Thunderbolts* Director Jake Schreier Eyed for New X-Men Movie

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is set to expand its horizons by integrating the iconic X-Men into its multi-phase narrative, and Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier is reportedly in discussions to spearhead this exciting venture. According to Deadline, Schreier is in early talks with Marvel Studios to direct a new X-Men film, positioning him as the top choice for this highly anticipated project.

The X-Men movie, still in its early stages of development, will feature a screenplay penned by Michael Lesslie, known for his work on The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. Marvel's chief, Kevin Feige, is also on board as a producer. While specifics such as the cast, release date, and the film's integration with the broader MCU remain undisclosed, the anticipation is palpable.

Since the conclusion of Avengers: Endgame, the MCU has been meticulously laying the groundwork for the X-Men's introduction. Through the intricate web of multiverse narratives in films like The Marvels, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and Deadpool & Wolverine, Marvel has been dropping subtle hints about potential interactions between characters such as Wolverine, Beast, and Professor X with the current Avengers roster. While fans eagerly await The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July, the X-Men's presence has been notably absent—until now.

The upcoming Avengers: Doomsday will mark a significant milestone, as last month's cast reveal confirmed the inclusion of veteran X-Men actors. Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, and James Marsden are all set to reprise their roles, signaling a major crossover. 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, appeared briefly 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. This raises the intriguing possibility that Avengers: Doomsday might be a covert Avengers vs. X-Men showdown.

Marvel has been actively working on bringing the X-Men into the MCU fold. Kevin Feige hinted last year that fans could expect to see the X-Men within "the next few movies." Additionally, THR reported that Ryan Reynolds, who plays Deadpool, has been quietly advocating for a Deadpool-meets-X-Men film. Although no official X-Men movie has been slated yet, given the MCU's rapid pace, fans won't have to wait long to see these beloved characters in action.

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Jake Schreier, fresh off the success of Thunderbolts*, which opened to a global box office of $173,009,775 (via Box Office Mojo), has also garnered critical acclaim, boasting an 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7/10 rating in our review.

As we await further developments on Marvel's negotiations with Schreier, fans can delve into the online buzz surrounding a potential Nightcrawler/Mister Fantastic confrontation in Avengers: Doomsday, a tidbit leaked by Alan Cumming himself.