The X-Men are officially joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe: In an interview with Empire in August, “Thunderbolts*” director Jake Schreier confirmed he will helm Marvel Studios’ upcoming “X-Men” movie, which will launch a new chapter for the MCU. Marvel gained the rights to the X-Men characters when Disney acquired 20th Century Fox in 2019, and this will be the studio’s first major project centered on the mutants. But fans will need to be patient. The live-action film isn’t expected to be released until the conclusion of the MCU’s Phase 6, following the premiere of “Avengers: Secret Wars,” which is scheduled for December 2027.
With the project in its early stages, there’s still plenty of time to get involved, especially if you’re hoping to land a role in the film. Here’s what to know about the “X-Men” reboot.
JUMP TO
Details about the project are being kept extremely under wraps, but Schreier has spoken briefly about the project to the Playlist, describing it as “an incredible opportunity with super interesting characters and [much] internal conflict.” The director added that his version will be a new take on the characters, rather than a remake of previous “X-Men” adaptations. “These characters are wrestling with their identity and place in the world—that’s inherently interesting and complex material.”
Now that the “X-Men” characters are available to the MCU, the main question is how Marvel will incorporate the mutants into the timeline after they’ve been noticeably absent from prior events. The studio has been laying the groundwork by including some mutants in the multiverse, including the appearance of Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” Logan (Hugh Jackman) in “Deadpool & Wolverine,” and more in the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday” film.
“Deadpool & Wolverine” Credit: Jay Maidment
No cast members have been announced yet, and we don’t know which characters will be featured in the story. While it’s possible that cast members from previous “X-Men” movies could reprise their roles or make cameos, Marvel has hinted at recasting with new actors to appeal to younger generations.
“X-Men '97” Courtesy Marvel Animation
Per Variety, Schreier’s role as director for the “X-Men” reboot was first announced by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, who will no doubt be heavily involved in the project. After working as an associate producer on the original “X-Men” film in 2000, Feige has produced nearly every MCU film and series released since.
“[The X-Men comics] have been a place to tell stories about young people who feel different and who feel Other and who feel like they don’t belong,” Feige told reporters at a press event. “That’s the universal story of mutants, and that is where we’re going.”
While unconfirmed, there’s a good chance that Marvel’s go-to CD Sarah Finn will be leading the talent search for the newest mutants. Finn most recently worked as the casting director for “Thunderbolts*,” “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” and the Disney+ limited series “Ironheart.”
Because Marvel projects are famously wrapped in secrecy, your best chance at getting involved is by working with a professional acting agent who can help you make the right connections. On top of that, you can read our guide on how to get cast in the MCU, and check out these superhero casting calls for other action-packed gigs. Finally, here are even more projects in the works:
- Everything We Know About Netflix’s ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Sequel
- Everything We Know About ‘Marty Supreme’
- Everything We Know About ‘Scary Movie 6’
- Everything We Know About the ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Reboot
- Everything We Know About ‘The Legend of Zelda’ Live-Action Film
Dreaming of working on a Marvel set? We’ve got plenty of advice to help you prepare for auditions:
- Sarah Finn on How to Get Cast in a Marvel Movie
- 10 MCU Monologues for Auditions + Acting Practice
- How Sarah Finn Cast ‘WandaVision’
- How to Audition for Disney
- How to Get Cast in a ‘Spider-Man’ Movie