James McAvoy Reveals His Pick to Replace Him in Marvel’s X-Men Reboot

Marvel is inching closer to finally flipping the switch on its X-Men reboot, and the rumor mill is already casting the team for them. Over the weekend at New York Comic Con 2025, two very familiar faces from the Fox era, James McAvoy and Elliot Page, weighed in on the new guard everyone keeps whispering about.

So, who is Professor X this time?

During a reunion panel, moderator Josh Horowitz brought up some of the names that keep popping up online. Colman Domingo has been floated for Professor X. Bella Ramsey has been mentioned, too. McAvoy and Page didn't break any news, but they were good sports about the question.

Page, who played Kitty Pryde in X-Men: The Last Stand and Days of Future Past, said they do not really track the casting chatter, but that the choices sound great and it would be exciting to see a fresh spin on the franchise (as recapped by Entertainment Weekly).

McAvoy, who stepped into Charles Xavier starting with First Class, kept it light and supportive, admitting he is eager to see what Marvel does next and trying not to say anything that would crank up the pressure on whoever lands the role. He did single out one name with a little extra enthusiasm:

"Colman Domingo sounds amazing, though!"

What Marvel is actually doing with the reboot

Here is the state of play, based on what Marvel folks have said and what has been reported so far:

• Kevin Feige has confirmed Marvel will recast the X-Men after Avengers: Secret Wars.
• The reboot is being positioned as a fresh start for the team inside the MCU, with Marvel describing it as a "youth-focused reboot."
• Jake Schreier (Thunderbolts*) is attached to direct.
• Names circulating online include Colman Domingo and Bella Ramsey, but nothing is official.

Where McAvoy and Page fit into all this

Neither is angling to reclaim their old jobs; both sounded genuinely excited to watch a new ensemble take over. Page's Kitty Pryde was a key player in the Fox films they appeared in, and McAvoy's younger Xavier anchored that era's reboot cycle. Now they are basically passing the baton and cheering from the sidelines.

The takeaway

Marvel is gearing up to introduce mutants into the MCU proper, and the X-Men are getting a clean slate after Secret Wars. Until the studio announces a cast, expect the internet to keep fantasy-booking Professor X and friends. If the Colman Domingo buzz turns into something real, McAvoy is already on board.

For the paper trail: this round of chatter was first highlighted by Anubhav Chaudhry (SuperHeroHype) and picked up by ComingSoon.net.