The Future of Professor X in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Sir Patrick Stewart's potential return as Professor X in the MCU has sparked excitement and speculation among fans. Here's what we know so far about the iconic X-Men character's possible comeback.
Sir Patrick Stewart's Frustrations
Sir Patrick Stewart breaks his silence on the issues he had with his Marvel Cinematic Universe cameo as Professor X in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. While the franchise for the original X-Men movies has been over for years, one of the prominent cast members of the film series who got a shot at reprising his role was Stewart, but with a twist. Even though he played Charles Xavier, Stewart portrayed an alternative variant of the iconic X-Men hero.
James McAvoy and Patrick Stewart as Professor X in X-Men: Days of Future Past
It has nearly been two years since Stewart's cameo in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, giving fans another chance to briefly enjoy Fox's X-Men era. During an appearance on Happy Sad Confused, Stewart talked about his experience working on Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness while sharing his frustrations with his Professor X cameo:
Patrick Stewart's Professor X using Cerebro in X-Men
"I was alone ... I think that the big scene, I think that each one of the leading actors had the same experience. They were shot on their own. It was frustrating and disappointing. That's how it's been. The last few years have been challenging."
Professor X being killed by Jean Grey in X-Men The Last Stand
Even though Professor X's brief MCU moment in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was disappointing to not just Stewart but also many audience members, the door is definitely not closed on future Xavier appearances.
Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier aka Professor X in X2
The Possibility of Professor X's Return
Given how The Multiverse Saga has continued to lean into the old X-Men franchise, most recently with The Marvels, featuring Kelsey Grammer's Beast, and 2024 will be a crucial year for the old Fox-Marvel movies. With Deadpool 3 bringing back Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, it would not be shocking if Xavier somehow shows up there too.
Frail Professor X in Logan
In fact, during the same interview, Stewart teased potential involvement with the Deadpool 3 movie. Since the MCU is rumored to go through a soft reboot with Phase 7 after The Multiverse Saga, it wouldn't be a surprise if Stewart gets to play Professor X at least one or two more times before Avengers: Secret Wars changes the status quo for the franchise. That would be a more organic transition for a new actor to then take on the role of the MCU's main Professor X.
Marvel Studios reportedly began meeting with writers for the new X-Men movie reboot in late 2023. Time will tell what other X-Men plans Marvel Studios have in mind for The Multiverse Saga when it comes to honoring the previous series of films based on the mutants. Deadpool 3 might give some more clues as to how much further they are planning to go with the old X-Men franchise.
The Future of the X-Men Franchise
Until Stewart returns as Professor X, the world can relive Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness on Disney+.
It's clear that the future of the X-Men franchise in the Marvel Cinematic Universe holds great potential for surprises and nostalgic moments. As fans eagerly await updates on the new X-Men movie reboot and the developments in The Multiverse Saga, the possibility of Sir Patrick Stewart reprising his role as Professor X continues to capture the imagination of audiences around the world.
