Giancarlo Esposito has captivated audiences with his diverse acting skills. From his critically acclaimed portrayal of Gus Fring in the AMC series Breaking Bad (2009-2013) to his villainous roles in the prequel series Better Call Saul (2018-2022), Star Wars: The Mandalorian, and The Boys, Esposito has become a fan-favorite when it comes to portraying TV big bads. Now, fans suggest he plays the iconic role of the X-Men leader, Professor X, in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe reboot. However, though he has already expressed his interest in the role, he reveals his one condition to do so.
In an interview with Amon Warmann’s Fade to Black podcast, Esposito revealed that he had seen the casting suggestion online and carefully thought about it. However, though the idea excited him, there seemed to be a problem—he didn’t want to portray Professor X in a wheelchair.
Immediately, I go, it would be great to play Professor X in some other incarnation than just the wheelchair, right? Because the physical idea of being in a wheelchair every single day does not appeal to me.
But don’t get the actor wrong, the use of Professor X’s hoverchair in X-Men wasn’t an issue for him. Esposito later explained that he wasn’t comfortable sitting for far too long, stressing he didn’t feel that old yet.
I just don't feel that old, and I don't like to sit that much. But certainly, we could figure something out. Maybe. Professor X wasn't always in the wheelchair, but that is part of his character development.
Can Professor X walk in X-Men?
Sure, fans have known Professor X for using a wheelchair in X-Men movies and animated series, but he can fully walk in the 2006 comic book X-Men: Deadly Genesis. In Ed Brubaker, Trevor Hairsine, and Marc Silvestri’s story, Xavier was reborn into a younger body after his death. He regained the ability to walk permanently after the “House of M” event and started to live on the mutant island of Krakoa.
Xavier invented a technology that would let him be reborn indefinitely. Hence, since then, he has ditched using a wheelchair and has been walking on his own in Marvel Comics. So, if Marvel follows Esposito’s request, this can be the story that the studio may adapt on the big screen.
Will there be an MCU X-Men movie?
Marvel now holds the rights to the X-Men franchise after Disney acquired 20th Century Fox’s entertainment assets. Several years after the deal was made in 2019, several X-Men characters have been popping out in the MCU. Deadpool is heading to Marvel’s shared universe with Wolverine in the upcoming movie Deadpool & Wolverine. Professor X also made an appearance in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, while Beast and Ms. Marvel appeared in The Marvels.
Deadline reported that the studio was already looking for writers to work on the film’s script. However, no updates have been revealed since then. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has also remained coy about how and when the fan-favorite mutants will officially join the MCU. Hence, it looks like it only takes a matter of time before Marvel Studios makes its own X-Men movie.
Despite Marvel Studios' dead silence about the X-Men reboot, these pieces of evidence all point to the fact that it will soon happen. As Deadpool and Wolverine are set to join the MCU, it may open the door for other mutants to enter Marvel’s shared universe.
