It looks like Marvel might be trying to race swap Professor X in the MCU X-Men reboot.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s next major gamble may not be at the box office—but at the casting table. Reports are now circulating that Marvel Studios is actively pursuing Black actors for the role of X-Men leader Professor Charles Xavier, setting off a firestorm of debate over what the franchise truly stands for… and who it’s willing to alienate in the process.
James McAvoy as Professor Charles Xavier in Dark Phoenix (2019), 20th Century Fox
While Sir Patrick Stewart is confirmed to return as Xavier in Avengers: Doomsday, the studio is also laying groundwork for its long-awaited MCU X-Men reboot—reportedly slated to begin after 2027’s Secret Wars. That hasn’t stopped casting speculation from dominating online chatter. And one name keeps coming up: Colman Domingo.
During a recent episode of The Hot Mic podcast, longtime scooper Jeff Sneider said, “I continue to hear Black actors for Charles [Xavier].” He added that Marvel may be heading this direction to distance itself from previous portrayals by Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy. It’s also rumored that Denzel Washington is the studio’s top pick for Magneto—fueling speculation that Marvel wants to draw real-world Civil Rights parallels by mirroring the dynamic of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.
Recent rumors also suggest Marvel might consider Daniel Day Lewis for the role of Magneto, so there’s a lot of conflicting chatter right now.
(L-R): Professor X (voiced by Ross Marquand) and Magneto (voiced by Matthew Waterson) in Marvel Animation’s X-MEN ’97. Photo courtesy of Marvel Animation. © 2024 MARVEL.
Not everyone is on board with the plan to race swap Professor X. In fact, some of Marvel’s own creatives are openly questioning the direction.
Beau DeMayo—the ousted showrunner of X-Men ’97 and himself a Black man—appears to be among those slamming the move. Responding to an X post that pointed out how Magneto’s backstory as a survivor of wartime atrocities and Professor X’s background as a privileged British academic were integral to their original identities, DeMayo didn’t mince words.
That’s all I gotta say — oh, and that @MarvelStudios rush to get #Xmen into #AvengersDoomsday continues to suggest this studio has no respect or awareness for/of what the #xmen stand for beyond fan-pandering cameo-fodder to salvage 6 years of failed films by Feige and Co.… https://t.co/hwDQzrsr9m
— Beau DeMayo (@BeauDemayo) May 18, 2025
“That’s all I gotta say — oh, and that @MarvelStudios rush to get #Xmen into #AvengersDoomsday continues to suggest this studio has no respect or awareness for/of what the #xmen stand for beyond fan-pandering cameo-fodder to salvage 6 years of failed films by Feige and Co.”
He went further, directly accusing Marvel Studios of exploiting identity optics for PR points.
“@MarvelStudios should also learn to respect and protect their Black creatives before trying to exploit their skin color to appear progressive, especially when their vaunted ‘Parliament’ is a bro-country club of white executives with ZERO Black producers.”
Ouch.
(L-R): Bishop (voiced by Isaac Robinson-Smith), Cyclops (voiced by Ray Chase), Magneto (voiced by Matthew Waterson), and Morph (voiced by JP Karliak) in Marvel Animation’s X-MEN ’97. Photo courtesy of Marvel Animation. © 2024 MARVEL
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DeMayo’s harsh words reflect growing dissatisfaction with Marvel’s current leadership, which some insiders claim has abandoned the deeper allegories that once made the X-Men meaningful. Instead of exploring the mutant metaphor with care, the reboot appears to be shaping up as another checkbox-driven exercise—one that swaps legacy for shock value and brand reinvention.
Colman Domingo—known for Euphoria and Zola—has been floated not only for Professor X, but was also previously rumored to replace Jonathan Majors as Kang. He’s already voiced a version of Norman Osborn in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, further entrenching him in Marvel’s casting orbit.
A race-swapped Norman Osborn in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man – YouTube, Marvel Entertainment
Still, Marvel hasn’t confirmed any casting choices for its post-Secret Wars X-Men reboot. Thunderbolts director Jake Schreier is reportedly the top choice to direct, with Michael Lesslie (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) penning the script.
Yet the deeper question isn’t just “who will play Professor X?” or “will Marvel race swap Professor X?” It’s “what does this reboot actually stand for?”
If Marvel is serious about revitalizing X-Men, it may need to go back to the drawing board—not just for casting, but for creative vision. Race-swapping Charles Xavier may win temporary headlines, but it risks unraveling decades of rich thematic storytelling that helped make the mutants relatable to generations of fans.
James McAvoy as Charles Xavier in X-Men: First Class (2019), 20th Century Fox
One thing’s for certain: the Professor X race swap debate isn’t going away anytime soon—especially with Marvel Studios under pressure to reverse its long-running slump.
Do you think Marvel will race swap Professor X? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
I’m sick of hearing from DeMayo. He’s an SJW twat who did the same thing by turning Morph “non-binary” and gay. As for the rumour – no race and sex swaps are acceptable.
[…] Fonte: thatparkplace […]
Maybe Marvel would like to change the Professor’s first name to “Malcolm” while they’re at it…
Beauty.
Maaaan! Two of my favorite Marvel titles are being bastardized by the bastardized Walt Disney Co. I wish they’d go back to the marvels and eternals and similar ilk.