The MCU’s New X-Men Unlikely To “Assemble” Anytime Soon, as Marvel Could Delay Team-Up Movie
Sadie Sink’s Jean Grey will be at the center of Marvel Studios’ next major franchise, so don’t expect the X-Men to assemble straight away.
Instead, the MCU may be preparing to follow a familiar formula, introducing its new generation of mutants gradually before bringing them together for a major team-up.
Sink made her debut as Jean in Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026), initially appearing as an antagonist to Tom Holland’s web-slinger.
However, her story is about to take a significant turn.
During the D23 Entertainment Showcase, the untitled X-Men reboot director Jake Schreier (who helmed the MCU’s Thunderbolts*) confirmed that Sink’s character will be a “founding member of the team” in the upcoming reboot, which is scheduled to arrive in theaters on May 5, 2028.
Related: Marvel Reveals New Wolverine Actor Following X-Men Cast Announcement, Hugh Jackman Replaced
Will the MCU’s X-Men Era Follow the Early Avengers Movies?
That suggests Marvel has much bigger plans for the Stranger Things star than a supporting appearance in somebody else’s movie. Jean’s journey from a dangerous, isolated mutant to one of the central members of the X-Men could provide a natural starting point for the studio’s next era.
It’s also worth remembering how Marvel approached the original Avengers.
Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), and other heroes were introduced through their own films before the studio finally brought them together in The Avengers (2012).
Rather than immediately throwing an established superhero team onto the screen, Marvel allowed audiences to become familiar with its individual members first, with movies such as Iron Man (2008), The Incredible Hulk (2008), Iron Man 2 (2010), Thor (2011), and Captain America: The First Avenger (2011).
The same approach could work particularly well for the X-Men. With an entirely new generation of mutants preparing to enter the MCU, Marvel now has an opportunity to give its characters room to develop before delivering its own equivalent of an X-Men “Assemble” moment.
This would be in stark contrast to Fox’s now-defunct X-Men movies, which immediately launched with character-heavy ensemble movies.
That doesn’t necessarily mean every mutant will receive a solo movie, but individual projects and appearances across the franchise could gradually build toward the team, while giving Marvel a chance at finding similar success to the early days of the MCU.
All Confirmed X-Men Actors So Far
Sink won’t be carrying that responsibility alone, though.
Since her reveal as Jean in Brand New Day, the studio has confirmed several additional cast members, including Samara Weaving (Ready or Not) as Emma Frost, Kit Connor (Heartstopper) as Scott Summers/Cyclops, Christopher Abbott (Girls) as Professor Charles Xavier/Professor X, Inde Navarrette (Obsession) as Rogue, Broadway star Maya Boyd (& Juliet) as Ororo Munroe/Storm, and Adam Driver (The Force Awakens) as Nathaniel Milbury/Mister Sinister.
Meanwhile, Avengers: Doomsday (2026), the fifth movie in the Avengers series, is weeks away, releasing on December 18. The upcoming crossover film brings together an enormous roster of MCU heroes and returning characters from other Marvel franchises, while also setting the stage for the franchise’s next chapter.
Secret Wars Will Reset the MCU
Avengers: Secret Wars (2027) will conclude The Multiverse Saga, which has already featured the return of several actors and characters from Fox’s X-Men era, with more set to appear in Doomsday, including the late Patrick Stewart’s Charles Xavier/Professor X, who reprises his role after last appearing in 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Stewart will appear for the final time in Doomsday, alongside Ian McKellen’s Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto, Alan Cumming’s Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler, Rebecca Romijn’s Raven Darkhölme/Mystique, James Marsden’s Scott Summers/Cyclops, and Kelsey Grammer’s Hank McCoy/Beast (who previously had a cameo at the end of 2023’s The Marvels).
Hugh Jackman’s Logan/Wolverine, who last appeared in Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), is not yet confirmed to be involved in Doomsday.
The MCU is now set to embark on a new era, with a singular timeline expected to follow The Multiverse Saga. Marvel President Kevin Feige told Variety in 2025 that the MCU will undergo a “reset” following Secret Wars.
“Reboot is a scary word,” he said. “Reboot can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. Reset, singular timeline — we’re thinking along those lines.” He added, “X-Men is where that will happen next.”
For now, the new X-Men are taking shape. And if Marvel does decide to follow The Infinity Saga’s blueprint, they may delay rolling out any planned ensemble film featuring several characters.
In other words, the mutants may have a long journey ahead before they finally assemble.
Could Marvel be using the original Avengers’ blueprint to introduce its new X-Men? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
