Marvel’s X-Men reboot is making waves with exciting casting updates that signal a new direction for the franchise.
Marvel’s ‘X-Men’ Reboot: Exciting Casting News
Whoever steps into Wolverine’s shoes next is going to need more than a good jawline and healing powers. According to a new report from Variety, Marvel Studios is getting serious about the long-gestating X-Men reboot, and the next phase is about to begin: casting. But don’t expect any A-listers. The mutants are officially going budget-conscious and youth-forward.
Following Kevin Feige’s confirmation that Thunderbolts director Jake Schreier will helm the project, the studio is reportedly seeking lesser-known, younger actors to populate its new take on Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. According to agents familiar with the conversations, this strategy is meant to “keep the cost down” and re-center the franchise around the themes of youth, identity, and finding one’s place in the world—a hallmark of the classic X-Men comics.
“Jake’s an incredibly smart guy, and he’s an incredibly talented filmmaker,” Feige said during a roundtable attended by Collider’s Steve Weintraub. “We had a great experience with him on Thunderbolts, and if you saw that movie, what he did with those character interactions—he also has his pulse on, shall we say, a younger demographic… because X-Men, as it was in the comics, will be a very youth-oriented, focused and cast movie.”
Shifting Focus in Casting
That direction marks a pivot from earlier Marvel blockbusters like Avengers: Endgame, which leaned heavily on the megastar power of Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and Scarlett Johansson. Even Fantastic Four: First Steps, Marvel’s latest ensemble feature, opted for familiar faces like Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby—both big on streaming but still on the lower end of blockbuster salaries compared to Downey Jr.’s Marvel haul (reportedly over $500 million across appearances).
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When Will X-Men Be Released?
While X-Men currently has no release date, insiders have clarified that Marvel is holding July 23, 2027, for another film—but it won’t be this one. For now, Michael Lesslie (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes) is hard at work on the script. Schreier, fresh off his post-Thunderbolts break, is stepping into what might be the MCU’s most delicate cinematic balancing act yet: rebooting a beloved franchise with a massive legacy, a passionate fan base, and sky-high expectations.
Schreier’s previous comments only add to the intrigue. When asked about the rumors during the Mediterranean Film Festival in Malta, he coyly responded, “Even if I were confirmed on that movie, I don’t think I would be allowed to answer that question. I guess what I would say is that it always starts from character and working with great writers and collaborators, and certainly thinking about how to do something different with any project that you take on.”
Stay tuned to Collider for more updates on X-Men.
