In the near future, humans and mutants find themselves at odds, each concerned over what the future may hold for their respective species. A war is brewing, on one side the less-than-scrupulous mutants, led by the powerful and highly intelligent Magneto (Ian McKellen), and on the other, U.S. Senator Kelly (Bruce Davison) and those humans who fear the mutants. In the middle is Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), a mutant with the ability to read minds, head of the Xavier School for Gifted (read: mutants) Youngsters, and leader of the X-Men, a powerful conglomerate of mutants with unique and powerful abilities that fight for justice and peace. When a young girl, later dubbed Rogue (Anna Paquin, The Piano), runs away from home after discovering the deadly power of her mutation, she meets a mysterious figure deep in the heart of no-man's land named Logan (Hugh Jackman, Australia), himself a mutant with regenerative powers. The pair is ambushed by Magneto's thugs but escape when they are rescued by two X-Men, Cyclops (James Marsden) and Storm (Halle Berry). Logan and Rogue are returned to X-Men headquarters where they are treated by Dr. Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), and allowed to remain. When Magneto's plans for his attack on Logan and Rogue come to light, the team must attempt to prevent the villain from hatching a scheme that could start a war with mankind -- and cost the life of one of their own.