Despite recent promises to scale back output, Marvel Studios has now scheduled a fourth untitled feature for December 2028. Speculation is already mounting that this could mark the long-awaited debut of the X-Men within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The new mystery project joins three other untitled Marvel films currently booked for February, May, and November of that year. If all four go ahead, it would be the busiest calendar year in the studio’s history. That’s a surprising move considering Disney CEO Bob Iger’s recent comments about the need to refocus the studio’s efforts and avoid overproduction.
“We’ve all admitted to ourselves that we lost a little focus by making too much,” Iger said in May. “By consolidating a bit and having Marvel focus much more on their films, we believe that will result in better quality.”
Which makes the timing of this fourth release even more intriguing, as it may signal a major turning point for the franchise.
Enter the X-Men
While Marvel hasn’t officially confirmed anything, industry reports suggest that Jake Schreier (director of Thunderbolts) is developing the studio’s first full-fledged X-Men film. The timing would line up perfectly with the end of the current Multiverse Saga, which is expected to conclude with ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ in December 2027.
That would leave this newly scheduled December 2028 film as the ideal launch point for the next chapter of the MCU. It also provides enough breathing room to cast new actors, establish a unique tone, and introduce the X-Men as part of a fresh, post-Secret Wars storyline.
Marvel has already dropped a few mutant hints:
- Kamala Khan was seemingly identified as a mutant in Ms. Marvel
- Charles Xavier made a multiversal cameo in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
- ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is set to feature a number of the old Fox/X-Men cast including Patrick Stewart as Professor Charles Xavier, Ian McKellen as Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto, Kelsey Grammer as Dr. Hank McCoy/Beast, Alan Cumming as Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler, Rebecca Romijn as Mystique, James Marsden as Scott Summers/Cyclops, plus Channing Tatum as Remy LeBeau/Gambit from Deadpool & Wolverine
That also means Deadpool and Wolverine (played by Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman) could still play a part in the legacy of the Fox X-Men universe, even if it sits outside the core MCU canon.
If Marvel is planning to go big in 2028, then introducing the X-Men with a clean slate and a December release would certainly make a statement.
A Final Farewell… and a Fresh Start?
If Avengers: Doomsday is serving as a grand multiversal crossover, it’s likely to double as a farewell tour for the Fox-era cast. With Patrick Stewart now 84 and Ian McKellen 86, it’s hard to imagine them committing to ongoing roles beyond cameo appearances. The same goes for others like Kelsey Grammer, Alan Cumming, and Rebecca Romijn, who all represent a legacy the MCU may honour but not carry forward.
That puts Doomsday in prime position to be the last hurrah for the classic X-Men line-up, bringing closure to that chapter before handing the baton to a new generation of mutants.
Which raises the bigger question… what will the MCU’s own X-Men actually look like?
With the 2028 film widely believed to be the soft reboot of the franchise, expect:
- A completely new cast for core characters like Professor X, Magneto, Wolverine, Storm, Jean Grey, and Cyclops
- A shift in tone that fits the modern MCU style, possibly more grounded than the Fox era
- Greater integration with existing heroes
- A chance to finally adapt classic X-Men arcs like Mutant Massacre, Inferno, or House of X within the MCU framework
Marvel may also choose to skew younger with its casting, building out characters over multiple phases rather than starting with a fully formed team. The December 2028 slot gives them the chance to make a statement debut, while carefully setting the stage for years of mutant storytelling to come.
Probably Not Blade
While Blade has long been in development, the reboot remains paused as of now. Despite previously being slated for 2025, the film has undergone major rewrites and creative changes. It’s very unlikely Marvel would place such an uncertain project in a prime December slot, especially if they are trying to tighten focus and restore audience trust.
What We Know So Far
Here’s the current big-screen roadmap for Marvel:
- ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ – Friday, 25th July 2025
- ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ – Friday, 31st July 2026
- ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ – Friday, 18th December 2026
- Untitled Marvel Film – Friday, 23rd July 2027
- ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ – Friday, 17th December 2027
- Four Untitled Marvel Films – scheduled for February, May, November, and December 2028
Additional projects in development include Black Panther 3, Shang-Chi 2, Armor Wars, and a possible Fantastic Four sequel. Some of these may also target 2028, depending on how production timelines evolve.
What Happens Next?
Whether Marvel sticks to all four releases in 2028 remains to be seen. Disney has a long history of staking out dates early and adjusting plans later. But if this new slot is indeed reserved for the X-Men, it could mark the true beginning of the MCU’s next saga, following the conclusion of the multiverse storyline.
