The term "mutant" has now been used twice in the MCU, but Marvel still has not properly explained its meaning within the franchise. Audiences have been eager for mutants to the MCU ever since Disney acquired Fox in 2019, which means that Marvel Studios now owns the rights to the X-Men. In the comics as well as in previous movies, the X-Men have been referred to as mutants, and many are hopeful that these characters will soon make an appearance in the MCU.
However, Marvel is not making it clear what defines a Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, no mention of mutants was made then either, despite that character being known to be the leader of the X-Men. This lack of clarity means that Marvel may not integrate the mutants as first thought.
Why The MCU Isn't Properly Defining Mutants
In the comics, mutants occur because of a genetic factor referred to as the X-Gene, which gave them superpowers. This is hinted at in the ending of Ms. Marvel when Bruno, Kamala Khan's super smart best friend, looks at her DNA and says that she is a mutant. But no reference to the X-Gene is actually made. Marvel may be holding off defining what actually makes a mutant to allow for more room to expand the mutants. They may want to include characters such as Spider-Man or America Chavez, who have enhanced abilities but didn't have the X-Gene in the comics. The MCU is known to stray from traditional comic storylines, so it isn't surprising that they might be setting up the X-Men to look a bit different from before.
What The MCU's Mutant Approach Means For The X-Men
While the gradual introduction of mutants to the MCU is weird, Marvel may be on to something. Using a slow approach to build a team is a tactic they used before with the Avengers, and it paid off well. As for the X-Men team, it is likely that it will look very different than previous incarnations but still include classic such as Storm or Wolverine. With all the hints and Easter eggs, the X-Men are definitely coming to the MCU, likely soon.
Instead of dropping an X-Men movie shortly after the rights were acquired, Marvel's slow approach to the mutants with no clear definition is clearly by design. In confirmed mutants have been around in the MCU for a long time already. Using characters like Namor to achieve this subtly makes for stronger world-building and, hopefully, a stronger X-Men movie overall when it is finally released.
