Jake Schreier, director of Marvel’s critically acclaimed “Thunderbolts,” is in early talks to helm the next “X-Men” movie for Marvel Studios.
Although a deal has not yet been finalized, sources say Schreier has emerged as a top contender after the strong reception of Thunderbolts from both critics and audiences. The film opened with a modest $76 million domestically but has earned praise for its fresh tone and storytelling, sparking optimism about its long-term success in theaters.
The upcoming X-Men film will be written by Michael Lesslie, known for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige is attached as producer. No details about the plot, cast, or release date have been announced.
Schreier’s past directing work includes the 2012 sci-fi film Robot & Frank, the 2015 adaptation of Paper Towns, and episodes of Netflix’s Beef and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.
This new movie will be the first standalone X-Men feature since Disney acquired 21st Century Fox in 2019. While Marvel has introduced mutant characters in recent projects like Deadpool & Wolverine and the animated Disney+ series X-Men ’97, this untitled film marks the franchise’s official return to the big screen.
Disney CEO Bob Iger recently praised Thunderbolts as a key turning point for Marvel, following several high-profile stumbles. Although recent blockbusters such as Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Deadpool & Wolverine have delivered strong results, other releases—Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, The Marvels, and Captain America: Brave New World—have failed to meet expectations.
“We’ve learned that quantity does not necessarily mean quality,” Iger said during a recent investor call. “We lost some focus by producing too much. By narrowing our slate and focusing more on films, we believe Marvel will return to delivering high-quality stories. Thunderbolts is a great first example of that shift.”
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