Jake Schreier Eyed to Direct New X-Men Film

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is set to introduce the X-Men into its expansive multi-phase narrative, with Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier reportedly in discussions to spearhead this exciting new venture. According to Deadline, Schreier is in the early stages of talks with Marvel Studios to direct the upcoming X-Men film. While the specifics of these negotiations remain undisclosed, Schreier is said to be the top choice for Marvel to bring this iconic team to life on the big screen.

The X-Men project, still in its early development phase, will feature a script penned by Michael Lesslie, the writer behind The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. Marvel's visionary Kevin Feige is also on board as a producer, adding to the anticipation surrounding this film. Key details such as the cast, release date, and the film's integration with the broader MCU are currently kept under wraps, fueling speculation and excitement among fans.

Since the conclusion of Avengers: Endgame, the MCU has been meticulously laying the groundwork for the X-Men's introduction. The ongoing multiverse narratives in films like The Marvels, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and Deadpool & Wolverine have included subtle hints about potential interactions between characters such as Wolverine, Beast, and Professor X with the current Avengers roster. While The Fantastic Four: First Steps is set to introduce Marvel's First Family in July, the X-Men's presence has been notably absent until now.

The X-Men's integration into the MCU will be fully realized with their appearance in Avengers: Doomsday. Last month's Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal confirmed the inclusion of veteran X-Men actors like Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, and James Marsden. Grammer, who portrayed Beast in the Fox X-Men series, made his MCU debut in The Marvels' post-credits scene. Stewart, known for his role as Charles Xavier/Professor X, appeared briefly 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) are yet to make their MCU debuts, raising questions about whether Avengers: Doomsday might secretly be an Avengers vs. X-Men film.

Marvel has been working diligently to bring an MCU X-Men film to fruition. Kevin Feige assured fans last year that the X-Men would make their MCU debut within “the next few movies.” Additionally, THR reported that Ryan Reynolds, who plays Deadpool, has been advocating for a Deadpool-meets-X-Men movie to be produced sooner rather than later. While there is no official X-Men movie on the timeline yet, given the speed the MCU is moving at, fans can expect to see their beloved characters join the fray in the near future.

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Jake Schreier recently launched Thunderbolts* into theaters, where it has enjoyed a successful opening, grossing $173,009,775 globally so far, according to Box Office Mojo. The ensemble anti-hero film has also received positive reviews, boasting an 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with our review giving it a 7/10.

As we await further updates on Marvel's negotiations with Schreier, fans can explore the internet's reaction to a potential Nightcrawler/Mister Fantastic showdown in Avengers: Doomsday, which was leaked by Alan Cumming himself.