It's been almost six years since the Walt Disney Company acquired 21st Century Fox in March 2019, and since then, audiences have speculated on when the X-Men franchise would merge with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Since then, we've seen major developments in the MCU. Patrick Stewart reprise his role as Professor X/Charles Xavier in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel confirmed as a mutant in Ms. Marvel, Kelsey Grammer's Beast appeared in the post-credits scene of The Marvels, and Hugh Jackman's Wolverine joined the MCU alongside Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool in Deadpool & Wolverine. Marvel Animation's X-Men '97 also brought mutants back to the small screen when it premiered on Disney+ last year.
While an X-Men reboot is expected to arrive in the MCU in a few years, Marvel Studios hasn't officially confirmed a live-action X-Men project, but the latest update from Marvel Studios' Head of Streaming Brad Winderbaum confirmed that they are actively working on an X-Men movie. In a recent interview with Screen Rant, the Marvel executive was asked about the future of the X-Men in the MCU as well as the recent rumor that a live-action X-Academy series is in development. The rumor (via InSneider) claims that the show is said to focus on young mutants at Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, but Winderbaum neither confirmed nor denied this.
"I think anybody could say anything online, and it hits the rumor mill and people get excited," he said. "Right now, we are still working on X-Men 97 season 2. It's coming together amazingly, and the scripts for season 3 are insane. That is certainly scratching the X-Men itch for me on television."
He went on to confirm that the X-Men are headed to the big screen: "And there is an X-Men feature in development right now, so that is the focus of X-Men currently."
Though Winderbaum didn't share any specific details about what Marvel is planning for the X-Men, he clearly confirmed that an X-Men film is in the works.
Kevin Feige Confirms the X-Men Makes MCU Debut
Back in November, at the Disney APAC Content Showcase, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige teased the next few years of the MCU, hinting that we may see the beloved mutants before the end of The Multiverse Saga, as they will lead into the "a new age of mutants", saying the following:
I think you will see that continues in our next few movies with some X-Men players that you might recognize. Right after that, the whole story of Secret Wars really leads us into a new age of mutants and of the X-Men. Again, [it’s] one of those dreams come true. We finally have the X-Men back.
As Winderbaum just confirmed, the next X-Men feature is in development at Marvel Studios, so it seems likely that the so-called "Age of Mutants" Feige mentioned could be making its way into theaters sooner rather than later, and that the future of the X-Men franchise is what the powers behind the MCU are currently focused on bringing to the big screen. According to the X-Academy rumor, the series may lead to the X-Men reboot film, but Marvel Studios hasn't officially revealed any details about how they will fully bring the beloved mutants to the MCU.
X-Men '97 Seasons 2 and 3 are currently in development at Marvel Animation, and the second season is expected to premiere on Disney+ next year.
