 2000.
“This happened because the director said one day, ‘Why couldn’t Xavier just make Magneto go to sleep or something?’ No one had an answer. So we decided it was the helmet,” Hayter said.
Though Magneto made his Marvel Comics debut with the helmet in X-Men #1 (September 1963), there were different explanations for its purpose. Wired technology inside the helmet allowed him to control people’s minds alongside his magnetic abilities. It wasn’t until 2000’s X-Men movie that the psychic-blocking ability of the helmet was carried over into the comics’ continuity.
Actor Ian McKellen popularized the role of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants leader in the initial X-Men trilogy in the 2000s. He reprised the role in 2013’s The Wolverine and 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past. Michael Fassbender took over as a young Magneto beginning with 2011’s X-Men: First Class followed by X-Men: Days of Future Past, 2016’s X-Men: Apocalypse, and 2019’s Dark Phoenix. Fassbender’s first appearance featured the Soviet origin behind the Magneto helmet and the character’s acquisition of it after killing Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon).
Magneto’s MCU future
With Hugh Jackman set to return as Wolverine in the MCU-set Deadpool 3, several X-Men cameos have been rumored, including McKellen reprising his role as Magneto. His younger counterpart Fassbender, however, appears to have no desire to put on Magneto’s helmet again as he sees Dark Phoenix as the end of his tenure in the role.
“You know, I think I had a great run,” Fassbender said. “I thoroughly enjoyed it. By the time Dark Phoenix was over — yeah, it was like . . . It was lucky, we had a fantastic run of it.”
Fox’s X-Men and its sequels are now streaming on Disney+.
