Laurence Fishburne Reveals Why He Wants to Play the MCU’s Professor X, And Marvel Fans Will Love It

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Laurence Fishburne is already well-loved by fans of science fiction and fantasy, thanks to iconic roles in films like The Matrix trilogy, as well as appearances in major franchises like Mission: Impossible, Man of Steel, Predators, and John Wick. Now, he’s aiming for another big part. Fishburne has been a longtime Marvel supporter, even before joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Dr. Bill Foster (Goliath) in Ant-Man and the Wasp. Recently, the award-winning actor publicly expressed his desire to play Professor Charles Xavier in Marvel’s upcoming reboot of the X-Men.

In a recent interview with ComicBook about the new season of Netflix’s The Witcher, actor Laurence Fishburne discussed his interest in playing Professor X. He explained that while he’s now the right age for the role, his long-time love of Marvel comics is the main reason he wants it – a sentiment many fans will understand. Fishburne also shared his vision for a distinct appearance that would set his Professor X apart from previous live-action portrayals.

Laurence Fishburne’s Marvel Fandom Makes Him Want to Take on Professor X

When asked why he enjoyed playing Professor X, Fishburne explained his deep love for Marvel, referencing a famous quote from Stan Lee.

Laurence Fishburne expressed his lifelong passion for Marvel, both the comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He grew up reading Marvel comics in New York City and felt a strong connection to the stories and characters, recognizing reflections of his own life in the city. While he always hoped to play a Marvel character earlier in his career, he’s very happy with the casting and storytelling choices made in the films and considers himself a big fan.

He explained that Professor X currently feels like the right role for him, considering his age and the types of characters he usually plays. He believes it’s a good fit for him right now.

We suggested to Laurence Fishburne that if he played Professor X, he could recreate the distinctive, angular eyebrows that were a key part of Charles Xavier’s comic book appearance for many years. Fishburne chuckled and said he’d definitely ask about getting those eyebrows if he were cast in the role, saying, “If I’m lucky enough to get the part, I’ll absolutely request them.”

Professor Charles Xavier has been portrayed by two actors in the movies: Patrick Stewart, who first played the role in 2000’s X-Men and continued in several sequels and even a recent Marvel Cinematic Universe film, and James McAvoy, who took on the character in X-Men: First Class and its subsequent films. While Patrick Stewart is set to reprise the role one last time in Avengers: Doomsday, what happens to the character after that remains uncertain.

Marvel is officially working on a new X-Men movie, but it won’t likely be released until after Avengers: Secret Wars. Details are scarce, other than the fact that Jake Schreier, who directed Thunderbolts, will direct. We don’t yet know which characters will be included, but it’s almost certain Professor X will appear, and Marvel is reportedly in talks with a highly skilled actor to play him.

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2025-10-22 18:40