The iconic mutants of the X-Men are poised for a fresh start within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, joined eventually by an all-new incarnation of Tony Stark, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirmed on Friday. Speaking during a wide-ranging conversation with press, Feige outlined plans following 2027’s “Avengers: Secret Wars,” revealing that the company will recast the super-powered team for its upcoming “X-Men” film directed by Jake Schreier (“Thunderbolts*”).
This recasting will occur despite numerous legacy actors reprising their Fox-era “X-Men” roles in the preceding 2026 film “Avengers: Doomsday.” Actors like Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, James Marsden, and Kelsey Grammer are set to return, building on Stewart’s appearance in 2022’s “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” and Grammer’s cameo in 2023’s “The Marvels.” However, Feige made it clear that future films will introduce entirely new actors portraying established mutant characters alongside debutants, aligning with the transformative spirit of the 2015 “Secret Wars” comic storyline, which saw timelines collapse and reconfigure, fundamentally altering the main Marvel universe.
“We’re utilizing that [story] not just to round out the stories we’ve been telling post-‘Endgame,’ just as importantly — and you can look at the at the ‘Secret Wars’ comics for where that takes you — it very, very much sets us up for the future,” Feige explained, drawing a distinction between this event and the finale of the Infinity Saga. “‘Endgame,’ literally, was about endings. ‘Secret Wars’ is about is about beginnings.” Crucially, Feige emphasized that this transformation shouldn’t be labeled a full reboot, instead framing “Secret Wars” as a pivotal “reset” for the sprawling MCU narrative. “Reboot is a scary word,” he stated. “Reboot can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. Reset, singular timeline — we’re thinking along those lines.” He pinpointed the “X-Men” project as the immediate focal point for this refreshed approach: “‘X-Men’ is where that will happen next.”
Feige highlighted the core thematic essence of the X-Men as a driving force for their cinematic reintroduction, particularly the focus on young mutants discovering their powers and identities. “They have been a place to tell stories about young people who feel different and who feel Other and who feel like they don’t belong,” he noted. “That’s the universal story of mutants, and that is where we’re going.” This emphasis suggests a potential return to the foundational stories of the team, centered around Charles Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters.
Looking beyond the mutants, Feige confirmed that the eventual recasting extends to the MCU’s most iconic founding heroes, including Tony Stark/Iron Man and Steve Rogers/Captain America. He pointed to the long histories of other major franchises successfully navigating similar transitions as precedent. “Amy Pascal and David Heyman are now searching for a new James Bond,” Feige remarked, referencing the producers of Amazon MGM’s upcoming 007 film. “David [Corenswet], the new Superman — he was awesome. That will always be the case.” Acknowledging the immense legacy left by actors like Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans, Feige admitted the challenge inherent in recasting such defining roles but framed it as an inevitable and surmountable aspect of long-running serialized storytelling. “I think it’s hard for anybody to do that when an actor has done such a great role,” he conceded, drawing a parallel to iconic recastings of the past. “How are they going to ever replace Sean Connery [as James Bond], right?”
While the future holds new faces for key roles, the door isn’t entirely closed for at least two recent legacy stars. When queried about potential follow-ups to Marvel’s 2024 smash hit “Deadpool & Wolverine,” starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, Feige, characteristically enigmatic, offered no concrete plans but left ample room for speculation. “I think there is more fun to be had with both of those characters,” he hinted. “But we’ll see where.” This non-committal yet optimistic statement keeps the possibility alive for Reynolds’ Merc with a Mouth and Jackman’s adamantium-clawed mutant to make further appearances, even as the broader MCU prepares for its significant post-“Secret Wars” reset and the arrival of a wholly new generation of heroes, beginning with the recast X-Men.
The Pop Blog general news and updates, mostly from press releases and conferences.