Giancarlo Esposito (The Mandalorian, Better Call Saul) said in a recent interview that he wants to portray Professor X in the MCU. Speaking with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, Esposito shared that he’s looking to turn over a new leaf and play more heroes rather than villains.
“I want to play a good guy,” Esposito said. “Charles is smart. He’s good. But I feel as if there may be some mileage with me and Marvel. I know I love what they do. I know I love creativity. So who knows what could happen? Keep putting it out there.” Esposito was reacting to a number of internet campaigns fancasting him as either Professor Charles Xavier, the founder of the X-Men, or Magneto, his radical nemesis.
These comments are similar to ones Esposito made recently at the TJH Superhero Car Show & Comic Con in San Antonio, Texas. Yahoo! reported that the actor said that although he hasn’t worked for Marvel yet, he’s “been in the room with them and talked to them” and he let it be known and “put it out in the universe that [I’d like to play] Professor X.”