Is this a good idea?
After “Thunderbolts,” director Jake Schreier has lined up Marvel’s highly anticipated “X-Men” reboot as his next directing gig.
According to Deadline, Schreier emerged as the frontrunner after a key meeting last week. The script is being written by Michael Lesslie, who wrote “Assassin’s Creed” and “Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.”
Schreier’s momentum as the next “X-Men” director reportedly grew as early reactions to “Thunderbolts” hinted at a “return to form for Marvel.” Insiders say Schreier’s long-standing “passion” for the X-Men comics was well known among Marvel executives and likely contributed to his being invited to pitch his vision for the reboot.
I can see why Marvel chose 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 Feige opted for the safer route. If Schreier truly was the top candidate, fair enough, but it’s hard to believe there weren’t better directors interested in the job.
No cast has been announced yet for ‘X-Men,’ but that hasn’t stopped rumors from swirling, including Harris Dickinson (“Babygirl”) being eyed for the role of Cyclops. Sadie Sink (“Stranger Things”) being in the running for Jean Grey, Julia Butters being eyed for Kitty Pryde, and Margaret Qualley up for the role of Rogue.
The potential reboot is being hyped as X-Men’s big return to the big screen since Disney acquired 20th Century Fox in 2019. Fox’s X-Men franchise, which spanned seven films, and three Wolverine spinoffs, hit a thud when 2019’s ‘Dark Phoenix’ bombed with critics and audiences.
Last year, Marvel added two untitled movies to their release calendar, dated for July 23, 2027, and November 5, 2027. Many have pointed towards one of these two slots being reserved for the upcoming X-Men reboot.
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