X-Men Are Headed to the MCU

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With Marvel Studios ramping up for the concluding Avengers films marking the end of The Multiverse Saga, there’s been a shift in focus towards fresh properties within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This year alone, we have not just one but two team-up movies on the horizon – Thunderbolts, slated for May release, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps due in July. Ever since Disney took over 20th Century Fox, fans have been excitedly waiting to see characters that were previously out of reach, particularly the X-Men. Now, it appears that their anticipation may finally be met as a recent report suggests this is exactly what’s happening.

During an interview with ScreenRant regarding upcoming Marvel Television ventures, Brad Winderbaum, Marvel Studios’ head of TV and streaming, provided a candid insight into the potential future of the X-Men within Marvel Studios. While he delved into the progress of subsequent seasons for the animated series “X-Men ’97“, he also offered a concise (yet significant) glimpse into the live-action film universe’s plans for the X-Men, stating:

It seems anything can be claimed online, sparking rumors and excitement. At the moment, we’re diligently working on the second season of X-Men ’97, which looks fantastic, and the scripts for season 3 are mind-blowing. It definitely satisfies my craving for X-Men stories on television. Moreover, there’s an X-Men movie project in progress, so that’s where the focus lies for X-Men at the moment.

The X-Men Are Headed to the MCU (Eventually)

2019 saw two major acquisitions for Disney and Marvel Studios, namely The Fantastic Four and the X-Men, which have been significant milestones in their journey. It has taken a considerable amount of time to bring a new version of Marvel’s First Family into existence, but now that “First Steps” is slated for release in July 2025, it makes perfect sense for Marvel Studios to focus on the X-Men next. Given the growing popularity of X-Men ’97 and the team’s reappearance in comics and other media, it seems Disney and Marvel Studios are gradually immersing pop culture in mutants to acclimate general audiences to their upcoming big-screen return.

The first trilogy of X-Men, directed by Bryan Singer, was a significant part of the early era of comic book adaptations, when movies like Ben Affleck’s Daredevil and Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy were extremely popular. Kevin Feige had a producing role in these films, which suggests that the characters hold a special significance for him. Since several actors from Singer’s trilogy have made cameos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and Hugh Jackman reprised his Wolverine role in Deadpool & Wolverine, it seems likely that the X-Men will soon be part of the main MCU timeline.

It appears that the length of time since any news regarding an X-Men movie within the MCU underscores the importance Marvel Studios places on getting this adaptation perfect. Previous Fox X-Men films were a mixed bag, and this upcoming live-action X-Men team could potentially become the next significant pillar of the MCU, not only in main X-Men films but also in spin-offs about various mutants and even potential new TV series. At present, this work-in-progress X-Men movie carries a lot of weight, and it will be intriguing to see if Marvel Studios can meet this challenge.

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2025-02-25 19:33