The X-Men movie currently in development following Avengers: Secret Wars is rumored to be having problems, where Kevin Feige is butting heads with Disney CEO Bob Iger over the direction of the movie.
Worth a mention is that Iger exits Disney in 2026 and the X-Men movie comes out in 2027 or later, so take the info with a grain of salt.
Update: Friday saw the big announcement that both Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars have been delayed. The dates have been pushed back, with Avengers: Doomsday moved from May 1 to December 18, 2026. Avengers: Secret Wars is moving from May 7 to December 17, 2027. So that means X-Men in 2028 or later.
What is the rumor?
Iger Wants Another Blockbuster, While Feige Pushes Social Themes
According to X user Main Middle Man, Kevin Feige originally planned a grounded, socially-driven X-Men film centered on mutant identity and conflict with the Brotherhood of Mutants.
However, Disney executives, reacting to recent box office disappointments of Thunderbolts and Captain America: Brave New World (Disney recently named Cap 4 as a fail in its investor report), pushed for a more action-heavy, spectacle-focused script aimed at mass appeal.
It’s claimed the final version of the X-Men movie will prioritize blockbuster elements and fan service, with less emphasis on ideological themes:
Feige wanted a more grounded X-Men story with a plot that really focused on social issues and disagreements about what it means to be a mutant. He wanted a powerful dramatic movie that really showed what the X-Men were all about, with the Brotherhood of Mutants as the bad guys.
But that’s not what Iger and Disney want. Aware of the poor performance of more restrained films (especially the disappointing box office results, like CA4 and Thunderbolts recently) the script has been requested to focus on an great event film to get a wider audience attention.
So, expect a MCU’s first X-Men movie being huge on events, focusing the Box Office, with more action and fan services. Ideological issues will carry on, but they will be less important than dealing with something bigger.
More like Deadpool & Wolverine, Spider-Man?
Worth a mention is that the two big movies post-Endgame from Feige and Disney/Marvel that have been a success are Deadpool & Wolverine and Spider-Man: No Way Home, with everything else, including the MCU shows on Disney+ a massive bust.
So it sounds like Disney and Iger want to have the X-Men movie be another big event film, while Feige wants to make the X-Men be about social issues (how’s that been working out?).
The X user adds actor Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Game of Thrones, Maze Runner, Unsinkable, Wolf Hall) is being eyed for a role in X-Men.
Thomas Brodie-Sangster being eyed for a role in X-Men pic.twitter.com/yQZPHFo83G
— Main Middle Man (@mainmiddleman) May 21, 2025
Rumors Swirl Around X-Men Casting and Direction
Recent rumors also include that Feige wants to differentiate his X-Men from previous versions by going with Black actors in the roles of Professor X and Magneto.
At the same time, recent rumors have said Feige is eyeing Daniel Day-Lewis for Magneto, and Bryan Cranston as Professor X.
It’s also claimed Cynthia Erivo could play Storm, with Kirby Howell-Baptiste and Jodie Turner-Smith thrown into the mix.
Patrick Schwarzenegger is rumored as Cyclops.
Release info
The X-Men movie has no release date. Thunderbolts director Jake Schreier is rumored to direct. Michael Lesslie is penning the screenplay, who recently wrote The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes starring Rachel Zegler.
