While Marvel Studios doesn’t officially have an X-Men movie on its slate yet, it’s definitely happening at some point. Probably very soon. And Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier may be the one to helm it, both The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline reported. Schreier is said to be in early talks to bring the X-Men into the MCU, which is typically a sign that talent is all but locked in. Based on the pick, Marvel would certainly seem pleased by Schreier’s work on Thunderbolts*, which has already grossed $173 million globally since hitting theaters on May 2. Thunderbolts* (aka The New Avengers) is also a critical win for Marvel Studios; it’s the highest-rated film in the MCU since Spider-Man: No Way Home, which was released way back in 2021. Potentially joining Schreier on the live-action cinematic return of the X-Men is Michael Lesslie (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Assassin’s Creed), who is writing the script for Marvel’s marquee mutant movie. Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige is producing, of course. Marvel Studios has been dropping teasers here and there about the existence of mutants in the MCU, ahead of the X-Men officially joining the mega-franchise. From hinting that Kamala Khan is a mutant in Ms. Marvel to including multiverse cameos by X-Men actors like Patrick Stewart, Kelsey Grammer, and Evan Peters in multiple MCU projects, Marvel is setting the table for a new group of X-Men to join the likes of the super teams Avengers, Fantastic Four, and the Guardians of the Galaxy. After the success of Deadpool & Wolverine, which brought back a ton of 20th Century Fox X-people, Marvel is leaning into aughts-era X-Men nostalgia big time with next year’s Avengers: Doomsday. That’ll see even more X-Men talent join the Disney Marvel films, with Ian McKellen, James Marsden, Alan Cumming, and Rebecca Romijn confirmed for the Doomsday cast. Hopefully, Schreier’s X-Men group will include some new blood. It’s going to be a big challenge, but there is no shortage of good ideas about how to pull it off.