With Thunderbolts being the best-reviewed MCU movie of recent phases, this was perhaps inevitable. Director Jake Schreier was behind well-regarded movies like Robot & Frank and Paper Towns. He’s just done an ensemble superhero movie for Marvel, and he’s known to be a big fan of X-Men, and a collector of comics.
So, of course, Marvel would be looking at him as they start to mobilize to bring the X-Men into the MCU.
According to a report in Deadline, Schreier is in early talks to direct the new X-Men film. Michael Lesslie is writing the script, and Kevin Feige, of course, is producing. The report says that the studios’ experience of working with him on Thunderbolts, and the critical response to that movie, made him emerge as a favorite.
They go on to say that a meeting this last week went extremely well. Marvel has been taking its time on this one, seemingly keen to avoid Blade-type mistakes and ensure they have the right person for what they consider a highly valuable IP.
Schreier has apparently begun turning down other offers in recent days, which adds to the speculation that he could be about to stay with the MCU for a while.
It is expected that some characters will now start to be layered in during the next MCU phase, leading to a big introduction around Secret Wars. Feige has talked of a ten-year plan for X-Men.