'X-Men': Giancarlo Esposito Thanks Fans Casting Him As Charles Xavier & Would Love To Join The MCU

With Marvel Studios always teasing what’s to come, whether it’s a new character or an entirely new franchise, with its big Phase announcements, there is consistently rabid fan-casting, as people desperately try to come up with who they think is one of the best options for these characters. Lately, one of the most popular fan-castings out there is Giancarlo Esposito as Professor Charles Xavier in the rebooted “X-Men” franchise. And according to the actor, he’s definitely not upset over this fan discussion. In fact, he wants to encourage more of it.

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Speaking recently on “The Tonight Show,” Giancarlo Esposito talked about how the Marvel Cinematic Universe fandom has fallen in love with the idea of him playing Professor Charles Xavier in a future “X-Men” film. The actor clearly states that he doesn’t have anything set in stone about the role, but he loves that fans are excited. Not only that, Esposito loves what Marvel Studios is doing and doesn’t want the fan enthusiasm to stop, as it might lead to something great.

“I love what Marvel does,” he said. “I love that the fans can see me in this universe.”

“I want to play a good guy,” Esposito added. “Charles is smart. He’s good. But I feel as if there may be some mileage with me and Marvel. I know I love what they do. I know I love creativity. So who knows what could happen? Keep putting it out there.”

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For those unfamiliar with the “X-Men” lore, Xavier is the leader of the superhero team, as he started the school where they all reside. His dream is of a peaceful co-existence between superpowered mutants and regular humans, and his X-Men exist to help foster that peace by protecting humans who also hate and fear them. 

Clearly, Esposito is excited about pursuing some of these fun, superhero-y roles, as he explained that he was only going to appear on “The Mandalorian,” as the villain Moff Gideon, if his character could have a cape. He said dressing up as Moff Gideon and doing the “Star Wars” show made him “feel like a kid again.” And what better way to feel like a kid again than starring in a Marvel film as one of the most cherished characters in the entire lore?

Marvel Studios has yet to announce official plans for “X-Men,” but recently, there has been movement regarding mutants in the MCU. Not only have Ms. Marvel and Namor officially been named mutants, but we’ve seen the multiversal appearance of Patrick Stewart as Xavier in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” and we’re expecting to see Deadpool team up with Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine in “Deadpool 3” in 2024. You have to assume “X-Men” can’t be far behind.