Marvel fans can’t wait to see the mutants finally join the Marvel Cinematic Universe in full force, and the excitement is brewing.
The Walt Disney Company’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox in 2019 was a game-changer for Marvel Studios. With this deal, the MCU gained access to a treasure trove of characters, including the X-Men and Marvel’s First Family, the Fantastic Four. This monumental purchase opened the door for an endless array of storytelling possibilities.
While fans already know the Fantastic Four will officially debut in The Fantastic Four: First Steps later this year, directed by Matt Shakman, the plan for the X-Men remains shrouded in mystery.
In 2024, however, Marvel Studios made some significant strides in connecting the X-Men to the MCU. Early in the year, X-Men ’97 debuted on Disney+ under then-showrunner Beau DeMayo, garnering widespread acclaim. Although set outside the MCU’s continuity, the animated revival proved there’s an undeniable hunger for the return of the mutants.
Later that summer, Shawn Levy’s Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) smashed records, bringing Hugh Jackman’s Logan back in a thrilling Multiversal adventure. The R-rated hit quickly became one of the year’s highest-grossing films, with fans eager for another round. Current speculation hints at Jackman’s return in the Russo Brothers’ Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).
Marvel hasn’t been shy about teasing the mutants’ arrival. From Madripoor’s appearance in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier to the revelation that Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel) carries the mutant gene in Ms. Marvel, the breadcrumbs have been sprinkled across the MCU for years.
Now, buzz is building around who might embody these legendary characters. For Jean Grey, played by Famke Janssen and Sophie Turner in the Fox films, Stranger Things star Sadie Sink is rumored to be in the mix. However, neither Disney nor Marvel has confirmed these whispers.
Meanwhile, Wicked star Cynthia Erivo has expressed a strong desire to bring Ororo Munroe, AKA Storm, to life. Speaking with NBR, the Academy Award nominee shared her passion for the character:
“I really want to play Storm,” Erivo said. “I know it sounds frivolous, but I think we haven’t uncovered how grand she is and all of that inner turmoil that she has, so I think there’s a world where we could do something like that.”
And insider Jeff Sneider suggests this casting could be more than a dream. “On the latest episode of The Hot Mic, Jeff Sneider said he’s heard that there is ‘actual interest’ in enlisting Erivo to play the weather-manipulating mutant,” Comic Book Movie reported. Sneider also hinted at another key player being on Marvel’s radar but kept the details under wraps.
Erivo is fresh off her stellar performance as Elphaba in Universal’s record-breaking Wicked, alongside Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey. The musical adaptation raked in nearly $700 million globally, with a sequel, Wicked: For Good, set for release this November.
From Halle Berry and Alexandra Shipp in the live-action X-Men to Alison Sealy-Smith’s iconic animated portrayal, could Erivo step into this legacy as the next Storm in Marvel’s cinematic future?
How do you feel about these potential X-Men castings? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
