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

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is poised to introduce the X-Men into its expansive multi-phase narrative, with Thunderbolts director Jake Schreier reportedly in negotiations to direct the eagerly anticipated X-Men film. According to Deadline, Schreier is at the forefront of Marvel Studios' list to helm this project, although the specifics of the negotiations remain undisclosed.

The X-Men movie, still in its early stages of development, is being scripted by Michael Lesslie, known for his work on The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. Marvel's chief Kevin Feige is set to produce, though other details such as the cast, release date, and its integration with the broader MCU are being kept confidential.

The MCU has been teasing the arrival of the X-Men since the conclusion of Avengers: Endgame, with subtle references to key X-Men characters like Wolverine, Beast, and Professor X appearing in films such as The Marvels, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and Deadpool & Wolverine. Meanwhile, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is slated for release in July, bringing Marvel's First Family into the MCU, but the iconic school of Mutants has yet to make its appearance.

The upcoming Avengers: Doomsday promises a significant presence of the X-Men, as evidenced by last month's cast reveal which included veteran X-Men actors such as Kelsey Grammer (Beast), Patrick Stewart (Professor X), Ian McKellen (Magneto), Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), and James Marsden (Cyclops). This has led to speculation about whether Avengers: Doomsday might secretly be an Avengers vs. X-Men film.

Marvel has been eager to incorporate the X-Men into the MCU, with Kevin Feige hinting last year that fans would see their debut within "the next few movies." Additionally, The Hollywood Reporter noted that Ryan Reynolds, who plays Deadpool, has been advocating for a Deadpool-meets-X-Men movie. Although no official X-Men movie has been scheduled yet, given the MCU's pace, fans won't have to wait long to see these beloved characters join the fray.

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View 12 ImagesJake Schreier, who recently directed Thunderbolts, which opened to a strong global box office total of $173,009,775 and garnered an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, is a promising choice to lead the new X-Men film.

As we await further developments on Marvel's discussions with Schreier, fans can enjoy online discussions about potential matchups, such as a Nightcrawler/Mister Fantastic showdown in Avengers: Doomsday, a concept teased by Alan Cumming himself.