Christopher Abbott says being revealed as the MCU’s Professor X was ‘a bit of a nightmare’
Christopher Abbott reckons the MCU’s Professor X casting reveal was a nightmare — and his D23 moment explains why.
Here's one for the MCU obsessives: Christopher Abbott stepping into the hoverchair as the new Professor X. Marvel wheeled him out on stage at last month's D23 bash, and even he admits the reception was...well, let's just say it was less Magneto dropping stadiums, more standing in line at Pret.
Abbott's Big Reveal (And Not-So-Big Applause)
The bloke gave a refreshingly honest account in a chat with New York Magazine, describing how surreal (and a bit embarrassing) it felt fronting up as Charles Xavier to a roomful of fans who didn't seem entirely sure who he was. Cheers weren't exactly deafening, in his words.
Abbott explained how it went down at D23:
"I almost did a fist pump when I walked out, and then I felt like the applause was muted. So I was like, ‘I’m just going to walk out and nod.’ It feels almost like a video game or a dream. Not like a good dream. It’s a bit of both, a bit of a dream and a nightmare."
He went on to say that his energy level dropped sharply once he hit the stage and clocked the crowd's confusion. And to be fair, it's hard to go full Patrick Stewart when half the room thinks you're a commissioning editor from the BBC. Still, Marvel clearly see something special in him for the new X-Men era.
Who's Joining Professor X?
Abbott wasn't the first mutant out of the gate for this reboot. The Marvel machine teased Sadie Sink as Jean Grey months ago in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, with the official fanfare coming at D23 in August. Meanwhile, reports had Kit Connor in the Cyclops role, which Marvel also confirmed on stage. Fun fact: Asa Germann originally auditioned for Cyclops but landed as Warren Worthington III, aka Angel, instead.
- Samara Weaving as Emma Frost
- Inde Navarrette as Rogue
- Maya Boyd as Storm
- Adam Driver as Nathaniel Milbury/Mr. Sinister
There are still some pretty hefty mutant names missing from the cast list—no Beast, Iceman, or Magneto yet. So expect more headlines and wild speculation once Marvel gets round to filling those shoes.
The new MCU X-Men film, still untitled, is aiming for a cinematic release on 5 May 2028.
At the helm for this one: Jake Schreier is directing. We've still got a way to go before anyone gets to see how Abbott does with Professor X's famous speechifying, but at least his nerves are out in the open and, frankly, a bit relatable.
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