4 Years Later, Marvel Studios’ X-Men Reboot Can’t Ignore Their Biggest Piece Of MCU Setup

Published Sep 2, 2026, 10:30 PM EDT

Since 2019, Kevin Erdmann has been one of Screen Rant's Senior Staff Writers, covering all kinds of Superhero and Star Wars media with Easter egg breakdowns, theory pieces, breaking news, and more. A huge Star Wars & MCU fan, Kevin also loves Batman (because he's Batman), but could talk for hours about why Nightwing is DC's greatest hero. 

With 8 years of total experience covering entertainment and pop culture, Kevin has gotten the chance to interview top creatives and talent, and has also attended major media events like Disney's D23 convention.

Majoring in Cinema Studies with a minor in Comics and Cartoon Studies from the UofO, Kevin lives in Oregon with his wonderful wife, adorable dog, and sinister cat who is no doubt currently plotting his demise.

The MCU's brand-new cast of X-Men is coming soon, and I sincerely hope one of Marvel Studios' biggest pieces of set-up won't be forgotten or left unused. As seen at Disney's recent D23 Fan Expo, several members of the X-Men movie's cast were revealed, along with its 2028 release date. As exciting as that is, there's one key element I'm really hoping gets confirmed sooner rather than later.

Even though this new team of younger mutants and brand-new actors has yet to debut, Marvel Studios has been preparing for the X-Men for years, ever since Disney secured the rights back in 2010 when they purchased 20th Century Fox (well before Sadie Sink's recent MCU debut as Jean Grey).

The concepts of mutation in the main MCU timeline have only grown, and plenty of classic X-Men heroes from different realities have been featured in projects like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, The Marvels, Deadpool & Wolverine, and especially with the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, set to feature an entire team of X-Men played by the same actors from the Fox universe (not to mention X-Men '97). Keeping that in mind, one recurring element that should absolutely continue when the MCU's new X-Men team officially debuts.

The MCU Has Been Using The Original Animated X-Men Theme Since 2022

Serving as one of the best creative decisions in the entire movie, Marvel Studios first used the original X-Men: The Animated Series theme during 2022's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Naturally, the iconic theme plays when Sir Patrick Stewart debuts as Professor Xavier from Earth-838, a member of this alternate Illuminati, wearing a green suit and sitting in a yellow hover-chair for the first time in live-action and mirroring the character's original animated series depiction.

Marvel Studios used the theme again at the end of 2022's Ms. Marvel, heard during the reveal that Kamala Khan is a mutant in the MCU, explaining her ability to manipulate Noor energy with her great-grandmother's bangle acting as a catalyst (one of the MCU's Quantum Bands). As such, the music absolutely helps tease Kamala's future as one of the MCU's mutant heroes, and perhaps even Ms. Marvel becoming a future member of the X-Men.

Marvel · Mutant Profile Which X-Men Character Are You? “Mutation: it is the key to our evolution.”

🐺 Wolverine The Loner

🧠 Professor X The Visionary

🧲 Magneto The Survivor

ACTIVATE CEREBRO →

01

Humans discover your mutant abilities. What do you do?

ADisappear. Go off the grid before anyone can come after me — I don’t owe them an explanation BReach out calmly and try to have a dialogue — fear comes from misunderstanding, and I can help bridge that gap CMake a show of strength — they need to understand that mutants will not be hunted or controlled, ever

NEXT →

02

Anti-mutant protesters surround a school full of young mutants. What’s your first move?

AGet between the kids and the mob. If anyone raises a hand, they answer to me BAddress the crowd telepathically or publicly — show them the children are just scared kids, not threats CEvacuate the children to safety, then make the protesters deeply regret their choices

NEXT →

03

A team of mutants needs a leader for a dangerous mission. What role do you naturally fall into?

AI work alone, but I’ll take point — someone’s gotta make sure nobody gets killed BI coordinate the team, play to each person’s strengths, and keep morale steady CI lead from the front — my vision, my plan, my responsibility if it fails

NEXT →

04

A powerful mutant threatens innocent humans. How do you respond?

APut them down fast — talk later. Innocent people don’t have time for a debate BTry to reach them mentally — understand why they’re doing this and find a peaceful resolution COffer them a place at my side — their power is wasted on chaos when it could serve a greater cause

NEXT →

05

A human politician offers to champion mutant rights — but has a shady past. What do you do?

