The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is set to expand further with the much-anticipated inclusion of the X-Men into its multi-phase narrative. According to Deadline, Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier is in early discussions with Marvel Studios to helm the upcoming X-Men movie. Although the details of these negotiations are still under wraps, Schreier is reportedly the top choice for directing this project.
The X-Men film, which is in the early stages of development, will feature a screenplay by Michael Lesslie, known for his work on The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. Marvel's Kevin Feige is also on board as a producer. However, specifics such as the cast, release date, and the extent of its integration with the broader MCU remain closely guarded secrets.
The MCU has been laying the groundwork for the X-Men's introduction since the post-Avengers: Endgame era. With the ongoing multiverse narratives in films like The Marvels, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and Deadpool & Wolverine, Marvel has been dropping subtle hints about how characters such as Wolverine, Beast, and Professor X could intersect with the current Avengers roster. While fans will get to see the MCU's take on The Fantastic Four in The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July, the X-Men's iconic school for mutants has yet to make an appearance.
The X-Men's presence will be felt in Avengers: Doomsday, with last month's cast reveal confirming the involvement of veteran X-Men actors like Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, and James Marsden. Grammer, who played Beast in the Fox X-Men franchise, made his MCU debut in The Marvels' post-credits scene. Stewart, known for his role as Charles Xavier/Professor X, had a cameo in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as part of the Illuminati. Meanwhile, McKellen, Cumming, Romijn, and Marsden have yet to appear in the MCU. This significant casting raises the question: is Avengers: Doomsday secretly an Avengers vs. X-Men movie?
Marvel has been eager to bring the X-Men into the MCU. Kevin Feige hinted last year that fans would see the X-Men debut in “the next few movies.” Additionally, THR reported that Ryan Reynolds has been quietly advocating for a Deadpool-meets-X-Men film. Although no official X-Men movie has been slated yet, given the speed at which the MCU is progressing, fans might not have to wait long to see their favorite mutants join the fray.
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Schreier, who recently directed Thunderbolts*, saw the film hit theaters last weekend to a strong start, grossing $173,009,775 globally (via Box Office Mojo). The anti-hero ensemble has also received positive reviews, earning an 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7/10 from our review.
As we await further developments on Marvel's negotiations with Schreier, fans can check out the internet's reaction to a potential Nightcrawler/Mister Fantastic showdown in Avengers: Doomsday, which was leaked by Alan Cumming himself.
