The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is set to expand with the much-anticipated introduction of the X-Men, and Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier is reportedly at the forefront of this exciting development. According to Deadline, Schreier is currently in early discussions with Marvel Studios to direct a new X-Men movie. While the details of the negotiations remain undisclosed, Schreier is said to be the top choice for the project.
The X-Men film, still in its early stages, will feature a screenplay by Michael Lesslie, the writer behind The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. Marvel's Kevin Feige will serve as a producer, though other specifics such as the cast, release date, and its integration into the broader MCU are yet to be revealed.
Since the conclusion of Avengers: Endgame, the MCU has been steadily laying the groundwork for the X-Men's entry. With the multiverse playing a central role in films like The Marvels, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and Deadpool & Wolverine, subtle hints about how characters such as Wolverine, Beast, and Professor X might intersect with the current Avengers roster have been woven into the narrative. While fans can look forward to meeting the MCU's version of the Fantastic Four in The Fantastic Four: First Steps this July, the iconic school for Mutants has yet to make its appearance.
The X-Men's presence will be significant in Avengers: Doomsday, with the recent cast announcement featuring seasoned X-Men actors such as Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, and James Marsden. Grammer, who portrayed Beast in the Fox X-Men series, made his MCU debut in The Marvels' post-credits scene. Stewart, known for his role as Charles Xavier/Professor X, briefly appeared in the MCU through Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as part of the Illuminati. Meanwhile, McKellen, Cumming, Romijn, and Marsden, who played Magneto, Nightcrawler, Mystique, and Cyclops respectively, are yet to make their MCU debut. This raises the intriguing question: Could Avengers: Doomsday be a covert Avengers vs. X-Men movie?
Marvel has been actively working on integrating the X-Men into the MCU. Kevin Feige has assured fans that the X-Men will debut within "the next few movies." Additionally, THR reported that Ryan Reynolds has been quietly advocating for a Deadpool-meets-X-Men film to be produced sooner rather than later. Although no official X-Men movie has been slated yet, given the rapid pace of the MCU, fans won't have to wait long to see their favorite mutants join the fray.
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Jake Schreier, fresh off the successful release of Thunderbolts*, which has grossed $173,009,775 globally (Box Office Mojo) and earned an impressive 88% on Rotten Tomatoes (with a 7/10 in our review), is poised to take on this new challenge.
As we await further updates on Marvel's negotiations with Schreier, fans can enjoy the buzz around a potential Nightcrawler/Mister Fantastic confrontation in Avengers: Doomsday, as hinted by Alan Cumming himself.
