Casting for the highly anticipated X-Men reboot is reportedly in progress, marking a significant step forward for the franchise's new era within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, the news arrives amidst a cloud of controversy, as the former showrunner of the beloved animated series X-Men '97 has made some striking accusations against Marvel Studios leadership.
According to a report from ComicBookMovie.com, citing sources from "The Hot Mic" podcast, the search for the next generation of mutants to grace the big screen is officially underway. The project has a director, Jake Schreier, and a confirmed writer, Michael Lesslie, with rumors swirling of a second writer joining the team. While these are still early days, the report also mentioned several actors rumored to be on the studio's radar for key roles, including Harris Dickinson as Cyclops, Margaret Qualley as Rogue, and Ayo Edebiri as Storm, among others.
Adding a dramatic layer to the unfolding story are the recent claims of Beau DeMayo, the former showrunner for the acclaimed X-Men '97 series. In a series of public posts, DeMayo claimed that Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige "resented" the animated show. He alleges that the show’s success became a source of tension because fans were using it as a benchmark, arguing that Marvel should look to X-Men '97 to "fix itself."
It is important to note that these claims from DeMayo should be considered with a degree of skepticism, as noted by ComicBookMovie.com, given his termination from the company earlier this year. However, his comments have ignited a debate among fans about the future of the live-action franchise and the creative direction of the MCU.
While the X-Men reboot inches closer to production, the conversation surrounding it is now split between excitement for the new casting and the lingering questions raised by the animated series that captured the hearts of a new generation.
Who do you want to see cast in the next X-Men film?