‘X-Men’: Laurence Fishburne Keen To Play Professor X In Marvel Studio’s Reboot

Despite already playing the film version of Goliath within the Marvel Cinematic Universe for “Ant-Man & The Wasp,” actor Laurence Fishburne (“The Matrix”) is starting a campaign to be considered for Marvel Studios‘ big “X-Men” reboot directed by Jake Schreier as the mutant team’s mentor Professor Charles Xavier.

During a chat with “Happy Sad Confused” podcast host Josh Horowitz at this year’s New York Comic-Con (via Entertainment Weekly), Fishburne revealed he’s keen on playing the next version of Professor X for the new “X-Men” film, while, at the same time, downplaying any desire to get involved with “Star Wars” as he’s fine with just being an audience member with that franchise.

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“I know that they’re talking about the ‘X-Men’ now,” Fishburne said. “So, at this point, I want one of two things. The first thing would be: what do you think about Laurence Fishburne as Professor X?” His question posed to the crowd led to cheers as Horowitz replied with “Approved…Greenlit!”

When Horowitz suggested joining up for the “Star Wars” franchise, Fishburne wasn’t as excited by that prospect and is fine just being an audience member on that front. “No, I’m good,” he replied. “I’m watching everything. I’m watching every ‘Star Wars.’ I’m in the middle of ‘Rebels‘ now, man. I’m good on the couch with ‘Star Wars.’ I don’t need a lightsaber. I don’t — pew pew! — I don’t need it.”

Fishburne isn’t the first actor to start a campaign at a convention for Professor X, as Giancarlo Esposito embraced fans’ call to inhabit the beloved mutant character, who has been played by Patrick Stewart for over 25 years (expected to return in “Avengers: Doomsday“). While he didn’t end up playing a mutant good guy in “Captain America: Brave New World,” he got cast in the role of Serpent Society leader Sidewinder. A major antagonist that could have a bigger part to play in future “Captain America” installments.

Even though Fishburne played Dr. Bill Foster in the “Ant-Man” sequel, he wouldn’t be the first or last actor to get multiple MCU roles. So, not entirely impossible, but we’re sort of in the dark concerning major castings as both Kevin Feige and Schreier have talked up the idea of tapping into youth culture for the reboot (alluding to hiring a string of young talent as well).

Marvel has proved its ongoing commitment to the mutants even before the reboot with the animated series revival “X-Men ’97” (Season 3 in the works) and the billion-dollar hit “Deadpool & Wolverine,” along with other legacy “X-Men” franchise actors returning for the aforementioned “Doomsday.” There has been an assumption after Feige teased “The Mutant Saga” that mutants are going to have a HUGE footprint in the MCU moving forward, and we can’t wait to see what that plan ultimately looks like.