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 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 assets.
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
Kevin Feige Discussed The Importance Of The Characters
It has been reported (via Deadline) that, post-WGA strikes, the process of finding writers to work on the script for the MCU X-Men movie is now set in motion, with pitch meetings starting back in Fall 2023. No information has been revealed about a writer or how fielding pitches went, but it's likely that the process is moving forward behind the scenes.
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 Deadpool 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. It's confirmed that the X-Men will indeed have their day in the MCU, but when that happens is still unclear. 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.
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 offiicially 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 come after Avengers: Secret Wars, it opens up the question of when it 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 have 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
The Likes Of Deadpool, Wolverine, & Namor Are All Possible
There is very little information about which characters will star in the MCU's X-Men movie or who will play them. Deadpool & Wolverine brought the titular heroes into the MCU, but neither of them stuck around in the MCU by the end. Moreover, Kelsey Grammar'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.
If the MCU does soft-reboot following Avengers: Secret Wars, the X-Men film would likely have a new slate of actors to play the iconic characters. Given the MCU likes to draw more from the comics than some of the earlier X-Men Fox films, it could be possible to see a classic line-up for their first outing. The team could be comprised of Beast, Marvel Girl, Cyclops, Angel, and Ice Man. They would presumably be led by Charles Xavier.
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 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 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.
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 off.
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. As mentioned above, Professor X and Beast have also appeared, though the former is killed by the Scarlet Witch, and the latter is currently in another reality.
X-Men '97 , the sequel to 1992's X-Men: The Animated Series , is Marvel Studios' first X-Men project. However, the animated Disney+ series is not canon to the MCU.
Deadpool & 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, with the exception of 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 Reynold's Deadpool and Hugh Jackman's Wolverine seem likely to continue on in the MCU, possibly appearing in Avengers: Secret Wars, and Kevin Fiege 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
|
Mutants In The MCU |
Appearance(s) |
|---|---|
|
Kamala Khan, AKA Ms. Marvel |
Ms. Marvel (series), The Marvels |
|
Namor |
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever |
|
Charles Xavier, AKA Professor X |
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness |
|
Mr. Immortal |
She-Hulk: Attorney At Law (series) |
|
El Aguila |
She-Hulk: Attorney At Law (series) |
|
Hank McCoy, AKA Beast |
The Marvels |
|
Wade Wilson, AKA Deadpool |
Deadpool & Wolverine |
|
James "Logan" Howlett, AKA Wolverine |
Deadpool & Wolverine |
|
Negasonic Teenage Warhead |
Deadpool & Wolverine |
|
Shatterstar |
Deadpool & Wolverine |
|
Colossus |
Deadpool & Wolverine |
|
Gambit |
Deadpool & Wolverine |
|
X-23 |
Deadpool & Wolverine |
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 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, Deadpool & Wolverine's cast features several cameos from earlier Deadpool 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.
