With a long-awaited X-Men movie in the works for the MCU, here’s everything that has been confirmed about the tent-pole superhero team. Movie rights to the X-Men initially belonged to 20th Century Fox — beginning with Bryan Singer’s X-Men (2000) and ending with The New Mutants (2020). The 20-year-long X-Men movie franchise produced some incredible films and some disappointing ones, but the mutants are now back home at Marvel following Disney’s acquisition of Fox’s entertainment ᴀssets.

Though the deal went through way back in 2019, Marvel Studios hasn’t been in a hurry to introduce the X-Men. Several mutants have popped up in various MCU movies and TV shows, but the X-Men haven’t been named yet. However, as the pieces slowly fall into place, it seems as though Marvel Studios’ X-Men plans are slowly starting to come into focus.

Marvel’s X-Men Latest News

Some Casting Reports Have Been Made

Though nothing has been confirmed, there have been reports of Marvel already eyeing a few actors for some X-Men roles in the MCU. This report comes from The InSneider, and the names include Sadie Sink (Stranger Things) for Jean Grey, Harris Dickinson (Babygirl) for Cyclops, and Julia ʙuттers (Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood) for Kitty Pryde, who will likely be significant characters in the movie. It’s important to take these reports with a grain of salt since nothing has been officially confirmed, but it seems like Marvel Studios is starting to ramp up the development of their X-Men film.

Kevin Feige opened up about the X-Men in the MCU during an interview with Omelete (via Discussing Film), including their importance in the narrative moving forward. “… On the road to Secret Wars, we already know very well what the story will be up until then and beyond. The X-Men are an important part of that future.” There is a possibility that some mutants could appear in Avengers: Secret Wars, like Ryan Reynolds as ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool or Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, but it more than likely means that they will be officially saved for Phase 7, following the conclusion of the Multiverse Saga.

Marvel’s X-Men Confirmed

The Arrival Of The X-Men Will Happen

Despite several MCU Easter eggs and hints pointing at the X-Men, Kevin Feige has remained coy about when and how the X-Men will be introduced to the MCU. Professor X and Beast have already had cameos in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and The Marvels, respectively, but it’s unclear how, or if, those appearances will relate to the X-Men’s first solo MCU movie. Mutants were also confirmed in the MCU during the Ms. Marvel TV series. With ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine being so successful, it seems obvious that the MCU wants to get the ball rolling on the mutant side of the universe soon.

In a report from ᴅᴇᴀᴅline in May 2024, the X-Men movie already had already found its writer in Michael Lesslie (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes). Though nothing has been announced regarding a director or any official casting, already having a writer attached to the project bodes well for it being ready to go once Avengers: Secret Wars ends the Multiverse Saga.

Where Does The X-Men Movie Fit In The MCU Slate

They Likely Won’t Show Up Until After Secret Wars

No release date has been announced for Marvel’s X-Men, but it seems most likely that the X-Men won’t officially enter the MCU until after Avengers: Secret Wars. That film will act as the conclusion to the MCU’s Multiverse Saga that began in 2021. Given that the nature of Secret Wars could lead to some sort of soft reboot for the MCU, it would be the perfect time for the X-Men to make their debut, ushering in a new era for Marvel after nearly two decades of one continuous story.

If the X-Men do indeed come after Avengers: Secret Wars, it opens up the question of when their movie will actually be released, and there are a couple of slots that could work for the new MCU project. Secret Wars will be released on May 7, 2027, while Marvel Studios has two unтιтled film release dates for both July and November 2027. This means that X-Men could very likely be one of those dates.

Marvel’s X-Men Cast

A Younger Group Of The Most Important X-Men

There is very little information about which characters will star in the MCU’s X-Men movie or who will play them. ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine brought the тιтular heroes into the MCU, but neither of them stuck around by the end. Moreover, Kelsey Grammer’s Beast was shown at the end of The Marvels. However, given that his cameo is in “another reality,” it’s unclear if he’ll find his way to the mainline MCU. Moreover, Iman Vellani’s Ms. Marvel is a mutant in the MCU, but she seems set to lead the Young Avengers for now.

Given the reports of Marvel Studios looking at actors for Jean Grey, Cyclops, and Kitty Pryde, it seems like they really want to focus on the core members of the X-Men when they officially join the MCU. It makes sense given how important these characters are to the X-Men as a whole. There’s also Namor, the antagonist of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, who could be making some kind of appearance given that he is a confirmed mutant. He might not fit in with the X-Men as he has in other Marvel stories, like with The Fantastic Four, but it is possible.

Marvel’s X-Men Story Details

Nothing Is Confirmed As Of Now

There have been no story details released for the upcoming Marvel X-Men movie, but one big narrative obstacle the MCU has to hurdle is how to introduce where the X-Men have been before their introduction. Given that the X-Men consists of a mix of younger and older heroes, it seems unlikely that the X-Men will be newly formed from within the MCU’s Earth-616. However, given the opportunities afforded by the Multiverse Saga, the X-Men could come from another reality where they’re already established.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness established precedence for superhero teams in other realities, showcasing the Illuminati (which, coincidentally, included Professor X among its members). However, Monica Rambeau being stuck in another reality with Beast, a superpowered variant of her mother, and a named-but-not-seen Professor X, seems like the most likely hook for where the X-Men’s MCU story may start.

How The MCU Has Set Up The X-Men

The Marvels Was The Biggest Hint

There have been hints and clues sprinkled throughout the MCU hinting at the X-Men. Thanks to the Ms. Marvel television series, mutants have officially been confirmed in the MCU. In the finale, Ms. Marvel realizes that the cause of her powers is because of a mutation (a reveal accompanied by the X-Men: The Animated Series theme song). Namor is also a well-established mutant currently in the mainline MCU. Professor X and Beast have also appeared, though the former is killed by the Scarlet Witch, and the latter is currently in another reality.

ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine successfully brought a number of Fox characters over into the MCU, but that was short-lived as they either died or returned to their own universes by the end of the film, except for Wolverine himself, and Laura. The MCU’s willingness to feature a number of X-Men characters in the film does bode well for the future of the team whenever they appear. It’s clear that X-Men will be a major priority for the MCU when it finally happens.

Ryan Reynolds’ ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine seem likely to continue on in the MCU, possibly appearing in Avengers: Secret Wars, and Kevin Feige has talked about wanting to fit them into other projects. If the MCU does do a soft reboot of the universe following that film, a lot of the mutants already introduced could be obsolete, but it is still important as it has gotten audiences familiar with mutants in the main continuity.

Every X-Men Character Already In The MCU

There’s More Than A Dozen

Several X-Men-related characters are already in the MCU ahead of the team’s solo movie. As mentioned, Professor X, Beast, Namor, and Ms. Marvel have all appeared in the MCU. There are also other X-Men who exist in the MCU if the movies follow the comics. El Aguila and Mr. Immortal made cameos in She-Hulk. Moreover, ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine‘s cast features several cameos from earlier ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool and X-Men movies, but the film ends with Wade Wilson and Logan in Wade’s universe. Still, there is a chance they could return in future MCU projects.

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