X-Men Movie Rumored to Eye Thunderbolts Director Jake Schreier

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is set to expand with the much-anticipated introduction of the X-Men, and Thunderbolts director Jake Schreier is reportedly in early discussions to helm this new venture. According to Deadline, Schreier is at the top of Marvel Studios' list to direct the upcoming X-Men film, although the specifics of these negotiations remain undisclosed.

The script for this eagerly awaited project is penned by Michael Lesslie, known for his work on The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, with Marvel's Kevin Feige attached as a producer. Details such as the cast, release date, and its integration within the broader MCU narrative are still closely guarded secrets.

Since *Avengers: Endgame*, the MCU has been steadily building excitement for the X-Men's arrival. Through multiverse narratives in films like *The Marvels*, *Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania*, and *Deadpool & Wolverine*, Marvel has subtly hinted at the potential crossover between iconic X-Men characters such as Wolverine, Beast, and Professor X with the current Avengers roster. While *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* is set to introduce fans to the MCU's version of Marvel's First Family in July, the X-Men's presence has been notably absent until now.

The X-Men's significant role in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday was confirmed last month with the announcement of its cast, which includes veteran X-Men actors like Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, and James Marsden. Grammer, who previously 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. Meanwhile, McKellen, Cumming, Romijn, and Marsden, who played Magneto, Nightcrawler, Mystique, and Cyclops respectively, have yet to make their MCU debuts. This leads to speculation about whether Avengers: Doomsday might be a covert Avengers vs. X-Men movie.

Marvel has been actively working on integrating the X-Men into the MCU. Kevin Feige hinted last year that the X-Men would debut within "the next few movies." Additionally, THR reported that Ryan Reynolds, who plays Deadpool, has been advocating for a Deadpool-meets-X-Men film. Although no official release date for an X-Men movie has been announced, given the MCU's rapid pace, fans can expect to see these beloved characters sooner rather than later.

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View 12 ImagesSchreier, fresh off the success of Thunderbolts, which has grossed $173,009,775 globally according to Box Office Mojo and received an 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes (with our review giving it a 7/10), is a strong candidate for this new project.

As we await further updates on Marvel's negotiations with Schreier, fans are buzzing about potential matchups in Avengers: Doomsday, such as a Nightcrawler vs. Mister Fantastic showdown, as hinted by Alan Cumming himself.