Iconic X-Men hero will reportedly make MCU debut in unexpected solo movie

We've been waiting a long time for the debut of the X-Men in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and now it's finally happening. Just like the multiple teases that Marvel Studios has made over the past few years, their arrival won't happen right away, but with the success of Deadpool and Wolverine (which brought forth Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, reprising the role he played in the Fox X-Men movie franchise), it's only a matter of time.

There is an X-Men movie in development, with reports claiming it could be a part of Phase Seven (which would place it after the Multiverse Saga concludes), but there is speculation that we could see multiple X-Men characters surface in the MCU before that movie. In fact, it's pretty likely that we will see Jackman's Wolverine back in at least one of the upcoming Avengers movies, with the possibility of other actors from that movie series also returning for a cameo appearance or two.

However, a new report claims that we coud see one of the most beloved X-Men make their debut in a long-rumored MCU project, perhaps even setting the stage for a long-awaited showdown.

Jean Grey rumored to appear in Scarlet Witch project

According to Marvel scooper account Marvel News, Jean Grey could appear in the long-rumored Scarlet Witch solo project. If true, this would mark the first appearance of the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (provided it came out before the X-Men film), and what a heck of a way to make a debut it would be.

Jean Grey is one of the most iconic X-Men. She is a telepath, which puts her on a similar level to the team's own leader Professor Charles Xavier, but she's also much more powerful than him, with Professor X taking her under his wing in a bid to help her control and channel her powers. She is also capable of harnessing the Phoenix Force, which puts her on a whole different level to any other character in the Marvel Comics world. Well, almost any other character.

Equally formidable is the Scarlet Witch, who can channel her chaos magic to distort the world of those around her, killing anyone and anything in her path with a wave of her hand. And, like Jean has been corrupted by the Dark Phoenix in various adaptations, the Scarlet Witch was corrupted by the Darkhold in the MCU, making her much more dangerous and unstable.

Given their similarities (and the fact that they are two of the most powerful forces in the Marvel universe), fans often speculate about which one would win in a battle. The truth is that it could go either way on any day of the week, as both are formidable characters with limitless power that is capable of both good and bad. And the idea of seeing them together has fans excited at the prospect of this rumored crossover in the MCU.

Of course, Marvel has yet to officially confirm the Scarlet Witch project, but it has reportedly been in development for some time now, with audiences believing that it will bring Wanda Maximoff back to the MCU, after the character's apparent demise in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The character has been at the forefront of a lot of return rumors in recent days, with the most recent of them claiming that she could resurface in 2026's Vision spinoff series, with Elizabeth Olsen expected to reprise the role. But the solo project has been rumored since the beginning of Phase Four, when Disney Plus series WandaVision turned the Scarlet Witch into a main event player in the MCU.

If Jean does appear in the project, it would likely be a new actress who takes on the role. The character was previously portrayed by Famke Janssen and Sophie Turner in Fox's X-Men franchise. Both the original and prequel movie series received criticism for their portrayals of the character (specifically their respective focus on the Dark Phoenix saga), but it's Janssen's performance that has resonated with audiences the most, with many hoping that she will make a cameo as her version of Jean at some point before the Multiverse Saga comes to an end.

We'll have to wait and see if that happens, and who will play the MCU's version of Jean whenever she does debut, but the prospect of a Jean Grey and Scarlet Witch crossover in one of the MCU's most long-awaited titles is a very exciting thought indeed.