Giancarlo Esposito, a popular fancast for Marvel roles, has hinted at an upcoming appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. During a CCXP Mexico panel, Esposito confirmed his involvement in a Marvel project, teasing that the title and role are “better than you can imagine.”
The qualifier of “sooner rather than later” seems to rule out the possibility of Esposito playing Professor X, as Ross Marquand already voices the character on the animated X-Men ’97 series, and Marvel’s live-action X-Men reboot is presumably still years away. While there’s no telling at this point what Esposito’s role will be, some have already theorized that he could be playing Galactus or Doctor Doom in The Fantastic Four, which is expected to begin production in a few months for a 2025 release date, or that he might be voicing Norman Osborn in the upcoming Disney+ animated series Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, which is confirmed to be released at some point this year. Additionally, there’s always the possibility that he might be referring to a non-Marvel Studios project, potentially under Sony’s Spider-Man Universe.
Will Giancarlo Esposito Play Professor X?
Even if Esposito is not portraying Professor X, the actor has repeatedly shared his vision for how he would play the X-Men protagonist. This includes comments he made earlier this year, in which he indicated he would prefer to play the character without his iconic wheelchair.
Esposito explained to the Fade to Black podcast that he has briefly considered playing Professor X. However, the physical aspect of the role in a wheelchair daily does not appeal to him. He noted that Professor X hasn’t always used a wheelchair, and he’s open to exploring alternative ways to portray the character. However, he doesn’t dwell on the idea until it’s presented to him.
What Is the Next Avengers Movie?
Avengers 5, scheduled for May 1, 2026, remains without a director or confirmed cast. It reportedly faces revisions from the initial “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” concept due to Jonathan Majors’ legal situation. Subsequently, Avengers: Secret Wars is slated for May 7, 2027.
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige reflects on his 23-year tenure, noting the long-standing collaborations and shared enthusiasm that drive the team. He highlights the excitement for future storylines in Phases 5 and 6, leading to “Secret Wars,” and the storytelling opportunities presented by the multiverse, which Feige believes opens up new dimensions for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.