MCU's Professor X Recasting Gets Official Response From Former X-Men James McAvoy

26 minutes ago 7

James McAvoy using his powers as Professor X in X-Men First Class

Published Sep 12, 2026, 6:00 PM EDT

Andy Behbakht has worked as an entertainment journalist since 2010, covering all the latest in Hollywood on both the big and small screens, from staying on top of the biggest breaking news, analyzing movies and television shows in Hollywood, to in-depth interviews with actors and storytellers.

Andy's career includes having worked for publications such as FanSided, KSiteTV, TV Fanatic, It's Just Movies, Heroic Hollywood, TV Overmind, and more. Outside of his career as an established reporter, Andy is the host and producer of The Showrunner Whisperer, The Flash Podcast, the editor-in-chief of Multiverse of Color, and the network director of DC TV Podcasts.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is getting ready for the mutants to finally have their era in the franchise.

The MCU timeline has been waiting nearly two decades to put the full spotlight on one of the most iconic teams in Marvel Comics. While the Avengers movies are coming up as the end of Phase 6, the X-Men will officially be kicking off Phase 7 in 2028.

In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, James McAvoy, who played Professor X in the X-Men prequel movies, was asked about Christopher Abbott being tapped as the MCU's new Charles Xavier, along with the other cast members revealed for the reboot. The Marvel alum stated, “Good luck to him! Good luck, good luck, good luck. I just wish them well and good luck. I’m here to sell a different film, so I don’t really… [Marvel’s] got a massive publicity machine, they can sell their own [film]. But massive good luck to them!”

The X-Men reboot, which will be directed by Thunderbolts*' Jake Schreier, has added additional cast members, as Kevin Feige announced at D23 2026, multiple characters for the film. Not only will Sadie Sink reprise her role as Jean Grey from Spider-Man: Brand New Day, but Kit Connor has been tapped as Scott Summers, a.k.a. Cyclops, and another former actor who previously played the iconic hero had some supportive words for the Heartstopper veteran.

In a separate interview with EW, Tye Sheridan, who played the young Cyclops in the later X-Men prequels, shared a piece of advice for Connor. The actor stated, "Serve the story and serve the character and don't feel pressure to be like somebody else. just do your own thing and make it special and yeah, so excited for everybody that's involved and hope they have fun."

The line-up also features Maya Boyd as Storm, Inde Navarrette as Rogue, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, and Adam Driver as Nathaniel Milbury, better known to comic book readers as Mister Sinister. It was also recently reported that Asa Germann will play Angel, which makes Warren Kenneth Worthington III the third member of the original line-up from the canon to board the project.

Marvel · Mutant Profile Which X-Men Character Are You? “Mutation: it is the key to our evolution.”

🐺 Wolverine The Loner

🧠 Professor X The Visionary

🧲 Magneto The Survivor

ACTIVATE CEREBRO →

Humans discover your mutant abilities. What do you do?

ADisappear. Go off the grid before anyone can come after me — I don’t owe them an explanation BReach out calmly and try to have a dialogue — fear comes from misunderstanding, and I can help bridge that gap CMake a show of strength — they need to understand that mutants will not be hunted or controlled, ever

Anti-mutant protesters surround a school full of young mutants. What’s your first move?

AGet between the kids and the mob. If anyone raises a hand, they answer to me BAddress the crowd telepathically or publicly — show them the children are just scared kids, not threats CEvacuate the children to safety, then make the protesters deeply regret their choices

A team of mutants needs a leader for a dangerous mission. What role do you naturally fall into?

AI work alone, but I’ll take point — someone’s gotta make sure nobody gets killed BI coordinate the team, play to each person’s strengths, and keep morale steady CI lead from the front — my vision, my plan, my responsibility if it fails

A powerful mutant threatens innocent humans. How do you respond?

APut them down fast — talk later. Innocent people don’t have time for a debate BTry to reach them mentally — understand why they’re doing this and find a peaceful resolution COffer them a place at my side — their power is wasted on chaos when it could serve a greater cause

A human politician offers to champion mutant rights — but has a shady past. What do you do?

