I remember the first time X‑Men hit my TV screen—I was ten, and I was wild for those animated mutants. So when Marvel tapped Beau DeMayo to revive that fury with X‑Men ’97, I thought: we’re in good hands. He got the soulful core, the moral grit—exactly what this franchise needs.
But fast‑forward to June 19, 2025—and suddenly, DeMayo is burning it all down. On X (formerly Twitter), he launched a tirade so full of venom it made headlines: Marvel’s named Thunderbolts director Jake Schreier to helm the new X‑Men film. The same Thunderbolts that cost $180 million and pulled in about $381 million—essentially doubling budget, but still falling short of break‑even.
DeMayo called it “pathetic” and accused the studio of “plantation country club vibes” and “fitting a certain demographic… just fail upwards.” He slammed the choice for lacking “diverse vision” and even accused Marvel of punishing him after he reported misconduct involving a Black female writer during Blade development.
What’s Really at Stake?
This isn’t just a director hire—it’s a cultural lightning rod. DeMayo, the architect behind a critically‑admired X‑Men ’97, walked away from Disney+ in March 2024. Since then, he’s claimed the second season’s scripts were rewritten without his input—and that Marvel sidelined him over his whistleblowing . Now, he’s burning the studio’s brand of “diversity theatre” while accusing them of protecting straight white male creatives.
From the outside, it reads like a classic case of hurt ego… or maybe a man refusing to be silenced. On one hand, Transformational careers sometimes collide with show‑business brutality. On the other, DeMayo’s allegation about a writer’s script being thrown and her eventual firing is explosive—especially when he says he has witnesses and “receipts”.
The Thunderbolts Angle
Let’s not gloss over Schreier’s record. Thunderbolts, despite solid reviews (an 88 % Rotten Tomatoes score and A– CinemaScore), didn’t hit profit—Variety notes it fell short of the $425 million break‑even mark. Critics largely shrugged it off, and DeMayo is seizing on that: a “mediocre, fail‑upwards” hire rewarded for underperformance.
Defenders of Schreier highlight his indie roots—Robot & Frank, Paper Towns—and his knack for character work on shows like Beef and Kidding. Reddit responses are mixed: one commenter observed,
“Jake has proved he could handle original storytelling … two key tenets of the X‑Men”
while another blasted DeMayo for being a “salty bitch” now that he’s been pushed off the team.
Why it Matters
Here’s what I hear—and feel: this kerfuffle is bigger than one director, one creator. It’s a crucible testing Marvel’s identity. Are they still the forward‑thinking juggernaut Kevin Feige once promised? Or have they become a cozy club where mediocrity shields itself behind diversity buzzwords?
Marvel’s been publicly championing inclusivity: recent hires include Nia DaCosta, Ryan Coogler, Chloé Zhao. But the DeMayo thread suggests another story: what happens when internal pressures clash with external image? Reported firings, his removal from X‑Men ’97, alleged cover‑ups – he’s painting a portrait of frustration, not entitlement.
Final Thoughts
I can’t say with certainty who’s right. I’ll leave the moral judgment to time—but I do know this:
- A creator who revived a beloved franchise is voicing real frustration.
- A director who brought mixed results to Marvel is getting the pass anyway.
- And the studio? Quiet. No statement yet.
So here we are—Marvel at a crossroads. Will they double down behind the “new Avengers”? Or will this storm force a reckoning about who gets a seat at the table?
I want to see X‑Men done right. Not because I crave spectacle—but because stories about outsiders fighting for acceptance feel more crucial than ever. Hire the best. Don’t settle. Don’t quiet the voices that built you.
Beau keeps tweeting. The truth is somewhere in the noise. But the shadow it casts is big—and fans deserve to see it, not just another flash‑bang announcement.
How are you feeling about all this? Ammitted backlash—or just bruised egos? Let’s talk.
