The MCU’s X-Men May Have Found Its Leaders, And It’s Not Who Fans Expect

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I remember when we X-Men fans were begging for the franchise to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, just like Spider-Man finally did! It always seemed stuck because of studio rights issues. But now that 20th Century Fox is gone – or should I say, entered the Void like Deadpool? – it’s actually happening! I’m so excited that some of the original X-Men are going to show up in Phase 6, starting with Avengers: Doomsday and probably Avengers: Secret Wars too. It’s a dream come true!

Once you get one answer, it often leads to more questions, such as who will be the next leader of the X-Men.

James Marsden (Cyclops), Kelsey Grammar (Beast), Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler), and Sir Patrick Stewart (Professor Charles Xavier) are confirmed to return. However, reports suggest this will be Sir Patrick Stewart’s final acting role. He’ll lead the X-Men in a battle against Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom, marking a last appearance for Xavier after his character’s death in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness – which was his first time appearing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the leader of The Illuminati.

With 85-year-old Stan Lee potentially retiring, many are wondering who will lead the X-Men franchise. Alex Perez from Cosmic Circus suggests one clear successor, but the reality is more complex. There could be a surprising and unexpected choice, reminiscent of bold decisions made by 20th Century Fox before its acquisition. Perez recently addressed this question directly, asking who would become the new leader of the X-Men when Jake Schreier (director of Thunderbolts*) takes over the franchise for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Hi Alex and Lizzie, I hope you’re both doing great! Have you heard any news about which mutant characters might be featured in the next storyline? I’ve been hearing rumors that Cyclops could be a central figure.

Alex Perez suggested Cyclops and Jean Grey should lead the team, and mentioned Angel, Beast, Gambit, Rogue, and Nightcrawler as potential members.

X-Men and their Cable Provider

It looks like Jean Grey is coming back, which opens the door for the Phoenix storyline in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While it probably won’t be Famke Janssen reprising her role, the reasons for that are still unclear. Jean’s return also suggests we could see a story focusing on the Summers family, potentially bringing back characters like Cable – the son of Cyclops – and Madelyne Pryor, a clone of Jean Grey who was recently featured in the popular X-Men ’97 series. This could lead to many different storylines.

With the next X-Men story seemingly focusing on Cyclops and his family, many fans are wondering if Cable might reappear.

We’re considering all options for characters, but right now we’re focusing on the initial lineup of X-Men that’s been decided.

This could mean Josh Brolin will have a packed schedule in Phase 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He’s already played the villain Thanos, and previously appeared as Cable in the Deadpool movies made before Deadpool joined the MCU, so he might be playing both characters now.

Jean, Cyclops and the X-Men’s Grey Area

However, it’s worth noting Perez also suggested characters like Angel – who could benefit from a fresh take after the disappointing film version – along with Gambit, Rogue (who was fantastic in X-Men ’97), and possibly Nightcrawler. While it seems Cyclops and Jean Grey are the most likely leaders, especially for a story focused on the X-Men’s origins, the lack of Storm as an option is surprisingly noticeable and a bit concerning.

It’s understandable why Wolverine isn’t part of the current discussion. Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of the character is likely focused on his own adventures and wouldn’t be interested in taking a leadership role. This opens the door for Marvel to introduce a younger Wolverine in the upcoming X-Men films after Jackman retires. The excitement generated by these conversations is great, and ultimately, the fact that the X-Men are finally joining the MCU is fantastic – it promises to be an exciting new chapter, much like the character of Cyclops.

Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to hit theaters worldwide on December 18, 2026.

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2025-11-16 18:13