Giancarlo Esposito Refuses To Sit In A Wheelchair To Play Professor X, says Writers Should Make Him Walk

Giancarlo Esposito, known for his roles in Breaking Bad and The Mandalorian, has reiterated his desire to portray Professor X in a future Marvel X-Men movie. However, the actor has expressed his preference for playing a version of the character that does not rely on a wheelchair.

In a recent interview with the Fade to Black podcast, Esposito shared his thoughts on the iconic role, stating, “…immediately I go, ‘It would be great to play Professor X in some other incarnation than just the wheelchair,’ right? Because the physical idea of being in a wheelchair every single day does not appeal to me. I just don’t feel that old and I don’t like to sit that much. But certainly we could figure something out. Maybe. Professor X wasn’t always in the wheelchair, but that is part of his character development. I think about it a little bit, but I don’t give it all of my thought because it would have to come to me.”

While Esposito has previously expressed interest in the role and has had discussions with Marvel, he has not been officially offered the part. The actor’s preference for a version of Professor X that doesn’t rely on a wheelchair has sparked discussions among fans, as the character’s disability has been a significant aspect of his representation in comics and movies for decades.

Marvel has not yet revealed concrete plans for a new X-Men movie, although reports suggest that early development began shortly after the end of the writers’ strike in 2023. With the highly-anticipated animated series X-Men ’97 set to premiere on Disney+ on March 20, fans are eager to see how the mutant heroes will be portrayed in future adaptations.

It would be incredibly strange and disrespectful for Marvel to drastically alter Professor X’s character, removing his iconic wheelchair, simply because an actor doesn’t want to sit for extended periods during filming. Professor X’s disability is an integral part of his identity and has been a source of representation for many fans. An actor who is unwilling to fully embrace this aspect of the character due to personal preferences demonstrates a level of selfishness that is unbecoming of someone portraying such a beloved and influential figure. Ultimately, the role of Professor X should be given to an actor who understands and respects the character’s history and is willing to accurately depict him, wheelchair and all.

As the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand, it remains to be seen whether Giancarlo Esposito will have the opportunity to bring his unique vision of Professor X to life on the big screen.