A rumor claiming Giancarlo Esposito is in talks with Marvel Studios to play Professor X in the MCU’s upcoming X-Men reboot has gone viral on X.
The problem? Esposito already addressed the rumor years ago, and according to the actor himself, fans are largely responsible for it.
Various accounts on X are sharing posts claiming Esposito is “reportedly in talks” to play Charles Xavier. However, no reputable trades have backed the claim, and Marvel Studios has yet to announce any casting for its upcoming X-Men movie.
Giancarlo Esposito Said Fans Started The Professor X Rumor
Back in 2024, Esposito spoke about the fan-casting during an interview and explained the Professor X talk didn’t originate from Marvel.
“The fans really started the Professor X rumor,” Esposito said while discussing the online campaign to see him cast as the iconic X-Men leader.
Esposito added that once he saw how much support the idea was getting, he embraced it and began thinking about how he would approach the role.
Prior to that, the actor also revealed he had met with Marvel Studios, which helped fuel speculation. However, he never confirmed he was being considered specifically for Professor X.
Esposito Previously Said He Wanted The Role
While Esposito has downplayed the rumor as something driven by fans, he has also openly admitted he would like to play Charles Xavier.
In earlier interviews, the actor said he preferred Professor X over Magneto because he wanted an opportunity to play a more heroic character after becoming known for villain roles such as Gus Fring, Moff Gideon, and Stan Edgar.
At the time, Esposito said he felt he could bring something unique to the role and even encouraged fans to keep putting the idea out into the universe.
Marvel’s X-Men Rumors Continue To Grow
The resurfaced Professor X speculation comes as Marvel’s X-Men reboot remains one of the studio’s most heavily rumored projects.
Recent reports and online speculation have linked numerous actors to key mutant roles, including Colman Domingo, Bryan Cranston, Daniel Day-Lewis, Cynthia Erivo, and Henry Cavill.
Another rumor previously claimed Marvel could seek a mix of lesser-known actors instead of major A-list stars as part of an effort to keep costs down and sign talent to long-term deals.
For now, Marvel has only confirmed that an X-Men movie is in development with Jake Schreier attached to direct. No official casting announcements have been made.
