Avengers: Secret Wars could face very serious issues if the X-Men make their Marvel Cinematic Universe debut too soon. Coming on the heels of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, the sixth Avengers film is set to wrap up the Multiverse Saga and Phase 6 of the MCU. Given the Multiversal antics of Phase 4, it seems highly likely that many Marvel superheroes will return in Secret Wars, including many pre-MCU characters like the cast of Fox's X-Men franchise. Yet this exciting premise could all fall apart if the MCU's version of the X-Men has already been unveiled prior to Secret Wars hitting theaters in 2026.

While beloved, Fox's X-Men franchise had major problems in its later years, leaving its audience open to the idea of an MCU reboot by the time Disney acquired the rights to the characters in the 2019 Fox acquisition. Since then, the MCU has slowly worked a handful of mutants into its movies and Disney+ series, including Ms. Marvel's Kamala Khan and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's Namor the Sub-Mariner. Though Marvel Studios has made no official announcement regarding its forthcoming X-Men reboot, the arrival of the superhuman team is inevitable, though the timing remains one of the MCU's biggest mysteries going into Phase 5.

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Fox's X-Men Could Overshadow The MCU's (Or Vice Versa)

X-Men: The Last Stand cast including Shadowcat, Cyclops, Storm, Dark Phoenix, Wolverine, Rogue, Angel, Professor X, and Beast

By nature of its existence, Secret Wars is trying to outdo Avengers: Endgame in terms of superhero cameos, leading many theories to suggest that Fox's X-Men characters will appear in the film. If this indeed happens, the film will certainly want to spend a good deal of screentime with beloved heroes like Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, Patrick Stewart's Professor X, and Halle Berry's Storm. If the MCU has already introduced its own X-Men team by the time Secret Wars releases, these new mutants run the grave risk of being overshadowed by their already well-established predecessors, getting Marvel's latest superhero team off to a bad start in their MCU tenure.

Although certain projects have hinted at characters like Wolverine already existing in the MCU, the franchise is still quite far from introducing the full X-Men lineup, with the earliest that such an event could occur being in Phase 6, just before The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars. If the team is in place by then, it will be in its infancy, barely established in the wider MCU. The team would doubtlessly pale in comparison to the returning fan favorites, making their presence in Secret Wars redundant. In addition to overpacking an already crowded movie, the MCU's X-Men would inevitably be shoved to the side in favor of their older counterparts.

The MCU's X-Men have been the subject of fan casting for years, with actors like Taron Edgerton being favored for Wolverine alongside other up-and-coming actors rumored for prominent mutant roles. The high level of anticipation for these casting announcements also risks an opposite problem in that the new X-Men's presence could overshadow the returning Fox characters. In the excitement of learning about the MCU's mutants, audiences may overlook the long-awaited return of the original X-Men, making their role in Secret Wars less impactful than it has the right to be. Clearly, having two different teams of X-Men in Secret Wars is too big a risk for Marvel Studios to take.

Secret Wars Is The Perfect Goodbye for Fox's X-Men

Hugh Jackman in X-Men: Origins: Wolverine and Secret Wars comics

Despite its flaws, Fox's X-Men series included several great actor-character matchups, including Hugh Jackman's once-controversial casting as Wolverine. Over the years, the franchise produced plenty of iconic characters, each played to perfection by a dedicated and passionate actor. Unfortunately, the last X-Men movies failed to do justice to their cast, ending without a proper goodbye to many of their best characters. While some mutants, like Wolverine, managed to end their stories in a satisfying way, most were left by the wayside with no true ending to their arcs. Their return in Secret Wars, however, finally offers the chance to fix this tragic mistake and honor the original X-Men lineup.

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Amidst the outstanding multiversal chaos of Secret Wars, the MCU can repair Fox's biggest X-Men mistake, offering audiences the chance to say goodbye to the stellar original cast once and for all. Giving these X-Men a definitive ending can repair the extensive damage done to the franchise by flops like X-Men: Apocalypse and Dark Phoenix, going a long way in bolstering the characters' cinematic legacies. Furthermore, once the original X-Men lineup is given a proper sendoff, the stage will be fully set for a brand-new team of mutants to take the lead, carrying on the legacy of the X-Men, now as an integral part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Will The Fox X-Men Return In Secret Wars?

Avengers infinity war Xmen days of future past

It seems highly likely that the upcoming Secret Wars will follow No Way Home to bring back characters from franchises both successful and unsuccessful for one last adventure. Following No Way Home's success, rumors have swirled regarding which characters may make their return in Secret Wars, including speculation that Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire may return as their respective Spider-Men, certain Fantastic Four actors may return to their roles, and even that Nicolas Cage's Ghost Rider may be returning to the mix. The possibilities are limitless regarding which characters may make their surprise return in the final installment of the Multiverse Saga.

The X-Men are almost certainly at the top of the list of prospective cameos, especially considering recent developments in the MCU. Hugh Jackman's return as Wolverine in Deadpool 3, which is now confirmed to be a part of the MCU's Phase 6, already signals that Fox's X-Men will play some role in the Multiverse Saga. Furthermore, Patrick Stewart's cameo as Professor Xavier in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness suggests that Marvel Studios is more than willing to bring back previous actors from Fox's franchise. Given the resurgence of Fox's mutants in the MCU in recent years and in years to come, their return in Secret Wars is inevitable.

When Will The MCU X-Men Appear?

fully formed x-men team mcu

Excitement is clearly high for the debut of Marvel's own rendition of the X-Men. However, while future projects will certainly hint at the classic team's arrival if there is one thing that the exciting Phase 6 slate has proved, it's that the MCU doesn't need to rush the X-Men. There are plenty of compelling characters currently active in the franchise to keep audiences satiated until the mutants can be properly set up for their own crossover. Plus, with major additions to the franchise coming in the near future, including the long-awaited debut of The Fantastic Four, the MCU can afford to hold off a little longer on introducing the X-Men.

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Marvel has remained characteristically tight-lipped regarding when audiences may see the uncanny X-Men as a fully-fledged team in the MCU. With the full slate for Phase 5 already announced, the earliest that this team could come is in Phase 6, though even that seems early given the current trajectory of the franchise. Instead, the X-Men will likely wait out the Multiverse Saga, perhaps making their debut in Phase 7. While this may seem like a long time to wait, Marvel certainly has plenty of exciting projects to keep their longtime viewers entertained as they continue down the road to Avengers: Secret Wars and the end of yet another Saga.

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