(L to R) Director Jake Schreier and Wyatt Russell on the set of Marvel Studios’ ‘Thunderbolts*’. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2025 Marvel.
Preview:
- Director Jake Schreier is in early talks for Marvel’s ‘X-Men’ movie.
- Neither Marvel nor Disney will comment.
- Michael Lesslie wrote the script.
No matter whether you’re sticking with calling it ‘Thunderbolts*’ or have followed Marvel’s switch to –– spoiler alert for the three people living in remote locations who haven’t learned the news –– ‘The New Avengers,’ the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe movie is a hit.
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After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap, seven disillusioned castoffs must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners… Read the Plot
‘ThunderNewVengers’ (we just came up with it, have Marvel call us if they’re interested in adopting it for a modest fee) garnered the best reviews since movies such as ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ and did a lot to win over fans who have been worried that the Marvel behemoth may have seriously lost its way.
It opened top of the domestic box office last week with $74 million, and made more than $160 million worldwide. Parent company Disney is hoping for a strong hold for its second weekend, and is now making moves to stay in business with one of the people responsible.
Director Jake Schreier, who oversaw the new movie, is, via Deadline’s sources, in talks to direct one of the more anticipated future films from Marvel’s stable.
Yes, Schreier, assuming he makes a deal, would be bringing the mutant team known as the X-Men formally to the MCU.
Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Thunderbolts*’
Will Jake Schreier make a new Marvel deal?
Jake Schreier on the set of Marvel Studios’ ‘Thunderbolts*’. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. © 2025 Marvel.
The trade site cautions that the process is still at a crucially early stage, but Schreier, who previously worked on the likes of Netflix series ‘Beef’ and movies including ‘Robot & Frank’ and ‘Paper Towns’, has reportedly been passing on other work so as to keep himself available for the prime mutant gig.
Marvel apparently formed a solid, positive working relationship with the filmmaker –– who weathered strike delays and other challenges –– and he’s now in line to potentially be a trusted pair of hands for the MCU.
He’d join the likes of the Joe Russo and Anthony Russo, who got their start with ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ and went on to make more Cap movies and, of course, the giant one-two punch of ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘Avengers: Endgame’ –– and are back for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ and Matt Shakman, who made the leap from Disney+ series ‘WandaVision’ to the upcoming ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’.
It’s also worth noting that Schreier is also a big X-Men fan, so he sounds like a solid choice –– and has proved his mettle with his most recent gig.
Who else is involved with the new ‘X-Men’ movie?
Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige at Disney’s 2024 CinemaCon Presentation. Photo: Disney.
Michael Lesslie, who most recently wrote a draft of ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ (an adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ prequel novel), has scored the job of working on the new movie.
Lesslie has been in demand by studios of late, also being among the writers on the third instalment of the ‘Now You See Me’ franchise.
We don’t expect Lesslie to be the final writer on this movie, either –– Marvel is infamous for bringing in other scribes and teams to punch up their projects. But he’s still listed for now.
And, of course, Kevin Feige, the boss of Marvel Studios, is aboard as producer. Having gotten his career start working on the 20th Century Fox ‘X-Men’ movies, we know he’ll be closely involved in shepherding the mutants to the MCU.
What will the story of the new ‘X-Men’ movie be?
Hugh Jackman in ‘X-Men’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
Somewhat naturally, Marvel has been keeping things very quiet as to the plot for the movie. We don’t even know which characters will be spotlighted. Though the likes of the Fox movies usually focused on the likes of Professor Charles Xavier, Erik “Magneto” Lensherr, Beast, Rogue and Wolverine, there has been plenty of speculation as to who might lead off the new movie, including talk of female leads.
The versions of the characters played by Patrick Stewart (Professor X), Ian McKellen (Magneto), Kelsey Grammer (Beast), Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler) and Rebecca Romijn (Mystique) are among the first announced cast for ‘Avengers: Doomsday.’
We don’t, however, expect them to stick around as the “official” Marvel on-screen X-Men, and Schreier (or whoever ends up in the director’s chair) will be looking for the cast to play updated versions. Oh, what a tangled web the multiverse has weaved.
Let’s not also forget the huge success of animated series ‘X-Men ’97,’ and, of course, last year’s giant hit ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ which poked some fun at the Fox run and also served as a warm wrap-up for it.
When will the new ‘X-Men’ movie hit screens?
As with the other elements, Feige and Marvel are taking their time with this one.
No official announcement has been made as to a date, but if Schreier signs, and some casting falls into place, we could learn more at this summer’s San Diego Comic-Con.
Disney and Marvel’s release calendar is fairly full for the next couple of years, but we could see an X-Men outing potentially arriving in the wake of ‘Secret Wars.’
(L to R) Haley Berry and Hugh Jackman in ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.