The Real Reason the X-Men MCU Writer Joined the Reboot — and His Favorite Mutant

Marvel is finally, officially moving up the X-Men reboot (yeah, the real one this time). And, as usual, we’re getting those early-stage teases from some of the creative team—this time, it’s Lee Sung Jin stepping up and doing a bit of show-and-tell about why he said 'yes' to the project and how deep his mutant roots go.

Lee Sung Jin: No-Brainer Decision

For Lee, the question of joining Marvel’s shiny new X-Men wasn’t much of a question at all. According to him, when the offer hit, he pretty much instantly jumped on board. His words:

"No matter how much you got going on, you have to say yes."

In other words, drop everything, it’s time to write mutants.

What really sealed the deal for him wasn’t just the Marvel name (though, come on, that probably doesn’t hurt), but also the team he gets to work with. Right now, Lee is hammering out a new draft for the film in collaboration with Joanna Calo, with Jake Schreier directing the whole thing. And yes, Kevin Feige and Marvel’s top brass are very much involved—so don’t expect any rogue Deadpool 2-level weirdness here.

How the Sausage Is Made (Marvel Style)

Lee describes the writing process as a bunch of 'spit-balling' sessions: basically, everyone throws ideas at the wall to see what sticks. It’s collaborative, it’s messy, and it sounds like they’re not rushing anything. If you’re hoping for locked details or official casting any time soon, chill—the main focus right now is getting the story just right.

A Real X-Men Fan at the Wheel

Here’s where you can feel Lee’s fan pedigree actually mattering: he grew up watching the X-Men animated series and reading the comics with his dad. That’s not the sort of backstory you fake for a press release. He straight-up said:

"I hold these characters near and dear to my heart."

The guy is honored (and maybe a touch intimidated), and he knows exactly how many people will freak out if they mess this up.

And His Favorite Mutant Isn’t Who You’d Expect

• Not Wolverine or Cyclops? Correct—Lee’s X-Men picks are a little off the beaten path.
• First up, Gambit. Yeah, the card-throwing Louisiana wildcard who’s had far too little love outside the comics. That was his jam as a kid.
• Also? Jubilee. (Someone give her more screen time, please.)

He’s well aware these aren’t the household favorites, but honestly, that’s kind of refreshing.

Where This Fits in the MCU Puzzle

One big thing Lee stressed: it’s still early days. Nothing is set in stone, so don’t get too attached to any rumors about story or casting that’ll inevitably explode on Reddit. But with Marvel heading towards a post-Avengers: Secret Wars overhaul, the new X-Men are expected to play a major role in whatever the MCU morphs into next. No pressure, right?

If you’re hoping for a reboot that’s got some actual fan love behind it, Lee Sung Jin sounds like he might be the guy to make that happen. Just, y’know, don’t ask him to make Wolverine the star—unless Wolverine suddenly gets a taste for stealing cars in New Orleans.