Marvel Studios is embarking on their highly-anticipated X-Men reboot, and it marks a significant departure from a long-standing trend, offering promising prospects for the MCU’s mutant superheroes. In 2019, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige hinted at a mutant-centric project after Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox, yet details about the MCU’s X-Men reboot have remained scarce. However, recent reports suggest that Marvel Studios is now accepting pitches from writers for the X-Men project, following the resolution of the WGA strike. Nevertheless, the introduction of the X-Men to the MCU may still be some time away.
The film rights to Marvel Comics’ X-Men were acquired by 20th Century Fox in 1994, resulting in the development of the first X-Men film in 2000 and subsequently launching a 20-year-long film franchise. Fox’s X-Men franchise encompassed 13 feature films and two related TV shows, concluding with 2020’s “The New Mutants.” It brought to life iconic Marvel characters like Professor X, Magneto, Wolverine, and Jean Grey in live-action. Now, the MCU’s X-Men reboot signals a fresh start for these beloved characters within Marvel Studios’ highly successful franchise. However, this reboot is poised to break a significant Fox tradition, which could be advantageous for the forthcoming MCU endeavor.
Before the MCU’s X-Men Project, Fox’s Longest Gap Was 5 Years
The Fox superhero franchise initiated with the release of “X-Men” in 2000, leading to a trilogy before expanding with spin-offs, prequels, and timeline alterations. “X2” premiered in 2003, followed by “X-Men: The Last Stand” in 2006. A Wolverine-centered spinoff and the soft reboot “X-Men: First Class” arrived in 2011. Excluding the less-favored “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” if only main X-Men projects are considered, the longest gap between the release of any two films was five years, spanning from “The Last Stand” to “First Class.” These relatively short intervals allowed for rapid world-building within the X-Men universe, setting the stage for the MCU to follow suit several years later.
However, given that Marvel Studios is now in the early stages of recruiting writers for the MCU’s X-Men reboot, it is unlikely that this project will see the light of day before 2025. Marvel Studios has already unveiled its release schedule up to mid-2025, and potential delays due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes could further push back release dates. Consequently, the MCU’s first X-Men film will likely arrive six or more years after Fox’s last installment, creating the longest gap in X-Men film releases since 2011. Surprisingly, this extended hiatus bodes well for Marvel Studios and their new mutant superheroes.
Why Marvel’s X-Men Release Gap Benefits the MCU
By allowing a six-year gap between “X-Men: Dark Phoenix” and the MCU’s official debut of the X-Men team, audiences will have ample time to move on and potentially distance themselves from the previous films. This will facilitate Marvel Studios in recasting numerous high-profile roles for the MCU. Nevertheless, fans can expect to see Fox’s X-Men characters one more time. Both “Deadpool 3” in 2024 and “Avengers: Secret Wars” in 2027 are anticipated to feature cameos from these beloved characters. If Marvel Studios chooses to release the MCU’s X-Men during Phase 7, the Multiverse Saga may offer the ideal opportunity to bid farewell to these cherished characters from the past.
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