Fresh from helming Marvel's "Thunderbolts," Jake Schreier is now in negotiations to revisit the fold with a cinematic renaissance of the iconic "X-Men." Reliable sources affirm that Schreier, whose directorial venture garnered some of Marvel's most acclaimed reviews in recent memory, is in the nascent stages of discussions for this highly anticipated gig. Penning the script alongside Marvel's Kevin Feige is Michael Lesslie, best known for his contributions to "Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes." As usual, Feige will produce the as-yet-untitled feature.
Marvel Studios has discreetly been on the hunt for an "X-Men" director for several weeks, with chatter intensifying this week. This development marks a significant step towards bringing the beloved "X-Men" franchise back to viability on the silver screen. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in the early 1960s, the title has since become one of Marvel's most enduring comic book series, enjoying immense popularity since the 1980s and later as a cherished cartoon in the 1990s. The 2000 film directed by Bryan Singer, starring an ensemble that became cultural icons, helped pave the way for the modern comic book movie era. Even now, a quarter-century later, actors like Hugh Jackman continue to captivate audiences in their iconic roles, as evidenced by last year's "Deadpool & Wolverine," which amassed over $1.3 billion at the box office.
For 20th Century Fox, the studio behind the "X-Men" movies, the franchise served as a long-standing cash cow until it stumbled with 2019's "Dark Phoenix," followed by the pandemic-era release of the spin-off "The New Mutants." By then, Disney had acquired Fox, leaving legions of fans eagerly anticipating the mutants' return to the big screen.
Marvel has been meticulous in its development, subtly hinting at the original cast's return in films like "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" (featuring Patrick Stewart as Professor X) and the aforementioned "Deadpool & Wolverine." Furthermore, the studio is reuniting much of the original cast for "Avengers: Doomsday," set to commence shooting this summer ahead of its release next year.
Schreier's selection underscores a fruitful partnership, indicating Marvel's satisfaction with his work on "Thunderbolts." The studio favors collaborating with filmmakers who share its vision, such as Jon Watts on the "Spider-Man" films (Watts and Schreier happen to be represented by the same CAA agent), Daniel Destin Cretton, or Joe and Anthony Russo. "Thunderbolts" opened to a robust $74.3 million, but more importantly, it garnered stellar audience exit scores and glowing reviews, reversing Marvel's fortunes. Schreier is also represented by Untitled Entertainment.
