Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Especially after the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday in December, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is very much set to enter its full mutant era. However, connections to the X-Men and mutants have been featured in the MCU for quite a few years already.
Rather than debuting Professor X’s school, Magneto’s Brotherhood of Mutants, and a massive mutant population overnight, Marvel Studios has gradually debuted select mutants and key setups for the future across the entire Multiverse Saga. While some mutants live in the main Earth-616 timeline, others live in alternate realities and Earths in the greater multiverse.
With director Jake Schreier’s X-Men reboot right around the corner following the Multiverse Saga, let’s look at the mutants we already know about who exist in the main MCU timeline, as well as mutants from other realities who’ve either been to Earth-616, have interacted with characters from Earth-616, or soon will in the MCU’s future.
Professor Xavier (Earth-838)
The first live-action Professor Xavier to officially appear in a Marvel Studios movie came from Earth-838, as seen in 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Played once more by Sir Patrick Stewart, Xavier was a member of this world’s Illuminati, representing the interests of mutantkind alongside Captain Carter, Black Bolt, Mister Fantastic, Maria Rambeau’s Captain Marvel, and Baron Mordo.
After a brief encounter with Doctor Strange from Earth-616, Xavier was brutally murdered by The Scarlet Witch (also from 616) during her pursuit of America Chavez, needing the girl’s multiversal power to reunite with her lost children. Even so, Earth-838’s Xavier served as the first major on-screen proof that mutants exist in alternate realities connected to the MCU. Likewise, Stewart is set to play another Xavier from a completely different Earth in Avengers: Doomsday.
Ms. Marvel (Earth-616)
Kamala Khan’s Ms. Marvel became the first officially confirmed mutant on Earth-616. During her show’s season finale, Kamala’s friend Bruno revealed that she has an underlying genetic mutation, allowing her to manipulate the hard-light Noor energy from her bangle (later revealed to be a Quantum Band). Likewise, the reveal was accompanied by the classic theme from X-Men: The Animated Series.
Mister Immortal (Earth-616)
2022’s She-Hulk: Attorney at Law had one of the MCU’s more subtle mutant debuts, with actor David Pasquesi playing Craig Hollis, also known as Mister Immortal. Although the series never explicitly calls him a mutant, Immortal has traditionally been a mutant in the original comics, so it follows that the same is true of the Earth-616 version too.
Namor (Earth-616)
2023’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever confirmed that Namor is a mutant, making the ruler of Talokan one of the MCU’s oldest known examples of a being possessing the X-gene. Much like in Marvel Comics and his original Atlantean origins, his mutation explains why he differs from every other Talokanil seen on-screen. Namor’s unique ankle wings allow him to fly, while his mutation also accounts for his dual respiration on both land and sea, not to mention his enhanced strength and durability.
Deadpool (Earth-10005)
Ryan Reynolds’ Wade Wilson officially crossed into the MCU in 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine. After being rejected by Earth-616’s Happy Hogan for a spot on the Avengers, Wade would later receive an opportunity to fully migrate to 616 and become a major hero by the TVA. However, the price was the end of his original world and loved ones, motivating Wade to seek out a new Wolverine to serve as the anchor being of Earth-10005.
While he ultimately stabilized and returned to his own universe, a glimpse of the future did show Thor crying with Wade in his arms. As such, it would be very surprising if Deadpool didn’t return either in Avengers: Doomsday and/or Secret Wars.
Wolverine (Earth-10005)
Marvel Studios’ Deadpool and Wolverine saw the return of Hugh Jackman’s Logan with key MCU connections as well. While the particular Logan who joins forces with Wade isn’t the same Wolverine from Fox’s original Earth-10005 timeline, he now calls it home as its replacement anchor being. As such, Wolverine is also widely expected to return and interact with Earth-616 heroes at some point, either in Doomsday and/or Secret Wars.
Various Mutants In The Void
Deadpool & Wolverine also featured a significant mutant roster within the Void at the End of Time (first featured in Marvel’s Loki series). Among the biggest names were Dafne Keen’s X-23, Channing Tatum’s Gambit, and Emma Corrin as Xavier’s evil twin Cassandra Nova. The Void also saw several mutants serving Nova, such as Pyro, Lady Deathtrike, Blob, Azazel, Sabretooth, Toad, Psylocke, Callisto, Juggernaut, and more. Likewise, Channing Tatum is expected to play Gambit again in Avengers: Doomsday, though it remains to be seen if this will be the same Remy LeBeau who was trapped in the Void.
Doorman (Earth-616)
DeMarr “Dooman” Davis was introduced in 2025’s Wonder Man series, a former club bouncer in Hollywood who rose to fame after he inadvertently harnessed power from the Darkforce dimension, turning his body into a portal others could enter and exit. However, DeMarr became a cautionary tale for Hollywood and casting people with powers after actor DeMarr lost his powers while Josh Gad was still inside, effectively trapping the actor in an unknown interdimensional space.
Like Mister Immortal, it’s not explicitly stated whether the MCU’s Dooman is a mutant as he is in the comics, though it would make sense, accounting for his unique reaction to the Darkforce energy he found in an alleyway.
Wonder Man? (Earth-616)
The origins of Simon Williams’ Wonder Man himself and whether he’s a mutant were intentionally left ambiguous, according to Wonder Man showrunner and co-creator Andrew Guest. However, we do know that Simon’s impressive psionic powers manifested when he was a teenager, the most common time the X-gene activates for mutants in the comics. As such, a mutant confirmation may very well be in the cards for the MCU’s Simon Williams down the line.
Jean Grey (Earth-616)
Confirming all the rumors and theories, Spider-Man: Brand New Day has just introduced Sadie Sink as the Jean Grey of Earth-616, debuting on her own before the X-Men or any confirmation about Xavier’s School. A gifted telepath, Jean’s vendetta against the Department of Damage Control and their desire to control and replicate her power results in those powers impressively evolving.
By the movie’s end, Jean is much more powerful than she was at the start of the most recent MCU movie, her telepathic range having greatly expanded while also gaining newfound telekinesis, a true Omega-level mutant in the making for the main MCU. Looking ahead, there’s no doubt that Sadie Sink’s Jean will be seen again as one of Earth-616’s most important future heroes.