- Primary Subject: James McAvoy passing the Professor X baton to Christopher Abbott for the MCU's X-Men reboot.
- Key Update: Former Professor X actor James McAvoy encourages incoming star Christopher Abbott to enjoy the role and bring his own unique interpretation to the telepathic leader.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: September 14, 2026
- Quick Answer: James McAvoy's key advice to new Professor X star Christopher Abbott is to explore the role and bring a fresh, original take to Charles Xavier.
With Marvel Studios preparing to introduce a whole new generation of mutants to the big screen, the torch is officially being passed for one of comic book history's most iconic roles.
Actor Christopher Abbott has been tapped to step into the Mind Palace as Charles Xavier, taking over the wheelchair previously held by Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy. Now, McAvoy is offering his expertise and wisdom to his successor as Abbott gets ready to lead the team.
Former Professor X Star James McAvoy's One Piece of Advice to Christopher Abbott
Patrick Stewart was the first to bring Charles Xavier to life on screen in 2000's X-Men before reprising his role in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, with his final reprise set this December in Avengers: Doomsday. James McAvoy later took over to explore the mutant's origin story and relationship with Magneto.
Now, considering that Jake Schreier's untitled X-Men reboot takes Christopher Abbott's Professor X twenty years younger than Stewart's version, yet eight years older than McAvoy's in X-Men: First Class, McAvoy shared one crucial piece of advice to put Abbott's unique spin on the master telepath:
McAvoy told Collider that despite feeling 'the pressure hit', he had nothing but praise for the nature of a reboot and everything enjoyable that he undoubtedly believes Abbott would be on board for:
"Just enjoy it. Enjoy it, and explore. Find something. Patrick explored what he explored, I explored what I explored, and I hope he gets to do something and bring himself and bring something new to it, as well," McAvoy said, "Because we can't just watch the same character the same way for 15 films, you know? So, I hope he gets the opportunity to bring himself in."
What We Know So Far About the MCU's X-Men Reboot
The upcoming X-Men feature film, set to be helmed by Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier, is officially assembling its core ensemble following the major casting reveals.
The new lineup introduces a blend of rising stars and heavy hitters to usher mutants into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Christopher Abbott leading the team as Professor X alongside Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Maya Boyd as Storm, Inde Navarrette as Rogue, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, and Asa Germann as Angel.
Joining them is Oscar nominee Adam Driver, who has been confirmed to play the primary antagonist, Dr. Nathaniel Essex, better known as Mister Sinister.
Production for the X-Men reboot film in the MCU is slated to begin in late 2026 or early 2027, positioning the reboot as a gigantic theatrical centerpiece for the ongoing Mutant Saga rebuilding in the franchise.
With Abbott expected to bring a comic-accurate, American take to Xavier, the stage is set for an exciting new chapter in mutant history. Stay tuned!
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