The MCU’s integration of the X-Men is expected to be a carefully timed process, potentially postponed until post-Avengers: Secret Wars.

Diving into the world of comics reveals an interesting trend. For the longest part of their existence, the team of mutants enjoyed a celebrated status in-universe, at times exceeding those of their more human counterparts. However, in live-action, the group of remarkable actors handpicked by Kevin Feige surpassed both box office and pop culture popularity with 2012’s The Avengers in contrast to the X-Men, which came to life at the hands of Fox, years before.

A still from the first X-Men movie (2000) with Wolverine

Now, decades later, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is at a creative crossroads. The opening of the multiverse and Disney’s acquisition of Fox reverted the character rights to Marvel Studios and allowed for the full-fledged entry of the mutants. Additionally, with Deadpool & Wolverine on the brink of release, fans are eager to welcome beloved characters like Charles Xavier and Magneto into the main MCU timeline. However, they may have to brace for disappointment.

Marvel Studios may not call in all mutants with Deadpool & Wolverine

The last trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine showcased familiar faces from earlier X-Men movies like Azazel, Lady Deathstrike, and Toad placed as shy easter eggs. Despite that shot raising hopes for the grand entry of mutants into MCU’s sacred timeline, a report from The Cosmic Circus, suggests that the same will not happen until at least the end of Avengers: Secret Wars, based on insider scoops.

Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine walking in their accurate suits in an official still for Deadpool & Wolverine

On the contrary, Marvel Studios has already taken its first steps towards the entry of the genetically altered superhumans. In the Ms. Marvel Disney+ series, Kamala Khan is labeled as a “mutant”. Furthermore, 2023’s The Marvels featured Monica Rambeau entering an alternate universe and ending up in an X-Men center and meeting with Kelsey Grammer’s Hank McCoy aka The Beast as well as Binary.

Reasoning for the conflicting scenarios, the reports also mentioned that a reason as to why the X-Men characters will not be gaining entry into the sacred timeline will be explained in the Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman starrer. Moreover, with the upcoming Avengers 5 already having a jam-packed roster and set to address in-universe problems such as the disconnected characters, the reports do hold merit.

Fans strike a note of cautious agreement with the rumor

Screen-grab from the Deadpool & Wolverine trailer featuring the X-Men mutants looking at a giant Ant-Man skull

Undeniably impatient to witness the X-Men and the Avengers in live-action, fans, however, did side with Marvel Studios if they plan to move ahead with the decision. As of now, there are plenty of unfinished projects at various stages of development, and even new ones looking to start afresh. Thus, a breather will help sort out the backlog before moving ahead with more ambitious ones.

On the other end, given the recent happenings, such as the firing of Jonathan Majors as Kang and a complete rewrite of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, the studio will have to inevitably move into delays. As such, the exact timing and plot of Avengers: Secret Wars gets shrouded in even more secrecy, with fans even sarcastically hinting at release dates that may go beyond even 2030.

Looking at the positive side of things, the pushback may aid the smoother entry of the mutants in a properly fleshed-out project to avoid box-office and critical disasters that the last few entries from the MCU have faced. Finally, to keep up the repute and bring back the glory days when the vast interconnected cinematic universe never had a single project receiving a below-average rating on major critics’ platforms.

Deadpool & Wolverine releases in theaters on July 26, 2024.