James McAvoy Shares Advice for the New Professor X in the X-Men Reboot

James McAvoy hopes Christopher Abbott will avoid copying either him or Patrick Stewart in the role of Professor X.

James McAvoy advised Christopher Abbott to find his own approach to playing Professor X. The actor hopes that the new Charles Xavier actor will receive enough freedom to experiment:

“Just have fun with it. Explore and find something of your own. Patrick explored what was interesting to him, I explored mine, and hopefully, he manages to bring a piece of himself and something new to the role. We can’t watch the same character played the same way across 15 movies. Hopefully, he will have the opportunity to make this role his own.”

James McAvoy

McAvoy first played a young Charles Xavier in the 2011 film X-Men: First Class. Before him, Patrick Stewart embodied Professor X, debuting in the role in the 2000 film X-Men. Abbott will become the third actor to play Xavier on the big screen. Meanwhile, Stewart will return to the role of Professor X once more in the film Avengers: Doomsday.

Christopher Abbott

Image source: Universal Pictures

The new X-Men film will be directed by Thunderbolts director Jake Schreier. Alongside Abbott, the film will star Kit Connor, Sadie Sink, Indi Navarrette, Asa Germann, Mya Boyd, Samara Weaving, and Adam Driver. The premiere is scheduled for May 5, 2028.

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