James McAvoy has addressed the James McAvoy X-Men recast situation for the first time, wishing the incoming cast well while making it gently clear he has his own priorities right now. The Scottish star was at the Toronto International Film Festival to promote his film Faith when Entertainment Weekly put the question to him.
‘I just wish them well, and good luck,’ McAvoy told the outlet. He did not linger on the subject. ‘But I’m here to sell a different film, and I don’t really have a massive publicity machine. They [Marvel] can sell [X-Men] on their own. But, massive good luck to them,’ he added.
It is about as gracious as a handover can get, and arguably exactly the right tone: warm, brief, and entirely unbothered.
Who is taking over as Professor X?
Christopher Abbott will play Charles Xavier, the role McAvoy inhabited across multiple films. Patrick Stewart, who also played the character, will make one final appearance in Avengers: Doomsday before Abbott takes the reins in the new X-Men film. Several other stars from the wider X-Men franchise are also returning for Avengers: Doomsday, though McAvoy is not among them.
The full cast for the new X-Men film was revealed at Disney’s D23 event in Anaheim on a Friday, according to Deadline. The actors took to the stage as the announcement was made, with Sadie Sink, Samara Weaving, Kit Connor, Inde Navarrette, Adam Driver and Maya Boyd all confirmed for the film, which is set for release on 5 May 2028.
Sink had already been confirmed as Jean Grey following her appearance in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. She has spoken about what the role means to her, sharing: ‘Knowing Jean’s struggle will be important in the future of her character and where she goes, just makes her really well-rounded, which I’m excited for.’
The full James McAvoy X-Men recast and the new line-up in full
Weaving, known for Ready or Not, will take on Emma Frost. Connor, known for Heartstopper, steps into the role of Cyclops. Boyd will play Storm and Navarrette, known for Obsession, will play Rogue. Driver’s casting is one of the more intriguing elements of the ensemble: Marvel Studios’ Instagram confirmed that his character’s name is Nathaniel Milbury, the identity under which Mister Sinister has operated in the comics.
The film will be directed by Jake Schreier, who previously helmed Thunderbolts*. It represents the first time the X-Men have been developed directly under Marvel Studios, which attained the rights to the franchise from 20th Century Fox in 2019.
For McAvoy, the Toronto festival and Faith are clearly where his head is right now. The James McAvoy X-Men recast may be the talk of fandom, but the man himself has said his piece in six words and moved on. The new film arrives in cinemas on 5 May 2028.
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