“To me, my X-Men. I have spent my entire life looking for you.”
Just imagine those words delivered in Laurence Fishburne’s commanding, baritone voice — his fingers pressed to his temples as he summons the X-Men to his side with his powerful telepathic abilities.
Fishburne, known for his iconic roles as Morpheus in The Matrix, the Bowery King in John Wick, and Ike Turner in What’s Love Got to Do with It?, has portrayed versatility and dramatic presence like few others in Hollywood. And now it seems he wants to add the leader of the MCU’s X-Men to his already considerable resume.
“I know that they’re talking about the X-Men now,” Fishburne said at a Matrix reunion panel at the 2025 New York City Comic Con. “So, at this point, I want one of two things. The first thing would be: what do you think about Laurence Fishburne as Professor X?”
The question, which drew immediate cheers from the Comic Con crowd, was also met by panelist host Josh Horowitz’s emphatic, “Approved. Greenlit!”
Professor Charles Xavier, founder of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, is the telepathic leader of the X-Men, capable of reading minds, controlling thoughts, and creating powerful psychic defenses. He’s been portrayed onscreen by both Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy during 20th Century Fox’s X-Men era. Now that Marvel’s iconic mutants are stepping into the MCU — starting with Wolverine making his debut in Deadpool & Wolverine — could Laurence Fishburne as Professor X be the bold move needed to position the character alongside the Marvel Universe’s mightiest heroes, especially with the looming threat of Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom on the horizon?
Whatever the case, at age 65, Fishburne is focused on pouring his passion and energy into whatever role comes next. “People always ask me, ‘What’s your favorite thing you’ve ever done?’ And I’m always like, ‘The next one,’” he said. “It’s been 25 years since The Matrix, and maybe some freak out there has a strange movie they want to make — something no one’s sure will work. I’m your guy!”
What do you think of the fact that Laurence Fishburne wants to play Professor X in the MCU? Do you think the actor would do a good job in the role of the founder of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters and the mentor for the X-Men? Let us know in the comments.
