Will James McAvoy Return As Professor X? Here’s The Actor’s Answer

Lucas Aquino
Jan 16, 2024
Jan 17, 2024

Patrick Stewart, who portrayed the character brilliantly in the original X-Men franchise. In later movies, a younger version of the character is played by James McAvoy, another talented actor who also completely nails the role, and captures the hearts of Marvel fans worldwide.

Now that Sir Patrick Stewart is rumored to reprise the role of Professor X in the MCU, fans are eager to know if James McAvoy will make his MCU debut as well. As a Charles Xavier variant, of course. Recently, the British actor was asked whether he would join the MCU and reprise the X-Men role, and here’s his answer.

#1. Will James McAvoy Join The MCU?

On Entertainment Tonight’s TikTok account, McAvoy was asked by a journalist about whether he will join the MCU in the future as the iconic Professor X. However, the actor remained tight-lipped about the situation, and refrained from sharing any further details to avoid “getting into trouble”.

"Anything I say will get me in trouble ... I've had no contact with them. If they want me to come back, they need to talk to me and need a good script ... I'm not saying anything,” McAvoy panickingly answered the question.

#2. What Did The Actor Mean By This?

Source: Trina Gepsburg, Getty Images

While denying the rumors about his return to the role by claiming he “had no contact” with Marvel so far, McAvoy didn’t seem to be against the idea of joining the MCU after all. The British performer emphasized that if Marvel wants to recruit him, they’ll have to talk to him (in person) and convince him with a decent enough storyline. Only then, McAvoy will make his final decision.

This means good news for Marvel fans, as they still have a chance to see the talented McAvoy return as Professor X in a future MCU movie, should the conditions be met.

#3. Marvel Studios Already Sets The Stage For The X-Men

Source: Marvel

As Disney finally acquired 20th Century Fox back in 2019, Marvel executives have been planning to merge the MCU and Fox’s X-Men Universe into one. This ambitious plan comes closer to reality in 2021’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, as Sir Patrick Stewart himself reprises the role of Professor X, and makes a brief appearance in the movie.

The studio continues to tease the existence of the X-Men in 2023’s The Marvels by bringing Kelsey Grammer’s Beast into the scene. And in the upcoming Deadpool 3, Hugh Jackman will reprise his role as Wolverine, and join Ryan Reynolds’ Wade Wilson on a Multiverse adventure. The threequel is also rumored to feature numerous other X-Men as well, Professor X included.

#4. Which MCU Movie Can McAvoy Star In?

Source: 20th Century Fox

Judging from McAvoy’s recent answer, it’s almost certain that his version of Charles Xavier won’t appear in Deadpool 3. Instead, Avengers: Secret Wars could be a great chance for McAvoy to reprise the role, as the ambitious Avengers movie is rumored to feature several variants of our favorite superheroes from the Multiverse.

#5. James McAvoy's X-Men Adventure So Far

Source: 21st Century Fox

James McAvoy first appeared in Fox’s X-Men: First Class (2011) as a younger version of Charles Xavier, who tries to found his own team of mutants and connect the X-Men with human society.

Much like Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen, McAvoy’s Professor X and Michael Fassbender’s Magneto rivalry is one of the best aspects of the X-Men alternate timeline. Therefore, besides the British actor, Marvel fans want Fassbender to make his MCU debut as well.

Do you want James McAvoy to return to the role of Professor X? Let us know in the comments.