The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is set to expand its horizons by introducing the X-Men into its multi-phase narrative, and Jake Schreier, the director of *Thunderbolts**, is reportedly in early discussions to helm this eagerly anticipated project.
According to Deadline, Schreier is at the forefront of Marvel Studios' list to direct the upcoming X-Men film, though the specifics of these negotiations remain undisclosed. The script for this new venture is penned by Michael Lesslie, known for his work on The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, with Kevin Feige, the architect behind the MCU, attached as a producer. Details such as the cast, release date, and the film's integration into the broader MCU are currently kept under wraps.
The MCU has been meticulously laying the groundwork for the X-Men's introduction following *Avengers: Endgame*. Through various multiverse-related plot developments in films like *The Marvels*, *Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania*, and *Deadpool & Wolverine*, subtle hints have been dropped about the potential interactions between iconic X-Men characters like Wolverine, Beast, and Professor X and the existing Avengers roster. While *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* will introduce the MCU's version of Marvel's First Family in July, the iconic school of Mutants has yet to make its mark.The X-Men's presence will be undeniable in Avengers: Doomsday, as confirmed by the recent cast reveal featuring veteran 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 franchise, 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 in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as part of the Illuminati. Meanwhile, McKellen (Magneto), Cumming (Nightcrawler), Romijn (Mystique), and Marsden (Cyclops) have yet to make their MCU debuts, sparking speculation about whether Avengers: Doomsday might secretly be an Avengers vs. X-Men film.
Marvel has been actively working on integrating the X-Men into the MCU, with Kevin Feige hinting last year that fans could expect to see the mutants within "the next few movies." Additionally, THR reported that Ryan Reynolds, who plays Deadpool, has been quietly advocating for a Deadpool-meets-X-Men movie to be fast-tracked. Although no official X-Men movie has been slated yet, the rapid pace of the MCU suggests that fans won't have to wait long to see these beloved characters join the fray.
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Schreier, fresh off the success of *Thunderbolts*, which has grossed $173,009,775 globally and earned an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes (our review gave it a 7/10), is poised to bring his vision to the X-Men. As we await further developments on Marvel's negotiations with Schreier, fans are buzzing about a potential Nightcrawler/Mister Fantastic showdown in Avengers: Doomsday*, a plot point that Alan Cumming himself has hinted at.
