Laurence Fishburne wants to play the MCU’s Professor X but there’s one big problem

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Laurence Fishburne, known for his role in The Matrix, is interested in playing Professor X in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s upcoming X-Men film, but there’s a significant obstacle that might prevent him from getting the part.

It’s difficult to get excited about a potential X-Men movie within the Marvel Cinematic Universe when many of the actors who previously played those characters are already set to appear in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars films in 2026 and 2027.

Okay, so while the Thunderbolts movie is happening and all that multiverse stuff is cool, I just remembered the guy directing it, Jake Schreier, is also doing the next X-Men movie! If it *is* a total fresh start – which it sounds like it is – that means we’re gonna get a whole new cast playing our favorite mutants and baddies. It’s exciting, but also a little weird thinking about new faces in those roles!

Laurence Fishburne has expressed interest in playing Professor X, the head of the X-Men, but there’s a potential issue with how this would fit into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Laurence Fishburne is already in the MCU

At New York Comic-Con, while appearing with the cast of *The Matrix*, Laurence Fishburne jokingly suggested he could take on the role of Professor Charles Xavier. However, fans will remember he previously played a different Marvel character, Bill Foster, in *Ant-Man and the Wasp*.

Entertainment Weekly noted that people are currently discussing the X-Men, and the reporter then asked a specific question: what are people’s thoughts on Laurence Fishburne playing Professor X?

The audience loved his idea, and he clearly has the strong personality needed for the part. Casting Fishburne would also offer a fresh take on the character, distinguishing the new Marvel X-Men movie from earlier versions starring Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy.

The issue is that Laurence Fishburne previously played Dr. Bill Foster in the 2018 film *Ant-Man and the Wasp*. Usually, this wouldn’t matter if the actor were made to look significantly different – like Gemma Chan, who played a blue Kree soldier in *Captain Marvel* and Sersi in *Eternals*. However, Fishburne’s character simply looks like… Fishburne.

While fans might be willing to overlook it if it meant a bigger part for Laurence Fishburne in the future, the situation is still concerning. The Marvel Cinematic Universe could look very different after the upcoming *Avengers: Doomsday* and *Avengers: Secret Wars* movies, so Marvel Studios might use those films as an opportunity to explain any casting changes.

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2025-10-15 14:48