Kelsey Grammer Calls Beast The ‘MLK Of The Mutants’

Summary

Original X-Men stars, including Kelsey Grammer, are joining Avengers: Doomsday.
Grammer compares his character Beast to Martin Luther King Jr. - a proud and dignified leader.
Grammer's Beast character is similar to MLK in advocating for justice and unity, promoting nonviolence.

Several original X-Men film cast members are joining Avengers: Doomsday. One of them has compared their character to Martin Luther King Jr.

Like the Avengers, the X-Men are a renowned team of superheroes in Marvel Comics. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby co-created both the Avengers and X-Men, with each team debuting in September 1963. However, the X-Men are more popular among comic fans, while the Avengers are more beloved in mainstream pop culture thanks to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Both teams will appear in Avengers: Doomsday, and one of the X-Men OGs spoke about their mutant character and their likeness to one of the most prominent leaders and activists in history.

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By Catherine Armecin Martin

Kelsey Grammer recently appeared on The Jamie Kern Lima Show. Grammer portrays Hank McCoy, aka Beast, in Fox's X-Men movies. Since he is joining Marvel Studios' upcoming Avengers film, he was asked about his superhero character, and the actor said he loved and enjoyed portraying Beast on screen. Grammer is proud to play the character, whom he found to be "stalwart, upright, serious-minded, decent man." He added that Beast reminded him of Martin Luther King Jr., a legendary American Baptist minister, activist, and civil rights leader. Grammer said of his X-Men character:

I think of him as being the Martin Luther King of the mutants. He's got a dignity and a dream, and is willing to fight for it — but slow to action in terms of fighting.

Grammer added that despite Beast being a skilled hand-to-hand combatant, the mutant would prefer not to fight. And if he had to, it would be "swift and severe." "You know, give no quarter, expect none. And I like that about him," Grammer added. The Wanted Man debuted as Beast in X-Men: The Last Stand (2006). He reprised the role in X -Men: Days of Future Past (2014) and in the post-credits scene of The Marvels (2023). Grammer will be playing the beloved character in Doomsday. "He's a man who studies good and does his best to live by that, and I like that," he added.

Beast Isn't Usually The X-Men Character Compared With Martin Luther King Jr., But The Comparison Is Apt

Grammer comparing Beast with Martin Luther King is interesting, especially considering fans have often compared Professor X and Magneto with MLK and Malcolm X. Yes, Beast has some similarities with the late civil rights leader as both are intelligent and morally principled leaders who advocate for justice and equality. Beast is committed to coexisting with humans despite being discriminated for his beast-like appearance. He is an ardent advocate for nonviolence despite being endowed with superhuman agility, intellect, and combat skills. King also advocated for peaceful protest when he fought for equality and human rights for African Americans. The pair shares the same principles about welcoming change through peace, not force, and preserving dignity amid adversity.

Grammer's portrayal of Beast has received mostly positive reviews from fans. Many are excited to see him in Avengers: Doomsday. His brief appearance in The Marvels reignited excitement, and having him in the upcoming Avengers movie is more than welcome. Also, it will be nostalgic for X-Men fans because Patrick Stewart (Professor X), Ian McKellen (Magneto), Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique) and James Marsden (Cyclops) are joining him in the anticipated MCU tentpole.