The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is officially gearing up to introduce the X-Men into its expansive multi-phase future, and according to recent reports, Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier is being considered to direct the new X-Men film.
As reported by Deadline, Schreier is currently in early discussions with Marvel Studios about helming the project. Although details surrounding the negotiations are still unclear, sources indicate that he is currently the studio’s top choice for the job.
This upcoming X-Men movie is said to feature a screenplay penned by Michael Lesslie, known for his work on The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. MCU architect Kevin Feige is also attached as a producer. However, further information—including casting decisions, release date, and how directly it will connect to the larger MCU—remains under wraps.
Since the conclusion of Avengers: Endgame, Marvel has been subtly building toward the introduction of the X-Men through multiverse-driven storylines seen in films like The Marvels, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and Deadpool & Wolverine. While these films have included hints pointing toward characters such as Wolverine, Beast, and Professor X eventually crossing paths with the Avengers, the mutant faction itself has remained notably absent—until now.
Of course, we’ll see the X-Men make their presence known in Avengers: Doomsday. Last month’s cast reveal for the film featured several veteran X-Men actors. Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, and James Marsden are all set to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, signaling a major role for the X-Men. Grammer previously portrayed Beast in the Fox X-Men series and recently made his MCU debut via a post-credits scene in The Marvels. Stewart played Charles Xavier/Professor X in the X-Men franchise and briefly appeared in the MCU in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as part of the Illuminati. Meanwhile, McKellen, Cumming, Romijn, and Marsden—who respectively played Magneto, Nightcrawler, Mystique, and Cyclops—have yet to make their MCU introductions. This raises an intriguing question: Is Avengers: Doomsday essentially shaping up to be an Avengers vs. X-Men film?
Marvel has long been working behind the scenes to bring an X-Men-centric film to the MCU. During late 2023, Kevin Feige confirmed that fans would begin seeing the X-Men integrated into the MCU within “the next few movies.” Additionally, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Ryan Reynolds—aka Deadpool—has been quietly advocating for a Deadpool-meets-X-Men film to move forward more quickly. While no official X-Men film has been announced yet, given the pace at which the MCU is progressing, it likely won’t be long before beloved mutants officially join the action.
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In the meantime, Schreier recently launched Thunderbolts* in theaters, where it has performed well both critically and commercially. The ensemble anti-hero film has earned $173,009,775 globally so far (via Box Office Mojo) and holds an impressive 88% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes (we awarded it a 7/10 in our review).
As we await further updates on Marvel’s potential deal with Schreier, fans continue to speculate over the rumored Nightcrawler vs. Mister Fantastic clash teased by Alan Cumming himself in a recent leak.
