"THUNDERBOLTS" Director Jake Schreier is in early talks to direct Marvel's most popular superhero team

After the smash hit Thunderbolts, director Jake Schreier appears to be lining up his next big move — and it could be a game-changer for Marvel Studios. According to insiders speaking to Deadline, Schreier is currently the frontrunner in early negotiations to helm Marvel’s long-awaited X-Men reboot.

While the deal hasn’t been finalized yet, sources say Schreier emerged as the studio’s top pick following a recent meeting. The script comes from Michael Lesslie, with Marvel chief Kevin Feige producing, as always keeping a close hand on one of Marvel’s crown jewels.

Marvel has been carefully biding its time to find the perfect director for the X-Men revival, showing the same patience, it displayed when selecting writers last year. Schreier's stock began to soar after early buzz surrounding Thunderbolts hinted at a return to the studio’s former glory. With the film raking in a hefty $162 million worldwide on opening and snagging rave reviews — the best since 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home — it seems Schreier’s partnership with Marvel struck gold.

The studio and Schreier reportedly enjoyed an excellent collaboration on Thunderbolts, which has quickly become a favorite among both critics and fans. Beyond the glowing reviews and strong box office, Marvel brass was impressed by Schreier’s deep affection for X-Men lore — a passion that made him a natural contender to pitch his vision for the iconic mutant team’s future on the big screen.

Even before Thunderbolts officially won over audiences, Hollywood had already begun circling Schreier. Lately, he’s been turning down other offers, signaling that he’s locking in on what could be one of the most sought-after director gigs in town.

Marvel sticking with familiar talent is nothing new. The studio has a long history of rewarding successful collaborators — just look at the Russo brothers, who graduated from Captain America sequels to the juggernauts Infinity War and Endgame. More recently, Matt Shakman, fresh off launching WandaVision, landed the coveted job directing The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Fans have been clamoring for the X-Men’s return ever since Disney’s 2019 acquisition of 20th Century Fox, which brought the mutant franchise back into Marvel’s fold. Once Fox’s most bankable Marvel property, the X-Men series delivered seven blockbuster films and a hit Wolverine spinoff trilogy before stumbling with 2019’s underwhelming Dark Phoenix. A fresh start has been long overdue.

Now, with the roaring success of the animated X-Men ’97 series and the billion-dollar performance of Deadpool & Wolverine in 2024, Marvel clearly sees massive potential in reviving the franchise for a new era. If Schreier seals the deal, it could mark the beginning of a thrilling new chapter for the mutants.

Jake Schreier is represented by CAA and Untitled Entertainment.