Marvel Studios has officially entered active development on its long-anticipated X-Men reboot within the MCU. After regaining the rights to the X-Men characters through Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox, Marvel fans have been eagerly awaiting the mutant team’s proper integration into the shared universe. Now, the pieces are finally coming together.
Writer: Michael Lesslie
- Michael Lesslie has been tapped to pen the screenplay.
- He is best known for:
- The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
- Assassin’s Creed (2016)
- Macbeth (2015)
- Marvel reportedly chose Lesslie due to his experience with complex characters and political undercurrents — elements central to X-Men themes such as discrimination, identity, and activism.
Marvel’s Next Big Move: Jake Schreier in Talks to Direct X-Men Reboot
Director (In Talks): Jake Schreier
- Jake Schreier, who directed the upcoming Marvel film Thunderbolts, is in early discussions to direct the new X-Men project.
- Schreier’s background includes:
- Paper Towns (2015)
- Robot & Frank (2012)
- Music videos and commercials
- His work with ensemble casts and emotionally driven stories is seen as a good match for the mutant narrative.
Production Timeline
- Expected Production Start: Late 2025
- Target Release Date: 2027
- This timeline allows Marvel Studios to properly integrate the mutants into the broader MCU through upcoming projects, possibly laying groundwork in titles like Deadpool & Wolverine, Avengers: Secret Wars, or The Fantastic Four.
What This Means for the MCU
- The introduction of the X-Men could redefine the MCU’s Phase 7 and beyond.
- Potential themes:
- Social injustice and mutant rights
- Evolution vs. humanity
- Magneto vs. Professor X dynamics (ideological battles)
- There is strong fan speculation that the Multiverse Saga and Secret Wars may be used to merge the Fox X-Men universe with the MCU timeline.
Casting & Characters
- Casting is not yet announced, but it is expected Marvel will recast core roles (Professor X, Wolverine, Storm, Cyclops, Jean Grey, etc.) to build a new legacy.
- Fan favorites like Giancarlo Esposito, Dacre Montgomery, and Jodie Comer have been rumored in fan circles, but nothing is confirmed.
- Marvel is expected to emphasize diversity and modern relevance, especially with characters like Storm, Nightcrawler, and Jubilee.
Setup Clues So Far
- Mutant references have been dropped subtly in:
- Ms. Marvel (mutation theme music)
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (Charles Xavier cameo)
- Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) is expected to heavily feature multiverse and mutant connections
Will It Be Called “X-Men”?
- Marvel is still undecided on the final title.
- Kevin Feige has previously suggested the name “X-Men” may be updated to reflect a more inclusive tone, like “The Mutants.”
- However, the nostalgic power of the “X-Men” brand may still win out.
