Marvel Eyeing 'Thunderbolts' Director for 'X-Men'

Newsweek

09-05-2025

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After a long wait, Marvel may have finally found the director who will bring the X-Men into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Deadline reports that Jake Schreier, director of "Thunderbolts*" (or "*The New Avengers"), is in early talks to helm "X-Men". The script for the film has already been written by Michael Lesslie with Kevin Feige producing.
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Deadline reports that things have been looking in favor of Schreier directing "X-Men" ever since positive early reactions to "Thunderbolts*" began pouring in. They also say that while other studios have come knocking, the director has been turning down other work, possibly to make room for "X-Men".
Promotional material for "X2: X-Men United".
Promotional material for "X2: X-Men United".
20th Century Studios
It isn't exactly a shock that Marvel would consider Schreier a top contender to bring the X-Men back into the fold. "Thunderbolts*" not only earned overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics, but pulled in $162 million globally on its first weekend.
Marvel has taken its time bringing the X-Men into the MCU and has slowly been introducing the very notion of mutants into the narrative while at the same time teasing fans with clever cameos. As early as the 2021 series "WandaVision" the appearance of Evan Peters as Quicksilver had fans speculating the series would open the doors for the X-Men. Fans have since been treated to the return of "X-Men" actors such as Patrick Stewart in "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" and Kelsey Grammer in "The Marvels". In the meantime characters such as Iman Vellani's Ms. Marvel and Namor of "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" have been teased as early examples of mutants in the MCU.
Last year's "Deadpool & Wolverine" brought Hugh Jackman back to his signature role and connected the world of the cinematic X-Men to that of the larger MCU, but without bringing them into Earth-616, the prime Marvel timeline.
"Avengers: Doomsday" promises to do even more with the X-Men. During Marvel's epic 5-hour cast announcement, it was revealed "X-Men" actors Stewart, Grammer, Ian McKellen, Rebecca Romijn, James Marsden, and Alan Cumming would all be appearing, presumably as their famous mutant personas.
"Thunderbolts*" is playing in theaters now. The film is directed by Jake Schreier and stars Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, Chris Bauer, Wendell Edward Price, Hannah John-Kamen, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
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