The merger between Disney and Fox instantly kick-started a number of possible changes within the many movie franchises of Fox, but one particular addition to the Disney arsenal of great interest was the X-Men franchise. While Marvel Studios have deals in place that allow the use of Spider-Man and the Hulk in the MCU, the merger gifted Marvel Studios their long-lost children and their introduction to the Marvel Cinematic Universe was instantly guaranteed. While on the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever red carpet, Marvel boss Kevin Feige was asked by Deadline when the X-Men will be fully integrated into the MCU and replied:
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Marvel Studios have been teasing the existence of mutants in the MCU throughout Phase 4, from the inclusion of a character called Ursa Major in Black Widow, through the mention of Ms Marvel having mutant DNA in her series finale, and the many hints that mutants exist in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Now with Deadpool 3 on the way, and bringing Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine along to boot, as Feige has said, the X-Men are slowly making their way into the Marvel story. There is still a long way to go before a full blown X-Men adventure is unleashed, especially with much focus currently being on the Multiverse Saga and the imminent arrival of Kang the Conqueror.
“That’s what Jennifer Walters just asked the robot in the final episode of She-Hulk. I’ll give you the same answer he gave…and no answer was I think what he gave. But Deadpool and Wolverine….we’re getting close.”
Where Will Mutants Appear Next In the MCU?
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While there may still be a wait for the likes of Professor X, Magneto and more of the X-Men to make their full debut in the MCU, it will not be long at all before more mutants appear in the Marvel franchise. While Patrick Stewart made a brief appearance as Professor X in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, that role is almost certainly going to be taken over by another actor when he makes his next appearance, the next mutant of Phase 4 will be Namor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Namor arrives in the Black Panther sequel to wage war on Wakanda following the death of T’Challa, but rather than being the ruler of Atlantis, as in his comic book appearance, the character is now the leader of people from the underwater Mayan kingdom of Talocan. However, one thing that will remain intact from his comic book history is that Namor will be a mutant. This means that once again, Marvel are very slowly drawing back the veil on hidden worlds and mutants living in plain sight within the MCU.
How exactly all of this will lead to a full introduction of the X-Men and how the large group will figure in a bigger Marvel world is something that very few people currently know, but there is no doubt that Kevin Feige is well aware of where and when it will happen. While this may begin within the Multiverse Saga, there is a strong belief that the X-Men’s story could well form part of the next Saga of the MCU which is still several years off.