AGive them a chance — people can change, and this alliance could mean real progress for coexistence BI don’t trust politicians. Watch them closely, and the second they betray us, I’ll be right there CUse them — let them think they’re in charge while I control the narrative from behind the scenes

What’s your biggest flaw?

AI push people away — I’d rather be alone than risk losing someone I care about BI’m too idealistic — I keep believing in people even when the evidence says I shouldn’t CMy anger — once I commit to a path, I’ll burn everything down before I admit I was wrong

Sentinels are hunting mutants in your city. What’s your move?

AHunt the hunters — tear them apart before they find anyone else BCoordinate an underground network to hide and protect every mutant in the area CSeize control of the Sentinels — turn the weapons of oppression into instruments of liberation

What do you believe about coexistence between humans and mutants?

ACoexistence is a fantasy. Humans will always fear what they can’t control — mutants must secure their own future BI don’t care about the big picture — I protect the people I care about, and everyone else can sort themselves out CIt’s possible and worth fighting for — the dream of a world where humans and mutants live in peace is everything

REVEAL MY MUTANT IDENTITY →

Cerebro Scan Complete Your X-Men Identity

🐺

Wolverine (Logan)

“I’m the best there is at what I do. But what I do best isn’t very nice.” You’re the fierce loner who acts first and philosophises later — but beneath that adamantium-plated exterior beats a heart that cares far more than you’d ever admit. You’ve been burned enough times to distrust the world, so you keep people at arm’s length, yet you’d throw yourself into any fight to protect the ones who slip past your defences. You don’t need a cause or a manifesto — you just need someone worth fighting for. Like Logan, your greatest strength isn’t your claws or your healing factor; it’s the stubborn refusal to let the people you love face danger alone.

Fierce Protective Resilient Untamed

🧠

Professor X (Charles Xavier)

“Just because someone stumbles and loses their path, doesn’t mean they’re lost forever.” You’re the visionary who sees the best in everyone — even when the world gives you every reason not to. Your greatest power isn’t telepathy; it’s an unshakeable belief that understanding and compassion can bridge any divide. You lead not through force but through hope, building bridges where others build walls. Some call you naive, but you know that real strength lies in extending a hand to your enemy. Like Charles Xavier, you carry the weight of a dream that most consider impossible, and you refuse to let it die.

Visionary Empathetic Diplomatic Hopeful

🧲

Magneto (Erik Lehnsherr)

“Peace was never an option.” You’re the survivor who learned the hardest lesson life has to offer: the world will not protect you, so you must protect yourself. Your conviction is unbreakable and your patience is terrifying — you’ll wait years to set the right plan in motion. You don’t hate humanity; you simply refuse to let your people be victims ever again. Every action you take, no matter how ruthless, is driven by a profound love for those who share your struggle. Like Erik Lehnsherr, you are both revolutionary and tragic — a leader forged in pain who will bend the world before it bends you.

Resolute Strategic Ruthless Unyielding

↻ PLAY AGAIN

While it hasn't been confirmed yet who else will be part of the upcoming MCU movie, the feature is expected to start filming either at the end of 2026 or sometime in 2027. However, audience members may get to see Sink's Jean one more time in Phase 6, as she is reportedly coming back in Avengers: Secret Wars, but Disney and Marvel have yet to comment on the original Deadline report.

The mutants are expected to play a vital role in the franchise going forward, and seemingly not just in their own team-up film. According to The Town with Matt Belloni, the host has heard from sources that the X-Men plans for Marvel Studios will also be felt throughout other projects.

On the August 21 episode, he stated, "I do know from the deals that these X-Men stars, like Sadie Sink and all of them, have signed that these deals include appearances in X-Men movies and other Marvel movies. So, you'll see like Storm pop up in Black Panther 3, and you'll see, you know, the other X-Men are in Doomsday and Secret Wars, obviously, but also probably in Ghost Rider. And they're using the power of the MCU to incorporate the X-Men and make their team-up that much more impactful when it comes in 2028, which is very smart." However, similar to Sink's rumored Avengers: Secret Wars return, Marvel and Disney haven't commented as of yet.

X-Men opens in theaters on May 5, 2028.