Today, there was much rejoicing in the Marvel fandom. The Disney and Fox merger has been approved by shareholders, and it is officially moving forward. This may give Disney a monopoly at the top of the box office and a nearly unbeatable library of films and TV shows for its upcoming streaming service. There may even be darker implications for creative types and consumers now that one of the major studios just ate a competitor like it was Galactus’ appetizer. But forget about that for a moment! The X-Men and the Fantastic Four are finally going to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe! Today’s Nerdist News examines how and when it could happen.

Join mutant host Jessica Chobot as she stops pretending to be an Inhuman now that Marvel Studios can finally use the beloved children of the Atom. It just might take a while to unfold onscreen, since the X-Men movies are sorely in need of a reboot. There are even two nearly finished films, Dark Phoenix and New Mutants, that will hit theaters well before the Disney and Fox deal finally closes in mid-2019. Beyond that, don’t be too shocked if the X-Men take an extended break before returning for Phase 5 or Phase 6.

Deadpool is so slightly connected to the established X-Men movies that it wouldn’t take much effort to simply slide him into the MCU, with some fourth-wall-breaking jokes to seal the deal. But what about the Fantastic Four? Marvel’s first family of superheroes is uniquely situated for a reboot after the last movie crashed and burned. Getting the FF back opens the door for Marvel to use Galactus, the Silver Surfer, and several other alien races and characters that were previously off limits. Considering Kevin Feige has hinted at more cosmic movies, a “Fantastic Phase Four” seems like the natural next step for the collective franchise.

When do you think the FF and X-Men will join the MCU? Share your theories in the comment section below!

Images: 20th Century Fox/Marvel