Marvel’s X-Men: Is Jake Schreier the Right Director or Just Another Safe Bet?

by

After the successful release of the film “Thunderbolts“, which received excellent reviews and performed well at the box office, it was announced that its director, “Jake Schreier“, was the preferred candidate to lead the MCU’s revamp of X-Men. This news has been generally welcomed, as it should be. Although some fans initially dismissed Schreier due to his work on “Paper Towns” and action/superhero movie enthusiasts seem to dislike young adult adaptations for unknown reasons, his past work on “Robot & Frank” made him a distinct choice for “Thunderbolts“, a decision that proved to be fruitful.

In a remarkable Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) production, Schreier crafted a film that transformed characters previously viewed as secondary or minor into adored fan sensations. By focusing intensely on character interactions and delving deep into the emotional turmoil of the Thunderbolts, Schreier has earned respect from MCU fans. The prospect of him applying similar creativity to the X-Men is intriguing. However, I must admit that I harbor certain doubts about this notion.

If Schreier were chosen to direct X-Men by Marvel, I’d be eagerly anticipating his work. He seems well-deserving of the position given his impressive past projects. Yet, at this moment, I’m not as fully convinced as I should be, though my enthusiasm may grow with time once more details emerge. The prospect of Schreier helming X-Men is intriguing.

On a related note, there’s a possibility that this decision could postpone the Thunderbolts sequel, and on a broader scale, it underscores Marvel’s tendency to favor safer choices instead of taking significant risks, which was characteristic of their earlier ventures in the studio.

Marvel Is Reusing the Same Directors, Which Has Led to Projects Being Delayed

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been leaning towards giving directing roles to individuals who have previously shown success with the studio. This approach often involves directors transitioning from one franchise to another. For instance, the Russo brothers stepped in for Joss Whedon to direct both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Matt Shakman, who worked on WandaVision, is now handling The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Following the release of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Destin Daniel Cretton has been appointed to direct Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The Russo brothers are also set to return for both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.

This scenario is similar to that of a successful comic book author or illustrator being transferred from one project to another, such as Jonathan Hickman transitioning from The Fantastic Four to The Avengers and eventually back to The X-Men. Sometimes, authors even work on multiple comics concurrently, like Brian Michael Bendis handling both Ultimate Spider-Man and The New Avengers in 2000. However, creating a monthly comic is distinct from producing a feature film, which may require extensive development spanning several years.

The main problem here lies in the fact that having a director like Destin Daniel Cretton involved in multiple Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) projects, such as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, has delayed work on a sequel for the beloved character Shang-Chi. Despite the acclaim that Thunderbolts* is receiving, fans have been eagerly awaiting a follow-up to Shang-Chi, which they adored. However, since Cretton is currently committed to these projects, it means that the production of a Shang-Chi sequel must be postponed for now.

Is it more appealing for viewers to delay watching the second installment of Thunderbolts, whether it’s called The New Avengers, New Avengerz, or something else they choose, until after the X-Men series? If Schreier works on the X-Men project, a sequel to Thunderbolts might not be released for six to seven years. Should Marvel want to expedite a sequel but Schreier is unavailable, this could lead to hiring a new director and potentially altering the original vision that captured audience’s hearts.

In other words, certain Marvel Cinematic Universe franchises have successfully transitioned to new directors, such as the Russo brothers with “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” and “Captain America: Civil War.” However, the “Guardians of the Galaxy” series stands out because James Gunn was able to complete it from start to finish. Instead of having a new director step in for an existing franchise like this one, why not create a new one? This is especially true since Schreier played a significant role in the success of “Thunderbolts.

In a different scenario, if James Gunn had directed ‘Thunderbolts’* after ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’, and another director took over for ‘Guardians of the Galaxy 2’, audiences would have missed out on Gunn’s continued development of his characters and Schreier’s unique approach to ‘Thunderbolts*’. Now, ‘Thunderbolts’* stands as a benchmark that the MCU is striving to match.

*Note: Thunderbolts is a fictional team in the Marvel Comics universe.

Marvel Is Playing It a Bit Safe, Don’t You Think?

It appears as if Marvel might be playing it safe, choosing directors who have previously succeeded in one franchise, hoping for a repeat performance. Josh Boone, being a skilled director, wouldn’t simply replicate his work on Thunderbolts and transfer it to the X-Men, but there’s a sense of “been there, done that.” Despite Marvel Studios often being perceived as controlling, with filmmakers like Nia DaCosta and Edgar Wright sharing their experiences, they have also made bold, thrilling choices in selecting directors for their superhero projects.

Thunderbolts is not yet confirmed as directed by Jake Schreier, this is a hypothetical scenario.

Marvel often creates a stir with daring director choices, but lately, they seem to be opting for filmmakers who have previously worked with them. While I’m still eager for Matt Shakman’s “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” and whatever Taika Waititi does with “X-Men”, it seems Marvel Studios is leaning more towards strategies that proved successful in the past rather than taking risks on new directors.

Do The X-Men Need More Cultural Specificity?

Though not the main issue in the latest X-Men news, it’s slightly disheartening to see that the X-Men franchise has predominantly chosen white male directors throughout its 15 films. This observation does not imply that Schreier, being a white man, should be barred from directing X-Men; rather, it highlights a trend where all directors of these films have been white men, including Bryan Singer, Brett Ratner, Gavin Hood, Matthew Vaughn, James Mangold, Tim Miller, David Leitch, Josh Boone, Simon Kinberg, and Shawn Levy. It’s worth noting that Schreier does not share the sexual misconduct allegations faced by Bryan Singer or Brett Ratner, which is a positive aspect.

Since their debut in 1963, the X-Men have been often perceived as symbolizing marginalized groups, such as racial minorities, women, or those identifying as LGBTQ+. Although the initial team was composed of white teenagers, it wasn’t until 1975 with the release of Giant Size X-Men that a diverse cast, including international characters, gained prominence in the comic. By 2028, if there is a reboot of the X-Men, audiences will have been exposed to these characters through film for nearly three decades. To stand out amidst the Marvel Cinematic Universe, any potential new version of the team should bring a unique voice and perspective, and it’s challenging not to acknowledge that an LGBTQ+ creator, a Black director, or a female leader wouldn’t have valuable insights on the X-Men narrative and enrich the mutant allegory.

If you’re not convinced about the importance of cultural specificity, consider how Ryan Coogler transformed Black Panther into a global sensation. The same essence is present in Sinners, which has captured audiences worldwide due to this unique quality. This is precisely what the X-Men require, given that it seems as though those who might oppress the X-Men are currently in power in the United States.

Contemplate a hypothetical X-Men film with directors such as Jane Schoenbrun, Wanuri Kahiu, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Andrew Ahn, Sean Wang, A.V. Rockwell, Nahnatchka Khan, Karen Maine, Barry Jenkins, Kelly Fremon Craig, and Peter Sohn at the helm. Each of these talented filmmakers has a distinctive portfolio that could potentially infuse novelty into the X-Men franchise. However, it’s uncertain whether they would accept the job or show interest in joining the larger studio system and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Nonetheless, it wouldn’t hurt to propose the idea and see if these visionaries might be intrigued by the opportunity.

Read More

2025-05-12 02:53