With the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in full effect for the past few weeks, it's been quite a while since we had any big comic book movie news to share with you guys, but now that the writers strike has come to an end, Deadline has posted a long-awaited update on one of the most highly-anticipated upcoming superhero projects out there.
According to the trade, Marvel Studios has finally started development on its elusive X-Men reboot.
Though it sounds like it's still very early days, execs have reportedly begun to set writer meetings for later this fall to hear pitches on how to bring the iconic mutant heroes back to the big screen. Apparently, "there is no rush to fill the job since the film hasn’t been dated yet, and it’s more than likely that a writer decision will be made at the top of 2024."
So, probably still a ways to go until we get any solid info on a writer (and even longer for a potential director or cast), but at least we know that the wheels are in motion.
Despite Kevin Feige assuring fans that an X-Men reboot was in the works shortly after Disney acquired 20th Century Fox's assets back in 2019, we haven't had a single official update until now. There were rumors that contractual issues may have been preventing Marvel Studios from introducing new actors as established mutant characters such as Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, etc, to The MCU.
Apparently, if they wanted to reboot the team using any of the same characters from Fox's franchise before 2025, the likes of Simon Kinberg, Bryan Singer and co. would be, at minimum, entitled to credits and compensation, and may even have some degree of creative control as well.
We have no idea if this is accurate, but it would explain why there's been radio silence on all things X-Men since 2019, and why the only established mutant character we've seen in The MCU since is Professor Xavier in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness - with Sir Patrick Stewart reprising the role. Hugh Jackman is also set to return as Logan for the upcoming Deadpool 3.
This wouldn't prohibit Marvel from debuting new mutant heroes and villains with no connection to the earlier films, however, which we saw when Kamala Khan was retconned as a mutant in the season finale of Ms. Marvel.
At any rate, now that the WGA strike is over and the Actors Strike is (hopefully) set to follow suit, more details should begin to filter through.