Skip to content
Bramble

Entertainment

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

Christopher Abbott, cast as Professor X in Marvel's X-Men reboot, said the muted applause at his D23 reveal left him humbled. The film is due in May 2028.

3 outlets · 2L · 1C · 0R First reported Account updated
Image: Variety
Image: Screen Rant
Image: The A.V. Club

1 / 3

The story, neutrally told

Christopher 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". He said he began walking out enthusiastically, then sensed many people did not know who he was, and toned down his energy. He said he almost did a fist pump but felt the applause was muted, so he decided to just nod.

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

The film is set for release in May 2028; Screen Rant gives the date as May 5, 2028. Variety 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. Screen 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.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.

Left2 outlets

Framing
Variety reports the remarks as a self-deprecating anecdote from a magazine interview, with cast and franchise background.
Emphasis
Abbott's quotes, the full cast list, the Fox-era predecessor film and his Netflix series.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not discuss fan reception or crossover rumours.
Charged language
“most commercial role yet”
For example
“Christopher Abbott felt a bit humbled by his reveal as Professor X at D23 last month.” — Variety

Centre1 outlet

Framing
Screen Rant treats the quote as a fan-facing MCU story, sympathising with Abbott while stressing reasons for optimism.
Emphasis
Fan enthusiasm, positive cast reception, Brand New Day's success and Avengers crossover speculation.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not name New York Magazine as the interview source; omits the Dark Phoenix and East of Eden context.
Charged language
“frankly colossal scale”“rumors currently running rampant”
For example
“Although it's a shame to hear the experience described by Abbott as a "nightmare," it's understandable.” — Screen Rant

Right0 outlets

No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.