Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier to officially direct the X-Men reboot, Kevin Feige confirms

Promotional poster for X-Men | Image via Marvel Comics
Promotional poster for X-Men | Image via Marvel Comics

Jake Schreier has been officially chosen to direct Marvel’s X-Men reboot. The update came through Instagram, where Kevin Feige kept it simple:

“It’s official, Jake Schreier is doing X-Men for us, and we’re very, very lucky. And we’re very, very lucky to have him and very excited to have him. And so we’re beginning. It’s all starting now. The script’s underway.”

There wasn’t a trailer, no visual tease, just a statement. But it landed. The message was clear enough: things are moving. And coming from Feige, a few words are often more telling than a long announcement.

Choosing Jake Schreier says something. He’s not known for loud storytelling. His work leans into mood, careful pacing, and character tension. That’s different from the kind of noise Marvel sometimes leans on. Maybe that’s the point.


What changes with Jake Schreier this time around

There’s no sign this reboot will follow the tone set by earlier film versions. What Feige hinted at feels closer to the comics, especially in how the characters might look and move. Gone are the sleek black suits, possibly. In their place, designs that let each mutant feel like an individual again.

It’s not just about costumes. There’s also this idea, mentioned briefly but clearly, that the story will be told from the perspective of younger mutants. That feeling of being outside everything, of not fitting in, has always been a part of the X-Men. But here, it seems to be where it all begins.

And with Jake Schreier directing, that tone might stretch across the whole film. He’s known for building scenes that sit in silence, for letting people speak without saying much. That could serve the story in ways action never could.


No one cast yet, no roles confirmed

At this stage, casting remains a mystery. Marvel hasn’t said anything about which characters will appear, and the script is still under development. That leaves a lot of space for speculation. Names trend online, and fans guess who might play who, but there’s nothing to support those guesses.

Some suggest the studio might avoid diving into legacy roles immediately. Others think familiar names like Cyclops or Storm might return in fresh forms. Right now, that’s just chatter.

What is known is limited. Jake Schreier is on board. The writing process has started. That’s the extent of what’s confirmed. No more, no less.

Jake Schreier | Image via Fox | Credits: Michael Tackett
Jake Schreier | Image via Fox | Credits: Michael Tackett

What the comics might offer

There’s no indication that Marvel will stick to any particular comic arc. But based on Feige’s comments and the direction they seem to be taking, it’s possible to point to a few storylines that fit.

One is New X-Men, from 2001. It brought younger characters into focus and reimagined the structure of the team. Themes like loss, growth, and identity were central. That sounds like something that would pair well with the current approach.

Another is Schism, a 2011 storyline that split the team over philosophical disagreements. It wasn’t about villains or threats. It was about leadership, loyalty, and difference. Those kinds of internal fractures could create tension without relying on a big fight.

There’s also the Krakoa era, introduced in 2019 by Jonathan Hickman. It was a complete reboot of mutant life, with ideas about unity, nationhood, and collective identity. It’s dense, maybe too much for a first film, but some of its tone might still show up.

None of these have been mentioned by Marvel. They’re just thematic matches, ideas that reflect the direction the studio seems to be circling.

Thunderbolts* | Image via Disney+
Thunderbolts* | Image via Disney+

What’s ahead, and how it might unfold

So far, there’s no release date. The only clue is that it will probably arrive after Avengers: Secret Wars, which is planned for the end of 2027. That puts this reboot somewhere beyond that, possibly in 2028 or the start of a new phase.

Filming hasn’t started. There’s no indication of casting sessions either. The script is still being shaped. All of this suggests that the X-Men won’t just be dropped into the MCU. They’ll be introduced slowly, maybe through one or two characters at first, or in their own space entirely.

There’s a different energy around this project. Less urgency, more thought. The feeling is that Marvel wants to get this right, not just fast. The X-Men are too important to treat like a spin-off or a side plot.

And part of that direction likely comes from Jake Schreier. The studio’s decision to bring him in wasn’t just about logistics. It reflects the tone they’re aiming for. He’s not a flashy choice, but that seems intentional. The setup doesn’t rely on nostalgia. It’s not about reliving what worked once. It’s about trying something that fits now.

And maybe that’s why this version will matter. Not because of what it promises in trailers, but because of what it avoids. No rush. No repetition. Just a chance to begin again, with time to figure out what that means.

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Edited by Sohini Biswas