X-Men Star James McAvoy on Professor X Return: 'Never Say Never'

When it became clear that Disney was set to buy 20th Century Fox, the news signaled quite an exciting prospect for fans. After the merger was complete, Marvel Studios would finally have access to nearly all of their characters.

Prior to the acquisition, characters like The Fantastic Four or Silver Surfer were completely untouchable to the studios. Only Fox had the power to use them—but now that's all changed.

One of the biggest properties that now lies in the hands of Marvel Studios is the X-Men. The Foxverse films about the mutants weren't perfect, but many loved those portraying the characters.

One fan favorite was James McAvoy's Professor X. Will the actor ever get the chance to play the character again now that Disney is in control?

James McAvoy On Returning as Professor X

X-Men actor James McAvoy was able to speak with Collider and was asked if he was done playing Professor X.

The actor revealed that he "feel[s] quite satisfied with what [he] got out of [Professor X] as a performer," but clarified that he "never say[s] never:"

"I feel like, yeah. I feel like I got to explore, not everything I wanted to explore, because there's always more, surely, but I got to explore a ton of Professor X, and I feel quite satisfied with what I got out of him as a performer. It's not to say that you don't ever want to, you never want to come back, and you never want to do it again, and all that kind of stuff. You never say never, as I believe James Bond once said. But I'm not chomping at the bit. I'm not going to be gutted and desperately sad if it never happens again."

Never Say Never to Professor X

While the Fox-era films are over, with the Multiverse at play in the MCU it is important to never say never, much like James McAvoy is saying here. There's plenty of opportunities in the future for past faces to return—just look at all the Spider-Man: No Way Home rumors.

Just a few weeks ago, it was rumored that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was potentially going to feature a fight scene between Wanda and either an X-Men or Fantastic Four character. If James McAvoy is still truly up to playing the character again, Strange's upcoming adventure seems like a really neat place for the character to show up.

Of course, then there's Deadpool 3, which no one really knows what the film will look like—but there's bound to be some clear references to the universe he is leaving behind. With that meta element to the character, it would almost be a crime not to have some returning faces show up briefly. 

All these things said, having James McAvoy back as Professor X would be a treat, so here's to hoping that Marvel Studios can work a little of their magic for him to return to the role one last time.