MCU’s ‘X-Men’ Director Jake Schreier Says the Upcoming Film Will Be “Recognizably Different” from Past Versions

Jake Schreier is stepping into a big role with Marvel’s upcoming X-Men reboot. After directing Thunderbolts*, which recently came out on digital, Schreier is already thinking ahead about how to bring a new version of the mutant team to life. He spoke with The Playlist and shared a few thoughts, without giving away too much, of course.

Schreier isn’t new to storytelling with strong emotion. His earlier work includes indie films like Robot & Frank and Paper Towns, and more recently, he directed episodes of Beef on Netflix.

That show earned him an Emmy nomination and showed he knows how to handle characters with complex emotions. That same skill showed up in Thunderbolts*, a Marvel movie that didn’t just go for big action, but instead focused on its team of broken heroes struggling with their pasts.

Talking about Thunderbolts*, Schreier said that emotional depth is something he really connects with, and that seems to be what’s drawing him to X-Men, too. While he didn’t give many details, he called the mutant storylines “rich” and “complex,” and that’s what excites him.

“What I can say is, it’s just inherently interesting and complex material,” he told The Playlist. He added, “The core idea of what ‘X-Men’ is involves complexity. It’s an incredible opportunity with super interesting characters and [much] internal conflict. These characters are wrestling with their identity and place in the world—that’s inherently interesting and complex material.”

The X-Men comics have always been more than just superhero stories. Since the beginning, they’ve reflected real-life struggles, like racism, alienation, and identity, and that’s something Schreier seems ready to explore in depth.

Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige also recently said the new version will be a “youth-focused reboot,” and suggested that it could bring fresh energy to the franchise through new castings and tone.

When asked if this version of X-Men will feel different from what fans have seen before, Schreier said, “Yeah, I think that’s fair to say.” He joked about Marvel always watching, but you can tell he’s serious about digging deep into what makes these characters special.

Marvel hasn’t said much yet about when the new X-Men movie will arrive, but it’s clear Schreier is already thinking carefully about it. He wants to bring out the emotion and humanity behind the powers, not just rely on action or nostalgia.

In the meantime, fans can catch Schreier’s Thunderbolts*, also called The New Avengers—on digital platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, and Fandango At Home. It came out in theaters on May 2, 2025, and the physical release is set for July 29, 2025.

Jake Schreier may not be revealing everything just yet, but one thing’s clear: he’s aiming to bring a fresh, emotional take to the X-Men, and fans are already eager to see what’s coming.

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