The original Fox era X-Men are returning for Avengers Doomsday and very likely Avengers Secret Wars. What does that actually mean for the post Secret Wars era of the X-Men and the confirmed MCU X-Men movie that's currently in development? We're all pretty certain that the MCU's next saga will be the Mutant Saga.
For years, the rights to the X-Men and all the mutant characters were actually at 20th Century Fox until Disney acquired 20th Century Fox and brought the mutants back home to Marvel Studios. While the rollout of mutants in the MCU has been slow, the glory days of the mutant saga are on the horizon.
There are two possible directions that Marvel can go with the X-Men and the mutants: a complete restart with new characters or a semi-restart that keeps around some of the iconic characters like Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool and Hugh Jackman's Wolverine.
The stories from the comics and TV shows that could be adapted for this saga are numerous, with hopes to see a range of movies and shows, and how Doomsday and Secret Wars are going to be kickstarting this new age of mutantkind.
The new X-Men movie is in development with Thunderbolts director Jake Shrier attached to direct. The X-Men needs to be an ensemble film, similar to Fantastic 4, focusing on the shared trauma and family dynamic without a central character, making the director a perfect choice for this film.
Moving forward, future Avengers and X-Men movies during the mutant saga may focus on smaller stakes and intimate, character-focused stories. Huge culmination films will likely be different, possibly taking on new names instead of the Avengers, like Marvel Studios Messiah Complex or Age of Apocalypse.
Avengers Doomsday is set to play a crucial role, with potential for a Civil War-style film featuring Avengers versus X-Men. Marvel is looking at casting young, lesser-known actors for this new team, which could set the stage for decades of storytelling.
Kevin Feige has mentioned that after Secret Wars, the MCU could undergo a 'soft reset,' introducing new versions of existing characters and possibly new characters altogether.
Emerging from Secret Wars, this could lead to new stories that keep bits of the old Fox universe while building a new semi-reset universe, allowing for a partially rewritten history.
The approach to mutants could vary. The studio might decide that mutants have always been present in the reset world or introduce them as a new phenomenon leading to different narrative paths.
There’s a discussion on whether to have a complete reset with new actors or maintain some continuity with existing characters, especially for Wolverine, considering Hugh Jackman’s ongoing interest in the role.
Various proposed storylines being considered include character-focused plots from classic comic arcs, like the Brood Saga or Proteus Saga, and adaptations that capture the drama and personal stories intrinsic to the X-Men universe.
The debate around how to balance old and new elements continues, with different creative possibilities, and considerations for incorporating new storytelling techniques while paying homage to established characters and stories that resonate with fans.
