After “Thunderbolts,” director Jake Schreier lined up Marvel’s highly anticipated “X-Men” reboot as his next project. The script is being written by Michael Lesslie, whose credits include “Assassin’s Creed” and “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.”
The Hot Mic’s Jeff Sneider had a scoop during last night’s episode; the release date for ‘X-Men’ has already been set by Marvel for May 5, 2028 — this means it’ll open that year’s summer movie season. That date will mark the 20th anniversary of the MCU, which kicked off in May 2008 with Jon Favreau’s” Iron Man.” If “Avengers: Secret Wars” (set for December 2027) is intended to close out the current era of the franchise, the X-Men reboot is designed to kick off the new one. Disney is betting big on the film.
Schreier’s momentum as Marvel’s choice reportedly grew after early reactions to “Thunderbolts” suggested a “return to form” for the studio. Insiders say Schreier’s long-standing passion for the X-Men comics was well known among Marvel executives and likely helped secure him the opportunity to pitch his vision for the reboot.
I can see why Marvel went with Schreier—he already has an established relationship with the studio, and based on the flat visuals in “Thunderbolts,” he seems comfortable working within Marvel’s rigid aesthetic. Still, it feels like Kevin Feige opted for the safer route. If Schreier truly was the top candidate, fair enough, but it’s hard to believe there weren’t stronger directors interested in the job.
No cast has been announced yet, but that hasn’t stopped rumors from swirling: Jack Champion (“Scream VI”) is reportedly being eyed for Cyclops, Sadie Sink (“Stranger Things”) for Jean Grey, Julia Butters (“The Fabelmans”) for Kitty Pryde, and Margaret Qualley (“The Substance”) for Rogue.
The reboot is being billed as the X-Men’s big-screen return since Disney acquired 20th Century Fox in 2019. Fox’s X-Men franchise, which spanned seven films and three Wolverine spinoffs, ended on a sour note with 2019’s “Dark Phoenix,” which bombed with both critics and audiences.
No word yet on when the X-Men reboot will shoot, but with a 2028 date, I would expect it to start production sometime in late 2026 or early 2027.
It’s hard to believe, but Coppola’s “Marie Antoinette” was met with boos at its Cannes premiere in May 2006. The film also received mixed reviews from critics and remains “rotten” on Rotten Tomatoes.