Long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)

was a thing, Marvel was making waves on the big screen thanks to the X-Men

, and in particular, their leading men, Professor X (Patrick Stewart), and Magneto (Ian McKellen). As much as the cartoons were fun, and characters like Spider-Man were these spectacular heroes. The X-Men were on a different level. The stories were complex, political, and provocative. The mutants were all over the place in terms of morals and character, and the stories built an entire world.

But it’s impossible to overstate how essential Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart were to making this dream into a reality on the big screen. They brought the characters to life, and over the course of many years, they continued to expand their narrative, and prove how important the X-Men stories were, not just as a fun comic book saga, but as a cultural touchstone, and a way for the audience to engage with the characters and understand that being different can be scary, but it’s also beautiful and essential.

Patrick Stewart’s Professor X & Ian McKellen’s Magneto Defined Fox’s X-Men Movies In A Major Way

The 2000s X-Men Changed Superhero Movies Forever

As the leader of the X-Men, Professor Charles Xavier was a beacon of hope, kindness, determination, and respect. No matter who came to him, the things they had done, and the challenges they faced, he welcomed them with open arms, provided a home, and a way to learn to control and grow your abilities. Patrick Stewart was the perfect cast for this role, just as much as Hugh Jackman was the ideal actor to play Wolverine, and he hit the mark on every outing.

On the other side of the playing field, Xavier’s dear friend, Erik Lehnsherr, went on to become the leader of the Brotherhood. This organization is often depicted as evil, and while they are certainly not a benevolent group, their goals are more complex. The Brotherhood are a band of mutants who suffer so much rejection, disgust, suffering, and pain from humankind, that they have chosen to stand apart from humanity. They believe they are the next step in human evolution, and that ordinary humans should be eradicated, but McKellen sells this terrifying objective as a means of survival and love for his people.

Patrick Stewart’s Professor X & Ian McKellen’s Magneto Had Their Last On-Screen Meeting 12 Years Ago

X-Men: Days of Future Past Changed The Timeline For Professor X & Magneto

While the pair did find themselves at odds, underneath everything, they were motivated by a desire for acceptance, family, and to be treated fairly. Their solutions for how to achieve these goals put them on opposite sides, but there were moments where their overall goals saw them come together, and work towards a greater goal. For instance, in X-Men: Days of Future Past, Stewart and McKellen both reprized their respective roles to appear in the rebooted franchise when things got incredibly dangerous for mutant kind.

This outing occurred 12 years ago, and, unfortunately, the pair had very limited time on screen in the film, as they mainly existed in a separate timeline as a framing device for the movie, while Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine was sent back in time to help the younger versions of these characters resolve issues that could alter the course of history and the future. Despite this, in the little time that they do appear, both actors deliver magnetic performances that prove why they were perfect in their roles.

Patrick Stewart’s Professor X & Ian McKellen’s Magneto Both Being Confirmed For Avengers: Doomsday Makes A Reunion Seem Very Likely

There Will Likely Be Some Tension Between The Former Friends In Avengers: Doomsday

And now, after both actors have been confirmed to appear in Avengers: Doomsday thanks to the cast list announcement, there is a high probability that they will be reuniting once again. It’s hard to say where and when they will be at in their timelines, or even what reality they hail from, but the fact that both actors are returning suggests it will be either the same versions that appeared in 2014, or very similar. And the threat of Doctor Doom is the perfect thing to reunite them to fight together once again, putting aside their differences.

If this is the case, and judging by the comments from Feige about what will occur with the original X-Men, Fantastic Four, Avengers, and the Thunderbolts teaming up to fight against Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom, it seems highly probable that this is where the story is going. Of course, there are still more characters to be announced, and there is a chance that McKellen’s Magneto could side with Doom, but even then, it would be a major missed opportunity to not pit him against his former friend, Professor X in Avengers: Doomsday.

Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Thunderbolts*

  Release Date

  
  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  
  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Spider-Man: Brand New Day

  Release Date

  
  July 31, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  
  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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