Patrick Stewart’s 2022 MCU appearance can finally be redeemed after Marvel confirmed his return as Professor X in Avengers: Doomsday. Many actors have reprised their previous Marvel roles in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga. The multiverse allows endless possibilities, and Marvel Studios has taken advantage of this premise. Spider-Man: No Way Home brought back Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, and ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine featured Hugh Jackman’s return as Wolverine, as well as Wesley Snipes as Blade and Jennifer Garner as Elektra.

Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars are the final stages in this saga, creating a clash between many different worlds within the Marvel multiverse. Doomsday’s cast brings back several characters from the Fox X-Men universe, including Stewart’s Professor X, Ian McKellen’s Magneto, Alan Cumming’s Nightcrawler, James Marsden’s Cyclops, Rebecca Romijn’s Mystique, and Kelsey Grammer’s Beast. Stewart has already made his MCU debut in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but it was a wasted appearance that didn’t give Stewart’s X-Men leader the respect he deserves.

Patrick Stewart’s Return For Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness Was Wasted

Stewart debuted as Charles Xavier in 2000’s X-Men and played the character until 2017’s Logan. The film was a sendoff for his character and Jackman’s Wolverine, delivering a fantastic ending to the original X-Men era. However, nobody is gone forever in the Marvel universe, and Stewart returned as a Professor X variant in Doctor Strange 2. He appeared as the leader of the Illuminati, a multiversal organization comprised of Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Mordo, Anson Mount’s Black Bolt, Lashana Lynch’s Captain Marvel, Hayley Atwell’s Captain Carter, and John Krasinski’s Reed Richards.

While this lineup was exciting to see, the Illuminati were brutally and hastily killed by Scarlet Witch during her hunt for America Chavez. Professor X tried to stop her by entering her mind, but a demonic version of Wanda snapped his neck. Marvel was surprisingly disrespectful to Stewart’s Professor X by killing him off so easily, especially after he recently died in Logan. His death in Logan also felt unceremonious, but he at least got a funeral and a respectful mourning period. His return in Doctor Strange 2 was a cheap cameo for fanfare, unworthy of the respect Stewart deserves.

Avengers: Doomsday Can Give Patrick Stewart’s Professor X A Much Better Return

Avengers: Doomsday could give Stewart’s Professor X a much more prominent role than his last appearance. Charles Xavier is one of the most intelligent people in the universe and may be one of the few characters who understands the multiverse. He will need to lead the rest of the returning X-Men who may be unfamiliar with the rules of this concept. Since the X-Men are joining the Avengers and others in a fight against Doctor Doom, he needs to unite the mutants, including McKellen’s Magneto, who may be hesitant to join him.

The one thing Marvel can’t do is kill him again. Stewart’s Xavier has died in three films: X-Men: The Last Stand, Logan, and Doctor Strange 2. Watching him die again feels redundant and audiences don’t need to see it a fourth time. The Russo Brothers know how to deliver epic moments for their characters. Hopefully, they will do the same for Professor X in Avengers: Doomsday.

Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Thunderbolts*

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  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

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  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Spider-Man: Brand New Day

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  July 31, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

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  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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