Summary
Jake Schreier’sThunderbolts*has been dominating the box office. Following its successful premiere, the filmmaker seems likely to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in another huge project.
Marvel Studioshas already laid the groundwork for introducingX-Meninto the MCU. For instance, it already featured Patrick Stewart’s Professor X inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessin 2022. Additionally, Kelsey Grammer’s Beast appeared inThe Marvels.Another notable introduction of the mutants is bringing them into the anticipated MCU tentpole,Avengers: Doomsday. Several actors from Fox’s originalX-Menfilms are joining the next Avengers movie, including Ian McKellen (Magneto), Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), James Marsden (Cyclops), Stewart and Grammer.
There has been no major announcement about the officialX-Menmovie in the MCU. However, it might have just found its director.Sources toldDeadlinethat Marvel Studios is eyeing Schreier to helm one of its biggest projects — the newX-Menfilm. The outlet, however, noted that there are no concrete details about the deal. Insiders claimed Schreier had a meeting with Marvel in the past week about the project. Michael Lesslie, who pennedThe Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirdsand SnakesandAssassin’s Creed, is writing the script forX-Men, whileMarvel Studios President Kevin Feigeis producing. The insiders added that even before the release ofThunderbolts*and its positive reviews, several studios were reaching out to Schreier to work with him. However, the filmmaker was reportedly turning down the offers, suggesting that he probably had another project on the way, likely with Marvel.
Jake Schreier’s Handling Of Team Dynamics InThunderbolts*Makes Him A Great Choice For AnX-MenMovie
Marvel Studios' choice to work with Schreier forX-Menis not surprising, since they have a great working relationship.Thunderbolts*performance at the box officealso makes the director an appealing choice for the project. Feige has been teasing theX-Men’sarrival in the MCU seemingly forever now. At the Disney APAC Content Showcase in Singapore in November 2024, the Marvel Studios President saidAvengers: Secret Warswill lead into the “new age of mutants and of the X-Men.”
It appears that the MCU’s plan forX-Menis a multi-phase integration. They are bringing back a heaping helping of legacy characters from the Fox era. Stewart’s Professor X inDoctor Strange 2, Grammer’s Beast inThe Marvels, and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine inDeadpool & Wolverineare multiverse-based appearances. It’s clear that the MCU is honoring the past, but it will likely introduce new and younger actors to establish the mutants in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Casting new actors is best for long-term storytelling and makes the team more relatable to newer and younger MCU audiences.
Schreier could take on the director’s chair forX-Menbecause he has the experience and expertise. He is known for emotionally grounded and character-first storytelling in the 2012 sci-fi dramaRobot & Frankand the 2015 coming-of-age filmPaper Towns. These themes are perfect formutantsgrappling with identity and a power crisis inX-Men. Also, his experience with an ensemble cast, in the case ofThunderbolts*, is unquestionably amazing. Schreier is great at directing a team and balancing multiple character arcs with emotional clarity, which is essential when working onX-Men, which (almost always) involves multiple leads.
