4 Minutes
Laurence Fishburne courts Marvel, politely declines a galaxy far away
At New York Comic Con, veteran actor Laurence Fishburne made a playful but pointed case for joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe — specifically as Charles Xavier in the upcoming X-Men reboot. The Matrix star asked the crowd and panelists a simple question: what would they think about Laurence Fishburne as Professor X? The remark landed like a teaser, part wish and part casting suggestion that quickly set online fan lists and social feeds buzzing.
Fishburne’s interest in the MCU comes as Marvel prepares to refresh the X-Men brand under the stewardship of producer Kevin Feige and director Jake Schreier (known most recently for Thunderbolts*). The studio’s access to the mutant universe since the 2019 Disney–Fox merger has already paved the way for both legacy returns — Patrick Stewart is set to reprise Charles Xavier in Avengers: Doomsday — and creative reinventions, which the upcoming reboot aims to explore.
Why Fishburne as Professor X could work
There are a few reasons Fishburne’s pitch feels timely. He brings gravitas and a commanding presence that comic-book leadership roles demand, similar to how Patrick Stewart defined Professor X for a generation. Yet Hollywood reboots frequently favor fresh interpretations, and casting Fishburne could bridge classic gravitas with a new take on Xavier’s moral complexity. Fans often compare this approach to other successful recastings: think how James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender provided younger iterations in earlier X-Men films, while Stewart and Ian McKellen returned as elder statesmen for closure.
Industry context matters here. Marvel’s strategy has been a mix of legacy callbacks and reinvention — from the multiverse experiments to recasting and reboots — all attempts to keep blockbuster franchises culturally relevant without losing longtime viewers. A new Professor X casting would join that pattern.
Fishburne says no to lightsabers
When the conversation turned to Star Wars potential, Fishburne was unequivocal: he’d rather stay a fan on the couch. “I’m watching every Star Wars…I’m in the middle of Rebels now, man. I’m good on the couch with Star Wars. I don’t need a lightsaber,” he joked at NYCC. That reaction underlines a clear preference: active participation in Marvel’s X-Men, passive fandom in Star Wars.
Fans and pundits reacted quickly online — some praised the idea of Fishburne’s cerebral Xavier, others urged patience until the reboot’s creative tone is clearer. There’s also an ongoing debate in the film community about when to honor legacy actors (like Patrick Stewart’s return in Doomsday) versus when to fully relaunch a character with a new actor.
Trivia: Fishburne’s decades-long career — from breakthrough roles in the early 1990s to high-profile franchise work — gives him the kind of name recognition studios covet when they consider high-profile recasts.
Whether Marvel ultimately casts him or not, Fishburne’s NYCC moment highlights how casting rumors and actor wishlists have become part of modern franchise storytelling — shaping audience expectations long before cameras roll. For now, he’s clearly open to Xavier and happily off-duty with a bowl of popcorn when it comes to Star Wars.
Source: deadline
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