For a generation raised on 20th Century Fox's X-Men films, the bar for Marvel's upcoming mutant revival is sky-high. Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, Patrick Stewart's Professor X, and Ian McKellen's Magneto are practically etched into pop culture. But according to writer Lee Sung Jin, the team behind the MCU's X-Men reboot is ready to swing big—and bring a beefy roster along for the ride.
In a new interview, Jin—who worked with director Jake Schreier on Thunderbolts*—revealed that Marvel chief Kevin Feige wants to "take a big swing and start anew, not be beholden to any of the movies that have come before." That means a clean slate for the mutant franchise, with Schreier's "character first" vision leading the charge.
A Roster That Goes Deep
Jin, a self-professed X-Men fan who grew up watching the animated series with his father, says the writers' room has been "blue-skying" every mutant imaginable. "To be able to look around this Marvel conference room and have every X-Men character on the board and be able to spitball and freestyle on, 'What about this person?' It's so emboldening," he shared. "This isn't going to be a safe movie. This is actually going to be a really exciting new take."
The writer specifically cited the "soapy elements" of Chris Claremont's classic comic run as inspiration, promising a return to the melodrama and character dynamics that made those stories iconic. With modern CGI and filmmaking technology, no mutant seems off-limits—from fan-favorites like Storm and Cyclops to deeper cuts that could surprise even die-hard readers.
Schreier's Mutant Vision
Schreier previously directed Thunderbolts*, which brought together a ragtag team of anti-heroes and helped restore some faith in the MCU's ensemble storytelling. Now, he's tasked with assembling the X-Men—a challenge that Jin says the director is approaching with clarity. "Jake Schreier has such a clear vision in terms of wanting to get back to character first," Jin noted.
While no release date has been set, X-Men is expected to arrive after Avengers: Secret Wars. Fans hungry for more mutant action can check out other upcoming reboots like the Powerpuff Girls Reboot Movie or the Magic School Bus Reboot starring Elizabeth Banks.
For now, the MCU's X-Men reboot is shaping up to be a bold, character-driven ensemble that honors the past while blazing a new path. Stay tuned for more updates as Marvel's mutant era finally begins.
