Marvel Producer Explains The Delay In X-Men Reboot After Disney Purchased The Rights

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Summary

  • Disney’s X-Men reboot was delayed due to a “cooling-off ” period post-acquisition.
  • Professor X made an appearance in Doctor Strange, setting the stage for mutants in the MCU.
  • Marvel is slowly incorporating X-Men characters into the MCU before releasing the reboot.

Marvel enthusiasts have long anticipated the day they could finally witness the MCU’s take on the X-Men. One of the producers clarified the reason behind the delay in introducing them, but also provided an encouraging sneak peek at the upcoming reboot.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that when Disney took over 21st Century Fox back in March 2019, it also got its hands on the rights for movies like X-Men, Fantastic Four, and Deadpool. Now, while an X-Men reboot is still brewing, Marvel Studios has been cleverly weaving mutants into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Case in point: Professor X (Patrick Stewart) showed up in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), and Hugh Jackman made a comeback as everyone’s favorite X-Men character, Wolverine. He even teamed up with Ryan Reynolds for Deadpool & Wolverine (2024). Moreover, Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) from MCU’s Ms. Marvel was labeled as a mutant.

In 2023, Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios, confirmed that they were cooking up an X-Men reboot, but they weren’t in any hurry, given the numerous projects already underway. A Marvel producer recently shed light on why they weren’t rushing the reboot.

Nate Moore, a producer at Marvel, spoke with Entertainment Weekly about the eagerly awaited reboot of X-Men. He mentioned that there was a pause or “cooling off period” following Disney’s acquisition of the rights to X-Men, which is why mutants weren’t introduced in Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films and TV shows immediately. Moore further stated that this waiting phase has ended, and they are now actively working on integrating X-Men into the MCU. He added that they aim to introduce these elements gradually, so the introduction of X-Men doesn’t feel overwhelming when the movie arrives, allowing the MCU to pave the way for potential future developments.

Moore shared that their ideas for X-Men were still in development, describing them as “fairly flexible.” However, they were moving forward, and he confidently stated that the film was indeed in production. During APAC’s Disney Content Showcase in Singapore in November, Feige provided an update on the reboot. Via webcam, he shared that they had begun integrating X-Men into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). He noted, “It’s already underway. The inclusion of Deadpool and Wolverine has been significant, and I believe we’ll see this trend continue in our upcoming films. You might even recognize some familiar X-Men characters. After that, the entire saga of Secret Wars will usher in a new era for mutants and the X-Men. This is another dream come true for us as we welcome the X-Men back to Marvel Studios.

Feige is undeniably correct, and Marvel enthusiasts can’t refute that. In reality, the collaboration between Wolverine and Deadpool significantly boosted the success of the third installment, earning over $1.3 billion. Regarding the upcoming movie Secret Wars, there are whispers that Patrick Stewart’s Professor X will feature in it. This aligns well since Professor X established Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, teaching them to wield their powers ethically to foster harmony between mutants and humans. He acts as their mentor and father figure, influencing the team’s dynamics. If Secret Wars paves the way for the X-Men, then it’s plausible that these rumors about Professor X’s role are accurate. Let’s stay tuned for updates.

Avengers: Secret Wars will hit theaters on May 7, 2027.

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2025-02-14 19:42