Marvel’s X-Men reboot has reportedly found its new Professor X, and the pick is not who fans expected. The latest casting report revealed a surprising frontrunner for the iconic mutant leader role in the MCU.
Christopher Abbott may be our next Professor X
Marvel Studios has officially cast Christopher Abbott as Professor X in the MCU’s X-Men reboot, according to scoopers MyTimeToShineHello and Beyond Reporter on X.
The studio had previously kept quiet about the casting after THR’s Heat Vision reported that Abbott and Tom Pelphrey recently tested for the role. The official announcement is expected to arrive tomorrow at Disney’s D23 event.
Abbott emerged as a surprise frontrunner after early reports initially linked Bill Skarsgård to the part. THR noted that Pelphrey did not land the role, and a “dark horse contender” ultimately emerged as the victor. Abbott now joins a growing ensemble that includes Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, Kit Connor as Cyclops, and Sadie Sink as Jean Grey.
The casting makes Abbott the second-youngest actor to portray Professor X after James McAvoy. He previously played a separate Marvel character, The Foreigner, in 2024’s Kraven the Hunter. That makes him the latest actor to take on multiple roles across Marvel projects. Traditionally, Professor X appears much older than his team of mutants in both the comics and the Fox films.
Marvel Studios has steadily built the foundation for its upcoming mutant saga through recent releases. Spider-Man: Brand New Day introduced Sink’s Jean Grey alongside Tramell Tillman as X-Men villain William Metzger. The film also explored the concept of a mutation inhibitor built by Spider-Man, setting the stage for future mutant storylines.
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige previously confirmed that mutants will drive the MCU’s next phase. Sink recently revealed that the X-Men reboot will begin filming next year. The original X-Men cast from the early 2000s will first reprise their roles in this year’s Avengers: Doomsday. The reboot is not expected to arrive before Avengers: Secret Wars in late 2027.
