James McAvoy and Elliot Page have shared their thoughts on Marvel Studios’ intentions to recast the X-Men characters in future films. The discussion took place during a panel at New York Comic Con on Sunday, where the actors—who portrayed Professor Charles Xavier and Kitty Pryde in the 20th Century Fox X-Men franchise—addressed remarks made by Kevin Feige about the reboot. Feige, the head of Marvel Studios, revealed plans to recast these iconic roles after the events of Avengers: Secret Wars, signaling a fresh direction for the beloved mutant team.
Speculation Around Potential New X-Men Cast Members
During the panel, moderator Josh Horowitz mentioned some of the rumored actors who might take on these pivotal roles. He said,
“We’re gonna see another Charles, another Kitty, probably before too long, perhaps,”
and added,
“Depending on what you read on the internet, I’ve heard Colman Domingo. I’ve heard Bella Ramsey. I’ve heard a lot of different names. I don’t know if you follow that or you hear that.”
Horowitz then asked McAvoy and Page for their reactions to those casting rumors and the idea of others inheriting their characters’ legacies.
Elliot Page and James McAvoy Express Excitement for the Reboot
Elliot Page expressed enthusiasm about the casting speculation, saying, “I mean, yes, absolutely.” He continued,
“I don’t really follow [the casting rumors], but they sound fantastic. I mean, it’d be just so exciting to see people do a take on a new iteration [of X-Men].”
Similarly, James McAvoy welcomed the idea of new actors stepping into these roles, especially the prospect of Colman Domingo becoming the new Professor X. McAvoy remarked,
“Look, I’m excited to see what happens next. I was a fan before I was an employee and I’ll be a fan again!”
He also joked,
“You want it to be…I just can’t wait for it to be…Oh no, that was going to sound bad. It’s going to put a lot of pressure on people. Colman Domingo sounds amazing, though!”
Shared Humor About Hugh Jackman’s Irreplaceable Wolverine
Despite supporting the recasting of their respective characters, the trio joked that Hugh Jackman remains the unrivaled choice for Wolverine. McAvoy quipped,
“I was gonna say, 10 years from now — it’s probably gonna be 10 minutes from now — when A.I. has taken over and playing all the roles, and there are no actors anymore, he will still be playing Wolverine,”
and continued,
“Even A.I. will be like, ‘Nah, he got it! Nah!’”
This lighthearted comment highlights the strong association fans have with Jackman’s portrayal of the iconic mutant.
Background on Their Roles and the Marvel-Fox Merger
Elliot Page first portrayed Kitty Pryde, a mutant with the power to phase through solid objects, in 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand and reprised the role in 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past. James McAvoy took on the role of a young Charles Xavier starting with 2011’s X-Men: First Class and led the franchise’s prequel storyline. Following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2019, which brought the X-Men under the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) umbrella, these characters have begun making cameo appearances. For instance, Patrick Stewart’s alternate-dimension Charles Xavier was killed in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, while Kelsey Grammer’s Hank McCoy appeared briefly in a post-credits scene in The Marvels.
Upcoming Films and Actor Cameos Before the Reboot
Before the official reboot, many original X-Men actors will reprise their roles one final time in Avengers: Doomsday. Confirmed cast members include James Marsden as Scott Summers/Cyclops, Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier, Ian McKellen as Magneto, Rebecca Romijn as Mystique, Alan Cumming as Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler, Kelsey Grammer as Hank McCoy/Beast, and Channing Tatum, who will finally appear as Gambit. This star-studded ensemble allows fans one more opportunity to see familiar faces before the new generation of mutants arrives.
Creative Vision Behind the Upcoming X-Men Reboot
Kevin Feige has described Jake Schreier’s upcoming X-Men film as a “youth-focused reboot,” which will influence both casting decisions and the overall tone. Schreier emphasized the complexity of the storylines, sharing with The Playlist that
“the core of what the X-Men is involves complexity.”
He elaborated,
“It’s an incredible opportunity with super interesting characters and internal conflict. These characters are wrestling with their identity and place in the world…To be able to explore all of the ideas that are inherent to that rich source material, but also at the scale inherent to the source material, that’s like a very rare and fortunate opportunity. That’s very exciting.”
The statements hint at a thoughtful and layered interpretation of the mutants’ journey in the MCU.
What Lies Ahead for the X-Men in Marvel’s Universe
As Marvel Studios prepares to breathe new life into the X-Men franchise, fans can expect significant changes that embrace fresh talent and diverse perspectives. James McAvoy X-Men recasting will mark a clear shift from previous iterations, promising a reboot that acknowledges the legacy while moving forward creatively. With original cast members concluding their arcs in Avengers: Doomsday, the upcoming film directed by Jake Schreier will likely define the tone and direction for future X-Men stories within the sprawling MCU. The anticipation surrounding these transitions underscores the importance of these characters in Marvel’s evolving narrative landscape.
