Writer Lee Sung Jin Says Marvel’s X-MEN Reboot Will Put Character First

Lee Sung Jin is having an incredible year. Fresh off earning 16 Emmy nominations for his acclaimed Netflix series Beef, the creator is also helping shape one of Marvel Studios’ most anticipated upcoming films: the X-Men reboot!

Speaking with Deadline, Lee shared new details about the creative philosophy behind Marvel’s take on the iconic mutant team with director Jake Schreier and fellow writer Joanna Calo. According to Lee, the focus isn’t on massive battles or universe-ending threats, it’s on the characters themselves.

“I grew up with X-Men and I think there’s no better set of characters that kind of exemplify feeling othered, feeling different from the world,” Lee said. “We want to continue mining from that theme and it couldn’t be more relevant today in 2026.”

Rather than leading with blockbuster spectacle, Lee says Marvel Studios wants audiences to connect with the mutants on a personal level first.

“They want to go back to character first, which is the type of writing that me and Joanna do best,” he continued. “We’re thinking about these characters and what makes them tick. What parts of them feel universally relatable, and leading with that first before we start thinking about plots and world stakes and all that.”

For longtime X-Men fans, that approach echoes what has always made the franchise stand out. While the mutant stories often feature epic conflicts, they’ve always been rooted in relatability.

Lee believes that’s exactly what audiences continue to want from superhero storytelling.

Click here to read more from Deadline.