Christopher Abbott calls Professor X reveal at D23 "a bit of a dream and a nightmare"

Mixed · 2Christopher Abbott, who will play Professor X in Marvel's X-Men reboot, said his reveal at D23 was "a bit of a dream and a nightmare". 1 2 Left · 1He said he began walking out enthusiastically, then sensed many people did not know who he was, and toned down his energy. 1 Centre · 1He said he almost did a fist pump but felt the applause was muted, so he decided to just nod. 2

Left · 1Variety and The A.V. Club say the remarks came in an interview with New York Magazine, while Screen Rant attributes them to Variety. 3 Left · 1Abbott was revealed alongside Inde Navarrette as Rogue, Maya Boyd as Storm and Adam Driver as Mr. Sinister. 1 Left · 1Sadie Sink, Kit Connor and Samara Weaving were previously announced as Jean Grey, Cyclops and Emma Frost. 1

Mixed · 2The film is set for release in May 2028; Screen Rant gives the date as May 5, 2028. 1 2 Left · 1Variety notes it is the first reboot of the mutant team since the 2019 Fox film "Dark Phoenix", and that Abbott is also in Netflix's "East of Eden", which premieres Thursday. 1 Centre · 1Screen Rant says reception of the new cast has seemed positive and that rumours link the X-Men to Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars, which it calls speculative. 2

Left · 1The A.V. Club adds that the film will be directed by Jake Schreier, and that Abbott's Girls co-star Adam Driver joined him onstage as Mr. Sinister. 3 Centre · 1In a separate interview with Josh Horowitz, held around the release of Netflix's East of Eden, Abbott said he auditioned with "dummy sides" because he had not read a script, and that the sides were "very human". 4 Centre · 1In that interview, Abbott said he is interested in the idea of "consciousness" and, while saying he would not do method acting to be psychic, described a "remote viewing" exercise with a friend in which he drew a painting that "matched pretty well". 4

Centre · 1Abbott also told Horowitz that he made Kraven the Hunter (2024) as a favour to director J.C. Chandor and did not understand his character's superpower, adding that he could guarantee the X-Men film will be better. 5 Centre · 1Collider describes Kraven the Hunter as a critical and commercial failure, with a reported $120 million budget, about $60 million worldwide and a 15% Rotten Tomatoes score. 5 Centre · 1Collider notes Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy have played Charles Xavier before, and that Stewart is set to reprise the role in Avengers: Doomsday. 4