The highly-anticipated X-Men MCU film, expected to arrive in theaters after Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, continues to make steady progress as Marvel Studios integrates the mutant franchise into its interconnected universe. Jake Schreier was confirmed to direct the X-Men film following his successful MCU debut with Thunderbolts*. The project is now advancing with significant updates to its screenplay.
Collider recently talked to Schreier about the X-Men reboot. The outlet reported that Beef creator Lee Sung Jin and The Bear scribe and co-showrunner Joanna Calo have been brought in to work on a new draft of the script.
We're still developing. You know, one of the exciting things that's tying into Beef is that Sonny [Lee Sung Jin] and Joanna [Calo] both worked on this season. Obviously, I mean, Beef is Sonny's show, and Joanna worked on the season as well, and we worked together on Season 1 of Beef and on Thunderbolts*. They have come in and are working on a draft right now, which is really exciting to be able to put that group of people together again.
This collaboration reunites Schreier with the duo he previously worked with on the first season of the acclaimed Netflix series Beef and the MCU feature Thunderbolts*. Lee Sung Jin is renowned for his ability to transform small interpersonal dynamics into expansive, high-stakes narratives, while Joanna Calo brings her expertise in character-driven storytelling from The Bear. Their combined talents are viewed as a perfect match for the X-Men universe, where stories frequently weave ideological debates with deeply personal conflicts that carry a soap opera-like intensity drawn straight from the original comics.
Schreier has highlighted how the writers excel at grounding larger themes in relatable human emotions, a quality that could elevate the reboot beyond traditional superhero fare. The X-Men franchise has always thrived on explorations of prejudice, identity, power, and found family, elements that require nuanced writing to feel authentic on the big screen. With the script still in active development, Marvel Studios continues to operate under its signature veil of secrecy, a strategy that has proven effective for maintaining surprise and focus across its slate of projects.
Which X-Men will appear in Avengers: Doomsday?
Several actors reprising roles from the Fox-era X-Men films are confirmed to appear in Avengers: Doomsday:
Patrick Stewart as Professor Charles Xavier
Ian McKellen as Magneto
James Marsden as Cyclops
Rebecca Romijn as Mystique
Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler
Kelsey Grammer as Beast
Hugh Jackman as Wolverine
These crossovers are expected to help bridge previous mutant timelines with the current MCU continuity ahead of the standalone reboot. More X-Men actors might surprisingly appear in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, potentially expanding the mutant presence in these massive ensemble events and setting the stage for even greater integration within the MCU.
Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled for release on December 18, 2026, while Avengers: Secret Wars will follow on December 17, 2027. Additionally, X-Men '97 Season 2 is set to premiere in summer 2026 on Disney+.
