Could Professor X in the MCU actually be the X-Men animated series version of the character, not the Fox X-Men version?
Marvel blew open the multiverse first with Disney Plus series Loki and What If…? followed by the film Spider-Man: No Way Home, but it looks like Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness could prove to be even bigger than the previous three multiverse projects. The trailer for Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness offered fans a glimpse into the insanity that Strange will face, but leaks and rumors have pointed to some truly insane multiversal shenanigans could be in store for Strange.
New images hit the rumor mill last year showing what looked like Patrick Steward reprising his role as the famed leader of the X-Men, Professor Charles Xavier aka Professor X. With rumors of a multiverse Illuminati coming to the MCU from the pages of Marvel Comics, many have speculated that Xavier could be serving as the leader of the group. Now, many have assumed that if Patrick Steward does portray Charles Xavier in Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness it will be a reprisal of the version from the Fox X-Men films.
COULD THE PROFESSOR X IN DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS BE THE X-MEN ANIMATED SERIES VERSION?
In the pre-vis images, Patrick Stewart’s Charles Xavier is in what looks to be the gold hover chair from the 1990s X-Men animated series. This could indicate that Patrick Stewart is bringing the animated version of Charles Xavier to live-action. This wouldn’t be the first time that Marvel Studios pulled a bait and switch on fans with the cast of the Fox X-Men films. WandaVision famously saw the return of Evan Peters who was first introduced as Wanda’s brother Pietro, back from the dead. It was then revealed that he was in fact Ralph Bohner, a thespian bewitched into believing himself to be Quicksilver by Agatha Harkness.
RELATED: BREAKING NEWS: NEW DOCTOR STRANGE 2 IMAGE FEATURES ULTRON SENTRIES AND PROFESSOR X
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness could be the perfect way to pull a similar move by bringing a Fox X-Men actor into the fold, but with a twist. This would also be an interesting way to incorporate X-Men ’97, the upcoming revival/continuation of the 1990s X-Men animated series, into the Marvel multiverse. With the distinctive gold hover chair, which was created for the animated series, at the forefront it seems like the perfect way to give a nod to the animated series without confusing new audiences.
With X-Men ’97 likely continuing the story from where the first X-Men animated series originally left off, it could also give fans a glimpse into the future of the world of the animated series. If this is the case, it could give the animated series an interesting jumping off point seeing where Professor X could end up over two decades later. That being said, given the use of time travel in the original series, it could also give the animated series an interesting storyline if the X-Men try to prevent the future events that happen to their world in Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness.
RELATED: MARVEL CONFIRMS X-MEN ’97 ANIMATED SERIES REVIVAL FOR DISNEY PLUS
Whatever the version of Charles Xavier that is introduced in Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness, it will be exciting to see mutants eventually brought into the MCU. If they bring Professor X’s famed gold hover chair into live-action, it will be an exciting move that is sure to delight fans of the original X-Men animated series. Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness is primed for tons of exciting cameos which could potentially mean other X-Men characters could come into play, perhaps even from the Fox universe. Ultimately it might be more interesting to incorporate a Charles Xavier they recognize, but who isn’t the same one they know.
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness is scheduled to hit theaters May 6, 2022. Which Professor X do you think will be in the MCU? What is your favorite version of Professor X? Which other Marvel characters do you want to see make a cameo? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or on our social media and check back with The Illuminerdi for more MCU and Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness theories and news.
KEEP READING: IS THE MCU BUILDING TO A MIDNIGHT SONS PROJECT IN THE UNIVERSE’S EXCITING FUTURE?
