The Christopher Abbott Professor X casting came with a surprise: the actor says he has not read a script yet. Abbott insists he is not being coy.
“I haven’t read anything,” Abbott told Entertainment Tonight at the premiere of “East of Eden,” as Deadline reported. He said he is excited to work with director Jake Schreier and likes the cast Marvel has assembled. “I can’t wait,” he added. “I love X-Men.”
Abbott plays Adam Trask in Netflix’s seven-episode limited series East of Eden, which premiered Oct. 1. The cast also includes Florence Pugh as Cathy Ames and Mike Faist as Charles Trask.
Christopher Abbott Professor X: Where the Reboot Stands
Marvel Studios revealed Abbott’s casting as Charles Xavier at D23 on Aug. 14. Marvel’s D23 presentation also unveiled the rest of the core cast. The film is scheduled for May 5, 2028.
Schreier, who directed “Thunderbolts*” in 2025, is directing. Lee Sung Jin, creator of “Beef,” and Joanna Calo, showrunner of “The Bear,” are writing the latest draft. Filming is expected to begin in 2027.
The Christopher Abbott Professor X casting means he takes over the role of Xavier from Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy, who played the character in earlier X-Men films.
The film arrives after Avengers: Secret Wars, which is set for Dec. 17, 2027. Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige has said the new X-Men will be very youth-oriented, and the story is expected to center on Jean Grey.
At 40, Abbott is considerably younger than Stewart, who was about 60 when the original “X-Men” reached theaters in 2000. The Christopher Abbott Professor X casting marks a clear shift in age from the earlier films.
The X-Men Cast So Far
Abbott joins Adam Driver as the villain Mister Sinister, Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Maya Boyd as Storm, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost and Inde Navarrette as Rogue. Asa Germann was later cast as Angel.
Abbott is known for “Girls,” “Possessor” and “Poor Things.” He also played the Foreigner in “Kraven the Hunter.” The reboot is part of Marvel’s next slate of MCU films.
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