Kevin Feige finally reveals when the X-Men enter the MCU

If you’ve been holding your breath for the X-Men to turn up properly in the MCU, you’ve probably passed out by now. Ever since Disney scooped up 20th Century Fox back in 2019, Marvel fans have been running on a steady diet of vague nods and cryptic cameos, but precious little in the way of actual news. We’ve had Deadpool & Wolverine for a bit of mutant spice, and this December’s Avengers: Doomsday is pulling out the nostalgia card with both Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen coming back—so the appetite is there—but the main event, a proper X-Men film, has been stubbornly stuck in rumour limbo.

You might have caught the whispers about Jake Schreier being attached to direct, or Oscar-nominated Michael Lesslie working on the script, but that’s been pretty much the extent of it. Nothing about where this film sits in Marvel’s ever-changing calendar, and certainly nothing as solid as an actual release date.

Feige Finally Spells It Out

We finally got a bit of clarity thanks to Kevin Feige, who took to the stage at BilibiliWorld in Shanghai and—after years of dancing around the question—actually spelled out where the mutants land in Marvel’s upcoming plans. This is a rare case of Feige giving it to the fans straight, and not just via some mumbled comment buried in a press scrum.

Here's what Feige actually said:

"I can’t wait for all of you to see Avengers: Doomsday, we have a movie after that called Avengers: Secret Wars, and after that the mutants are coming and the X-Men are coming and that’s been a dream of mine. I started with the X-Men many, many years ago and to bring a new version into the MCU is going to be very exciting."

So, to break that down: we’re getting Avengers: Doomsday this December. After that it’s Avengers: Secret Wars—set for release in December 2027. Only then, in what is essentially Phase ‘Waited Ages For This’, will Marvel finally crack open the X-Men proper. Schreier’s new X-Men film is slotted for 2028 at the absolute earliest, and as of now, Marvel won’t even pin a date on it. If you really want to make it poetic, yes, that would land more or less on the MCU’s 20th anniversary. Pretty neat alignment, you have to admit.

What’s Actually New Here?

If all this sounds slightly familiar, it’s because Feige has been hinting at this post-Secret Wars plan for over a year now. He’s always called it a 'reset' for the franchise, not a full-on reboot—so when the X-Men finally land, you can expect new faces and a tidier MCU timeline, at least in theory.

The real update here isn’t the timing but the way it was delivered: big stage, packed house, absolute clarity. No more ‘maybe after the next crossover’ hedging.

Feige also added a bit of extra spice by hyping up the female side of the team, promising their arrival is ‘very soon’. This has, inevitably, kicked the rumour mill up another notch, with internet chatter pushing the idea that the new X-Men lineup could be led by a female character (Kitty Pryde’s name getting tossed round most often). If you’re hoping for confirmation, though, you’ll have to wait, as Marvel hasn’t officially said a word on casting.

Where We Stand Now

• Disney closed the Fox deal: 2019
• Avengers: Doomsday: Out December 2026 (with Stewart, McKellen, and the usual fireworks)
• Avengers: Secret Wars: Arrives December 2027
• X-Men film (Jake Schreier, Michael Lesslie): Expected 2028 at the earliest, with zero date confirmed
• Marvel’s 20th anniversary: 2028—convenient, if you’re into round numbers

The next thing to watch out for: Marvel's big Saturday session at San Diego Comic-Con on July 25. If they're going to show off any of Schreier’s new cast, that's as likely a venue as any. Whether Feige goes for another dramatic teaser or just keeps his cards close, at least now the road to mutants in the MCU isn’t quite so murky.