There is still a long way to go until the MCU’s X-Men reboot fully materializes, but one of the film’s few updates sets a promising precedent. The X-Men were the most highly-anticipated superhero group to come out of Disney’s acquisition of Fox in 2019. It meant that the beloved mutant characters could officially become MCU canon, and with that, a new live-action direction for the group was imminent. Although the cast and director have yet to be set, the upcoming X-Men film does have one member of production signed on.
In May 2024, ᴅᴇᴀᴅline reported that Michael Lesslie had been signed on to write the X-Men movie. While he may not be a high-profile writer in Hollywood just yet, Lesslie does have some impressive credits under his belt. He has adapted two Shakespeare plays for the screen with 2015’s Macbeth and the in-production Hamlet, as well as writing for the ᴀssᴀssin’s Creed film adaptation and the upcoming Now You See Me 3. However, his most well-known writing credit is undoubtedly on The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, which bodes well for Marvel.
Michael Lesslie’s Hunger Games Score Is Good For The MCU’s X-Men Movie
The Hunger Games is one of the most beloved sci-fi franchises of all time, with the four films in its initial run performing extremely well. Still relevant to this day, it is no surprise that 2023’s The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes also did well at the box office as the first content from the franchise in almost a decade. Among audiences, the film has a score of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and for good reason. Even as a prequel released years after the original films, the film interacts extremely well with the franchise’s pre-existing characters.
The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’ excellent execution is a testament to Lesslie’s screenplay, and this is a great sign for the MCU’s X-Men film. Lesslie already has experience dealing with a big-name franchise that juggles action with emotional moments. He’s also proven that he knows how to capture the tone of longstanding characters. Although the MCU’s X-Men will be different iterations of their Fox counterparts, there is still a certain way they need to be captured. Lesslie’s ability to create a consistent tone throughout a franchise should hopefully translate well to the MCU.
Why MCU’s X-Men Movie Needs To Be One Of The Most Carefully Made Marvel Movies In Recent History
Every film in the MCU matters, but the upcoming X-Men reboot will be especially crucial to the future of Marvel Studios. The studio is well aware that it will have to be the most carefully made film in the franchise’s recent history because of how famous its heroes are. Outside of Spider-Man, the X-Men are Marvel’s most-known property and the reason why many fans are so invested in the first place. The upcoming film needs to be great, or it risks turning off fans from the MCU for good.
The wait for the MCU’s live-action adaptation of the X-Men has been years in the making now, and the studio has to nail the execution of Marvel’s beloved mutant team. Especially with how critically acclaimed X-Men ‘97 is, the anticipation has been greater than ever. Luckily for fans, Lesslie is a promising choice to join production on the MCU’s X-Men reboot. With his experience in adapting longstanding intellectual property to the screen, it’s a good start for the inevitable project.
Upcoming MCU Movies
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Thunderbolts*
- Release Date
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May 2, 2025
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Release Date
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July 25, 2025
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Avengers: Doomsday (2026)
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Spider-Man Homecoming 4
- Release Date
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July 24, 2026
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Avengers: Secret Wars
- Release Date
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May 7, 2027
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