Today, a new report announced that screenwriters Lee Sung Jin and Joanna Calo are set to pen the next draft of Marvel Studios’ X-Men reboot. They take over from Michael Lesslie (The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping), who wrote the first draft in 2024. The duo is best known for co-showrunning the hit series Beef. They also helped touch up Thunderbolts alongside director Jake Schreier before coming back on X-Men. While speaking to Steve Weintraub of Collider, Schreier reveals their involvement:
“We’re still developing. You know, one of the exciting things that’s tying into Beef is that Sonny [Lee Sung Jin] and Joanna [Calo] both worked on this season. Obviously, I mean, Beef is Sonny’s show, and Joanna worked on the season as well, and we worked together on Season 1 of Beef and on Thunderbolts*. They have come in and are working on a draft right now, which is really exciting to be able to put that group of people together again. When you go back and read X-Men [comics], there’s ideology but also interpersonal drama, almost of a soap opera quality. Having writers who understand both how to drive ideology from personal stakes, if we get that right, that’s what will feel most honest to what X-Men can be.”
When the duo was working on the screenplay for Thunderbolts, Beef actor Steven Yeun was attached to play the Sentry. However, due to scheduling conflicts (or showing Invincible creator Robert Kirkman concept art of the character), he had to drop out. It would be interesting if Marvel Studios ever circles back around for Yeun to play another future Marvel character. Production is expected to begin sometime next year alongside Black Panther 3.
X-Men has no set release date
- Beef creators Lee Sung Jin and Joanna Calo will write the new draft for Marvel Studios' X-Men reboot.
- The talented duo replaces Michael Lesslie, taking over the writing duties for the highly anticipated upcoming superhero film.
- Director Jake Schreier praised the writers for their ability to blend complex ideology with compelling interpersonal character drama.
