Cast This: Professor X

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

The world of comic-books is full of relaunches, retcons, and reboots, and their big-screen counterparts certainly aren't immune. Now that Disney's acquisition of Fox is official, our future now includes a relaunch of the X-MEN franchise, and the upcoming DARK PHOENIX will be serving as the conclusion of Fox's main X-MEN series which began almost twenty years ago. Director Simon Kinberg has previously said that this was always the plan. "From the beginning of conceiving what we were going to do with this film and writing it, which was three plus years ago, so long before there was a Disney merger, I felt like this was the natural culmination for this cycle of X-Men movies," Kinberg explained.

Although there will likely be several years before the X-Men officially show up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we should prepare ourselves for a new group of actors to take over iconic roles such as Charles Xavier, aka Professor X, the founder of the X-Men. Patrick Stewart played the role of Professor X in X-MEN, X2, X-MEN: THE LAST STAND, X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE, THE WOLVERINE, and LOGAN, with James McAvoy playing a younger version of the character in X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, X-MEN: APOCALYPSE, DEADPOOL 2, and DARK PHOENIX. Both actors also shared the role in X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST.

Thanks to his vast telepathic abilities, Professor X is one of the most powerful mutants in the Marvel Universe. In order to safeguard his fellow mutants, Professor X founded Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, a private school which teaches mutants to explore and control their powers as well as promote peaceful coexistence between humans and mutants. Despite Xavier's altruistic behavior, he does occasionally have a dark side which he struggles to suppress.

Much like the inevitable day when Hugh Jackman is replaced as Wolverine, it will be a little shocking to see someone new occupy Xaver's wheelchair. Sure, we're already taken a step in that direction with James McAvoy, who is fantastic, but he's playing a younger version of Patrick Stewart's character, who will be awfully hard to replace. It's something which we'll have to think about as the MCU moves to include the X-Men in future, so why not start considering just who has the mental fortitude (and would look good bald) to play Professor X. I'll toss out a few suggestions to get you started. Ralph Fiennes (BOND 25) has frequently been touted as a favourite to take on the role and I can't say I disagree. Mark Rylance (READY PLAYER ONE) would be another fine choice for the role, perhaps giving the character a softer touch with just a hint of the immense power simmering below the surface. Another contender who is regularly brought up is Mark Strong, but personally, I'd go for his KINGSMAN co-star Colin Firth (MARY POPPINS RETURNS) instead.

Remember, you're free to suggest anyone in the comments, so let your inner casting director run wild!

Previously on Cast This, you were asked to fill the role of Clarice Starling, the FBI trainee in THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS who questions Hannibal Lector and maybe, just maybe, will appear again if the Hannibal TV series gets another shot. You came through with a lot of great suggestions, including Elisabeth Moss (THE INVISIBLE MAN), Kristen Stewart (CHARLIE'S ANGELS), and Carrie Coon (The Leftovers).