Marvel Studios might not have officially announced an X-Men movie just yet, but the buzz is louder than a mutant’s roar in a quiet library. Rumor has it that they’re already laying the groundwork for one heck of a mutant-astic adventure, and guess who’s in early talks to helm the project? None other than Jake Schreier, the director who rocked it with Thunderbolts* (also known as The New Avengers in some circles). Both The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline have been dropping hints that Schreier is our guy for bringing the legendary X-Men into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Why the confidence, you ask? Thunderbolts* itself has been a smashing success, raking in a staggering $173 million globally since its release on May 2. Not to mention, it’s the highest-rated movie in the MCU since the monumental Spider-Man: No Way Home, which blew our minds back in 2021. Clearly, Marvel loves the magic Schreier brings to the screen.
Joining Schreier’s potential mutant project is screenwriter Michael Lesslie, known for his work on The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and Assassin’s Creed. With Lesslie penning the script and Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige producing, expectations are sky-high for this flagship mutant film. It seems Marvel is putting all its chips on integrating the X-Men into the MCU with the same flair as their current superheroes.
Marvel has been teasing us with mutant Easter eggs for a while now. From dropping hints that Kamala Khan might be a mutant in Ms. Marvel to featuring cameo appearances from familiar faces like Patrick Stewart, Kelsey Grammer, and Evan Peters in various MCU projects, it’s clear that Marvel is quietly preparing the stage for an epic mutant reunion. This ambitious plan aims to join the legendary X-Men with other powerhouse teams like the Avengers, Fantastic Four, and even the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Post the resounding success of Deadpool & Wolverine and with next year’s Avengers: Doomsday looming (which is already stirring up all the nostalgic feels with confirmed X-Men talent like Ian McKellen, James Marsden, Alan Cumming, and Rebecca Romijn), Marvel’s strategy is becoming clearer. They’re embracing an ’aughts-era’ X-Men revival while simultaneously infusing fresh ideas into the mix. It’s an exciting challenge, and with creative minds like Schreier and Lesslie on board, there’s plenty of hope that we’ll witness a brilliant, profoundly entertaining integration of the mutants into tomorrow’s MCU.
So here’s hoping that Schreier’s team will bring both beloved faces and fresh new blood to the X-Men saga. Whether you’re a die-hard mutant fan or just here for the epic superhero mashup, this next chapter promises to be worth the hype. Stay tuned, because when the X-Men finally join the MCU, we’re in for one wild, mutant-infused ride.
(*Thunderbolts is also known to some as The New Avengers, adding a delightful twist to Marvel’s storytelling maze.)
Source: This article was inspired by content from Polygon . All images belong to their respective owners.