James McAvoy Says He Doesn’t Miss Playing Professor X

James McAvoy has revealed that he doesn’t miss playing Professor X in the X-Men movies. The Scottish actor, 42, has a prestigious career on stage and screen, dating back to early TV roles in Band of Brothers and Shameless. McAvoy’s Hollywood exposure came with films including The Chronicles of Narnia, where he played Mr. Tumnus, and The Last King of Scotland, where he acted opposite an Oscar-winning Forest Whittaker. McAvoy’s blockbuster experiences began when he was cast as the new Charles Xavier for the 60s-set prequel film X-Men First Class. McAvoy’s youthful, self-assured take on the wise leader that had been previously perfected by Patrick Stewart was a highlight of the 2011 flick.

The new generation of mutants returned for three more cinematic outings, with McAvoy returning as Professor X for 2014’s Days of Future Past, 2016’s Apocalypse and finally 2019’s Dark Phoenix. The latter two X-Men entries were met with mixed to negative reviews from critics and audiences, and the once-hit franchise seemed to go out on a whimper rather than a roar as the Fox-Disney merger officially put an end to McAvoy’s generation of X-Men. While the chances seemed slim, hopes of a comeback for McAvoy and his co-stars was reignited by the MCU’s current Multiverse plans, with Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness set to feature a number of surprise appearances.

In a recent Instagram Q and A on the actor’s professional account (via X-Men Updates), McAvoy engaged with fans on a number of topics. Among the questions, which included whether he would appear in Doctor Strange 2, McAvoy answers whether he misses playing the hero. In a rather short response, the actor admits “No, I don’t think so”. He didn’t elaborate further on the reasons for his answer and it was hard to gauge the actor’s tone, but it seemed a closed case. Check out a clip of the interaction below:

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While some will be disappointed, it’s possible that McAvoy is dodging questions about his Marvel future, with Stewart already denying his part in the MCU (despite his voice seemingly featuring in a recent trailer). McAvoy was adamant he had no role in the MCU on its way, though recent and similar denials from Andrew Garfield about Spider-Man: No Way Home  were later proved to be performative coverups. With the X-Men films set for a reboot in the near-future via Marvel Studios, there’s a chance McAvoy’s Xavier may be one of the elements to carry over from Fox’s previous series.

Alternatively though, McAvoy may just be tired of the superhero saga. In his 8-year tenure as the X-leader, McAvoy’s revamped franchise saw diminishing returns, with the final film Dark Phoenix receiving particular criticism from fans and critics alike. This could’ve been just as disappointing for the actor as it was for fans. Either way, audiences would surely love to see the actor given one more go as the professor, particularly in a sure-fire hit like Doctor Strange 2. The X-Men are set for a comeback in the years to come, but whether or not McAvoy has a part to play in it remains to be seen.

Source: Instagram / James McAvoy (via X-Men Updates)

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