Christopher Abbott Calls D23 Professor X Reveal 'A Nightmare'
Christopher Abbott told Variety his MCU casting reveal as Professor X at D23 felt like 'a bit of a dream and a nightmare,' with muted applause.
Christopher Abbott is opening up about the moment Marvel fans learned he would play Professor X. In a new interview with Variety, the actor described his MCU casting reveal at D23 as "a bit of a dream and a nightmare."
Abbott said he felt the audience did not know who he was, and that the applause was muted. He compared the experience to a video game or a dream — but not a good one.
The reveal itself came at D23, where a full X-Men lineup was confirmed. That roster included Adam Driver as Mister Sinister, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Maya Boyd as Storm, Inde Navarrette as Rogue, and Abbott as Professor X.
In recent months, Disney and Marvel have confirmed numerous X-Men cast members, including Samara Weaving as Emma Frost and Sadie Sink as Jean Grey in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Sink has been met with fanfare, and that film has been a colossal success.
The MCU X-Men movie has an official release date of May 5, 2028. There are also rumors that some or all of the X-Men will appear in Avengers: Doomsday and/or Avengers: Secret Wars.
Quick answers
What did Christopher Abbott say about his D23 reveal?
He told Variety it was "a bit of a dream and a nightmare," saying the audience did not know who he was and the applause was muted.
Who is Christopher Abbott playing in the MCU?
He was confirmed as Professor X at D23.
When does the MCU X-Men movie come out?
The film has an official release date of May 5, 2028.