Now that the 2023 writers strike is over, studios and writers are getting back to work on future projects — and one studio in particular has started talking about what might be the most eagerly-anticipated open gigs in blockbuster movies right now — the X-Men franchise.

According to Deadline, Marvel Studios is about to start setting meetings with writers for its eventual X-Men movie, although the outlet notes that inside sources say that “there is no rush to fill the job since the film hasn’t been dated yet,” and that no final decision is expected from Marvel within 2023.

Marvel Studios regained control over both the Fantastic Four and X-Men movie rights when Disney purchased Fox, which had previously controlled both, in March of 2019, although it has stayed away from rushing either property into the MCU. So far, only Mr. Fantastic and Professor Xavier have appeared in an MCU feature, even that was a multiverses alternate — John Krasinski and Patrick Stewart played the characters in 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and neither are expected to continue in the role for the main MCU version of the characters. (Mr. Fantastic is slated to appear in 2026’s Fantastic Four feature. Keep up to date with all the latest upcoming Marvel movies right here.)

That’s not to say Marvel has been entirely staying away from the X-Men and its mythos; an X-Men ’97 animated series is expected to debut on Disney+ in 2024, and was previewed at San Diego Comic-Con, and it’s already been strongly hinted that the MCU’s first mutant is Kamala Khan at the end of the Disney+ series in 2022. Additionally, Deadpool 3 is scheduled for release next year, featuring out-of-continuity versions of Deadpool and Wolverine, as well as other X-characters.

As Deadline notes, no X-Men movie has been officially scheduled or announced by Disney, but it should be pointed out that there are no less than five mystery Marvel movies currently on the release slate, with releases for 'unannounced Marvel Studios movie' scheduled on July 25, 2025, November 7 2025, February 13, 2026, July 24, 2026, and November 6, 2026. Could one of those be the big screen debut of the MCU X-Men? Time and future announcements will tell… but at least we know now that it’s in the works.

Want to know what other superhero movies are currently scheduled? We’ve got that list for you.