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In March 2019, following the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney, control of the film rights for the X-Men comic books was transferred to Marvel Studios. Members of the mutant race first began appearing in MCU projects in 2022. Marvel Studios was meeting with writers to work on a new X-Men film by early 2024, and Lesslie was writing the script by May. Filming is expected to begin in 2026.
In December 2017, the Walt Disney Company announced plans to acquire 20th Century Fox. At the time, Fox was producing a film series based on the Marvel Comics superhero team the X-Men, a group of mutant heroes. The film rights for the characters were set to be transferred to Disney's subsidiary Marvel Studios.[1] In September 2018, Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed plans to introduce the X-Men into Marvel Studios' shared universe the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), feeling it "only makes sense for Marvel to be supervised by one entity".[2] The acquisition was completed in March 2019, and development on further Marvel-based films at Fox was put on hold.[3][4]
In September 2022, Deadline Hollywood's Justin Kroll said an X-Men film would not be happening for a long time and, outside of a writer being hired, he did not expect any updates such as casting news for some time.[16] In February 2023, Feige said the studio had a plan in place for a proper introduction of mutants following the mentions with Kamala and Namor, and said they had been working on "how to do it and when to do it" for years.[13] Shortly after the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike ended in September, Marvel Studios was preparing to meet with writers later that year to discuss pitches for a new X-Men film. Kroll felt this would become one of the most sought-after jobs for writers. Marvel was expected to take their time in hiring a writer, and a decision was not expected until early 2024.[17]Michael Lesslie and Rafe Judkins—a supervising producer and writer on the Marvel Television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013–2020)—were among the finalists by early May 2024,[18] and Lesslie entered negotiations to write the script later that month.[19] Filming was expected to begin in late 2025.[20]
Several characters and actors from the X-Men film series appear in the MCU film Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), including Hugh Jackman reprising his role as Logan / Wolverine.[21][22] Feige said this was the true start to Marvel Studios' exploration and use of the Fox characters,[23] and began the MCU's "Mutant era".[24] He added that characters from the X-Men films would continue to appear in the MCU leading up to the crossover films Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027), which would introduce a "new age of mutants and of the X-Men";[25]The Wall Street Journal reported that the films would introduce a new version of the X-Men to the MCU as part of Feige's ten-year plan for the characters.[26] The alloy adamantium, which is associated with Wolverine, is introduced to the MCU in the film Captain America: Brave New World (2025). Producer Nate Moore said the inclusion of mutants and related elements in MCU films was "plant[ing] some seeds" to help the eventual introduction of the X-Men feel part of "an organic story that's been happening rather than something that we just drop in the middle of".[27] Stewart and Grammer returned for Doomsday, appearing alongside other X-Men film series cast members Ian McKellen (Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto), Alan Cumming (Kurt Wagner / Nightcrawler), Rebecca Romijn (Raven Darkhölme / Mystique), and James Marsden (Scott Summers / Cyclops).[28] Regarding the characters that would be featured in the planned X-Men film, Feige said they would take a similar approach to the MCU Spider-Man films (2017-2021) by including a mixture of mutants who previously appeared in the X-Men film series alongside ones who had not yet been seen in live-action. He was excited to further explore the soap opera elements of the X-Men comic books within the MCU, building off what Marvel Studios had featured in the animated series X-Men '97 (2024–present) which is a revival and continuation of X-Men: The Animated Series.[29]
Journalist Jeff Sneider reported in December 2024 that Marvel Studios was eyeing Sadie Sink to portray Jean Grey in the film. He believed some X-Men characters, such as Grey, could be introduced in a different MCU film like Secret Wars before appearing in this one.[30] Sink was later cast in an undisclosed role for the MCU film Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026).[31] In the following months, Sneider further reported that Julia Butters, Harris Dickinson, and Margaret Qualley were being eyed to portray Kitty Pryde, Scott Summers / Cyclops,[32] and Anna Marie / Rogue, respectively,[33] with filming expected to begin in 2026 for a planned release date in late 2027.[32] During this time, Marvel Studios held meetings with potential directors. The studio did not want to rush this process, taking their time as they did with the writer search.[34] They discussed the film with Ryan Coogler, writer and director of Black Panther (2018) and Wakanda Forever, but he was committed to making Black Panther 3.[35]Jake Schreier was the studio's top choice to direct by early May, following positive responses to his MCU film Thunderbolts*. Schreier met with the studio shortly after that film's release, entered early negotiations to direct the film, and began turning down other job offers. Lesslie was confirmed to be writing the script,[34] while Ryan Reynolds was reported to be developing a separate ensemble film featuring his character Wade Wilson / Deadpool alongside three or four X-Men characters.[36]
