Giancarlo Esposito‘s aspirations to embody Professor X in the Marvel Cinematic Universe have sparked a peculiar blend of anticipation, discourse, and, let’s be honest, a fair amount of controversy. Esposito’s latest vision for Charles Xavier strays from the traditional, as he imagines a Professor X unfettered by the confines of a wheelchair.
Known for his compelling portrayals of characters who tread the fine line between authority and malevolence, the Breaking Bad and The Mandalorian star voiced his desire to take on the mantle of the X-Men‘s telepathic leader back in 2022.
The discussion unfolded when Esposito, during an interview on the Fade to Black podcast, expressed a rather personal stipulation for his potential portrayal of the mutant mentor. The actor articulated a preference for Xavier remaining upright, stating “The physical idea of being in a wheelchair every single day does not appeal to me. I just don’t feel that old and I don’t like to sit that much.”
As expected, this deviation from Professor X’s canonical representation, as a figure of strength and leadership who explores the world on wheels, stirred the pot among fans and beyond. Comic readers and cinephiles alike are no strangers to Professor X’s paralysis, which is a defining aspect of his character, symbolizing his vulnerability and humanity despite his immense psychic powers.
This portrayal, immortalized on screen by Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy in the X-Men film series, has been consistent throughout decades of comic book history. In its vast cinematic universe, Marvel has yet to unveil its version of the X-Men following the acquisition of 21st Century Fox. However, whispers of early development stages for a new X-Men film have been circulating.
Online reactions to Esposito’s conditional interest in the role were as explosive as anyone would have expected them to be. Fans took to social media platforms, with some expressing disappointment and others speculating on the feasibility of a Professor X who can walk, referencing the character’s history of having the ability to use his legs in certain comic book arcs.
Critics and advocates of Esposito debated the implications of changing such a fundamental aspect of Xavier’s character, with discussions ranging from accusations of ableism to debates on creative freedom in adaptation. At this point, Esposito must be wishing he never replied to that question, given how some fans have blown it out of proportion.
Here are some of the reactions to Esposito’s reply:
Then neither does the role of Professor X. Simple as that. https://t.co/OD0303OgNR
— @[email protected] (@Imani_Barbarin) March 12, 2024
“I wanna play Professor X, but I dont wanna sit in a wheelchair”
Every Fan: https://t.co/EbLp5u9dxP pic.twitter.com/weh97OCRHi
— ΩStuntman MikeΩ (@Stuntman_Mik3) March 11, 2024
Ok so then you DONT wanna play Professor X 😭😭 https://t.co/K95QqfGnfj
— Nicholas (@NicholasPas5) March 11, 2024
That’s another way of saying “I don’t want to play Professor X.”
Then don’t. 🤷♂️
— Thor Odinson (@Thor_Odinson) March 11, 2024
Here’s a wild idea: cast an actual wheelchair user to play Professor X. https://t.co/JOkc7xii43
— spoowriter (@spoowriter) March 12, 2024
Still, there’s enough reason to believe that we might get to see Giancarlo Esposito’s Professor X. Marvel Studios is well known for its willingness to tweak and twist the lore of its source material, so there’s still a chance that it could entertain such a notion.
Of course, the more acceptable solution would be to cast Esposito in another role entirely, one befitting his stature yet unburdened by the controversy of deviation from established canon. Ultimately, comic fans and purists can only hope that Marvel won’t retcon one of the biggest X-Men characters simply to satisfy the conditions of an actor who wishes to play this role.
As much as we love Esposito, we cannot possibly support his flawed vision for the man who gave mutants a safe haven from the world of humans.
