The long-awaited arrival of the X-Men in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is taking shape. According to industry insider Jeff Sneider, Marvel Studios has begun the casting process for its X-Men reboot, potentially setting the stage for filming in 2026 and a post-Avengers: Secret Wars release in late 2027.
Fans are eager to see what’s in store for Marvel’s mutants in the next X-Men movie, and who will be taking on the roles of some of the classic mutant characters.
Sneider’s report claims Marvel is eyeing several rising stars for key roles. Among them:
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Harris Dickinson (The Iron Claw, Babygirl) as Scott Summers/Cyclops
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Sadie Sink (Stranger Things, The Whale) as Jean Grey
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Julia Butters (Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, The Gray Man) as Kitty Pryde/Shadowcat
No deals have been made, with Sneider noting that negotiations hinge on factors like pay, scheduling, and “how large a commitment Marvel is seeking from each of these young actors.”
Dickinson’s availability could be a sticking point, as he’s also reportedly the frontrunner to play John Lennon in Sam Mendes’ upcoming four-part Beatles biopics, all slated for 2027.
There have also been rumors that Ayo Edebiri and Cynthia Erivo are up for the role of Storm.
Marvel has already tapped The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes screenwriter Michael Lesslie to pen the script for the X-Men movie, but the studio has yet to announce a director.
As for a release date, nothing is set in stone. However, Disney has reserved multiple dates for untitled Marvel movies: July 23, 2027, and three more in 2028 (February 18, May 5, and November 10).
If Sneider’s sources are accurate, X-Men will likely land in the July 2027 slot, following Avengers: Secret Wars (May 7, 2027), which is being helmed by Anthony and Joe Russo and will close out the Multiverse Saga.
Marvel has slowly been integrating mutants into the MCU since acquiring Fox. Ms. Marvel (2022) revealed Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) as a mutant, while Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever introduced Patrick Stewart’s Professor X and Tenoch Huerta’s Namor, respectively.
Kelsey Grammer reprised his role as Beast in The Marvels, and he’s also rumored to return. Hugh Jackman is also back as Wolverine in Deadpool & Wolverine.
It’s possible the X-Men could debut in Avengers: Secret Wars before headlining their own film, similar to how Captain America: Civil War introduced Tom Holland’s Spider-Man and Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther before their solo outings.
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has been hyping up the MCU’s next phase, hinting at big things ahead for mutants. Deadpool & Wolverine will serve as a turning point, with Feige calling it “the beginning of that, and every [movie] post-Deadpool & Wolverine will be the Mutant era coming into the MCU.”
When asked about the mix of characters in the upcoming X-Men film, Feige said: “It’s that phrase we use often at Marvel, which is ‘It’s an embarrassment of riches.’
“And there are a lot of great X-Men characters in the Deadpool & Wolverine film. There are a lot of great X-Men characters in all of the Fox versions of the X-Men films. And there are a lot of great X-Men characters that have never gone on the big screen.
“So I think as we always try to do, as we did when we made the arrangement with Sony for Spider-Man, you’ll probably see a mix of characters you’ve seen before and characters you’ve never seen before.”
While nothing is officially confirmed, it’s clear that Marvel Studios is gearing up for the next chapter of its cinematic universe, and mutants will play a major role.
What do you think of these potential casting choices? Who would you like to see join the MCU’s X-Men?