AGive them a chance — people can change, and this alliance could mean real progress for coexistence BI don’t trust politicians. Watch them closely, and the second they betray us, I’ll be right there CUse them — let them think they’re in charge while I control the narrative from behind the scenes

NEXT →

06

What’s your biggest flaw?

AI push people away — I’d rather be alone than risk losing someone I care about BI’m too idealistic — I keep believing in people even when the evidence says I shouldn’t CMy anger — once I commit to a path, I’ll burn everything down before I admit I was wrong

NEXT →

07

Sentinels are hunting mutants in your city. What’s your move?

AHunt the hunters — tear them apart before they find anyone else BCoordinate an underground network to hide and protect every mutant in the area CSeize control of the Sentinels — turn the weapons of oppression into instruments of liberation

NEXT →

08

What do you believe about coexistence between humans and mutants?

ACoexistence is a fantasy. Humans will always fear what they can’t control — mutants must secure their own future BI don’t care about the big picture — I protect the people I care about, and everyone else can sort themselves out CIt’s possible and worth fighting for — the dream of a world where humans and mutants live in peace is everything

REVEAL MY MUTANT IDENTITY →

Cerebro Scan Complete Your X-Men Identity

🐺

Wolverine (Logan)

“I’m the best there is at what I do. But what I do best isn’t very nice.” You’re the fierce loner who acts first and philosophises later — but beneath that adamantium-plated exterior beats a heart that cares far more than you’d ever admit. You’ve been burned enough times to distrust the world, so you keep people at arm’s length, yet you’d throw yourself into any fight to protect the ones who slip past your defences. You don’t need a cause or a manifesto — you just need someone worth fighting for. Like Logan, your greatest strength isn’t your claws or your healing factor; it’s the stubborn refusal to let the people you love face danger alone.

Fierce Protective Resilient Untamed

🧠

Professor X (Charles Xavier)

“Just because someone stumbles and loses their path, doesn’t mean they’re lost forever.” You’re the visionary who sees the best in everyone — even when the world gives you every reason not to. Your greatest power isn’t telepathy; it’s an unshakeable belief that understanding and compassion can bridge any divide. You lead not through force but through hope, building bridges where others build walls. Some call you naive, but you know that real strength lies in extending a hand to your enemy. Like Charles Xavier, you carry the weight of a dream that most consider impossible, and you refuse to let it die.

Visionary Empathetic Diplomatic Hopeful

🧲

Magneto (Erik Lehnsherr)

“Peace was never an option.” You’re the survivor who learned the hardest lesson life has to offer: the world will not protect you, so you must protect yourself. Your conviction is unbreakable and your patience is terrifying — you’ll wait years to set the right plan in motion. You don’t hate humanity; you simply refuse to let your people be victims ever again. Every action you take, no matter how ruthless, is driven by a profound love for those who share your struggle. Like Erik Lehnsherr, you are both revolutionary and tragic — a leader forged in pain who will bend the world before it bends you.

Resolute Strategic Ruthless Unyielding

↻ PLAY AGAIN

Marvel even used the theme for Storm's debut in What If...? season 3, a variant of Ororo Munroe wielding Mjolnir as the Goddess of Thunder, further showing that Marvel Studios understands the significance and love fans have for the classic X-Men theme. Of course, the biggest use of the theme in recent years has been with X-Men '97, the direct revival of the classic 90s animated series itself.

Keeping its multiple uses in mind, my sincere hope is that Marvel Studios will continue to use the beloved theme, especially with this new MCU X-Men team on the way who will no doubt define some of Marvel's most popular heroes for years to come.

Keeping The Original Theme Is An Easy Way To Sell The MCU's New X-Men

As seen over the last few years, Marvel Studios has already done some solid work keeping the classic '90s X-Men theme alive for modern audiences. As such, using the theme in 2028's X-Men movie makes an awful lot of sense as a super easy and incredibly effective way to establish this new reboot as part of an ongoing Marvel legacy.

In the midst of new actors, a new story, and what will no doubt be an altogether different tone, why not provide this one familiar element that is universally loved? There's even some precedent showing how well it could work thanks to James Gunn's Superman movie last year, which incorporated a reworked version of John Williams' classic score. Just as that theme is so synonymous with Superman, the same is very much true for the X-Men with the 90s theme. As such, my fingers are absolutely crossed that we'll hear it when the initial teaser eventually drops for Marvel Studios' upcoming X-Men movie.

X-Men releases in theaters May 5th, 2028 from Marvel Studios.

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  Jean Grey

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  Rogue / Anna Marie

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  Scott Summers / Cyclops

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  Samara Weaving

  Emma Frost