Schreier to Helm New X-Men Film After Thunderbolts

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe's long-awaited X-Men integration is gaining momentum, with Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier reportedly in negotiations to helm the mutant team's MCU debut.

According to Deadline, Schreier has entered preliminary talks with Marvel Studios to direct an upcoming X-Men feature. While specifics remain tightly guarded, insiders suggest the filmmaker currently leads Marvel's shortlist for this high-profile project.

The developing film will reportedly feature a screenplay by Michael Lesslie, writer of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. Marvel chief Kevin Feige will produce, though critical details regarding casting, release timing, and MCU connections remain classified.

Since Avengers: Endgame, the MCU has strategically included subtle mutant references across properties like The Marvels, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine. While July's The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces Marvel's first family, Professor X's school for gifted youngsters has yet to officially appear.

The X-Men's presence in Avengers: Doomsday was all but confirmed by last month's star-studded casting announcement. Series veterans including Kelsey Grammer (Beast), Patrick Stewart (Professor X), and Ian McKellen (Magneto) will appear alongside Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), and James Marsden (Cyclops). This impressive lineup has fueled speculation that Doomsday might secretly adapt the famed "Avengers vs. X-Men" storyline.

Marvel's X-Men plans have been gradually materializing since Feige's tease last year about mutants joining "the next few movies." Concurrently, reports indicate Ryan Reynolds has been advocating for a Deadpool/X-Men crossover. Though no official mutant project appears on Marvel's public schedule, the studio's accelerated development pace suggests announcements may come sooner than expected.

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Meanwhile, Schreier's Thunderbolts* continues its successful theatrical run, having earned $173 million globally according to Box Office Mojo. The anti-hero ensemble has also impressed critics, maintaining an 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes (our review awarded it 7/10).

While we await further developments on Marvel's talks with Schreier, check out fan reactions to Cumming's leaked hints about a potential Nightcrawler/Mister Fantastic confrontation in Avengers: Doomsday.