The Matrix star Laurence Fishburne wants to play Professor X in the MCU’s X-Men movie, but there’s just one big problem that could get in the way.
It’s hard to focus on the idea of an MCU X-Men movie because a lot of the original actors from the Fox movies are returning to the big screen in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars in 2026 and 2027.
But it’s worth remembering that colliding universes aside, Thunderbolts director Jake Schreier has been tapped to helm the X-Men movie in the future. Assuming it’s a complete reboot, the film will need a new cast of actors to play some of the most iconic superheroes (and villains) of all time.
Now, Fishburne has thrown his name in the ring to play Professor X, the leader of the X-Men, but there’s a big MCU problem with that idea.
Laurence Fishburne is already in the MCU
Fishburne pitched himself as the new Charles Xavier at New York Comic-Con as part of a reunion panel for The Matrix – but he already played Bill Foster in Ant-Man and the Wasp.
“I know that they’re talking about the X-Men now,” Entertainment Weekly reported. “So, at this point, I want one of two things. The first thing would be: what do you think about Laurence Fishburne as Professor X?”
His idea was met with rapturous applause, and it’s hard to deny that he’s a good pick for the role thanks to his commanding presence. Fishburne would also bring a different vibe to the character than Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy, which would help the MCU X-Men movie stand apart from the previous iterations.
But the problem is, Fishburne already played Dr. Bill Foster in Ant-Man and the Wasp back in 2018. Typically, that wouldn’t be a problem if he was dressed up to look different (think: Gemma Chan as a blue Kree soldier in Captain Marvel, and as Sersi in Eternals), but Foster just looks like Fishburne.
Sure, most fans would probably look past it if it meant having Fishburne in a more meaningful role going forward, but it is a problem. However, the very landscape of the MCU might be changed forever after Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, so perhaps that’s how Marvel Studios will address any actor changes.
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