Marvel’s X-Men casting a Black actor as Charles Xavier will affect the character’s dynamics with Magneto in the storyline
Discussions are rampant about the new X-Men actors in the MCU. Fans have some suggestions about the cast of the mutant movie. For the role of Charles Xavier, a section of fans suggested a Black actor to play the role. This was partly based on the idea that Martin Luther King Jr. served as an inspiration to shape the character.
However, fans arguing for a comic-accurate Professor X presented their side and one particular argument appeared to rightly justify casting a White actor. Interestingly, the dynamic between a racially superior Charles Xavier and a Jewish Magneto will become important in the storyline of the film.
Why Does Charles Xavier Need To Be White In The X-Men Film?
James McAvoy as Charles Xavier in X-Men: Apocalypse | Credits: 20th Century Fox
Patrick Stewart was cast as Charles Xavier in the 2000 film X-Men and played the role for 22 years until Doctor Strange 2. The Fox X-Men movies also brought in James McAvoy to play a younger version of this live-action Professor X. As the MCU is set to reboot the X-Men, some fans wanted to change things up a bit.
Over the years, fans have drawn analogies between the two conflicting mutant leaders in the comics, Xavier and Magneto, and the two American civil rights activists, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Some fans want this comparison to take a literal effect and they suggest Marvel cast Black actors in the role.
While the comparison is deemed valid by several writers, no X-Men writer has ever confirmed to directly take inspiration from the American leaders (via Vocal Media). One fan on X, @matzzm_, has perfectly explained why Charles Xavier appearing White is the best thing for the film.
According to this fan, a crucial part of the character’s identity is that he is a White man who hasn’t faced much oppression. The fan shared that since he has never experienced racism, he doesn’t understand some of the motivations of Magneto/Erik Lehnsherr who’s Jewish.
The fan made it clear that comic accuracy had nothing to do with their argument and that they would agree with Marvel in changing the race of any other character. However, they had a specific problem with changing Xavier’s ethnicity just due to his storyline.
The fan further expanded their take on another tweet, sharing that Charles’ dream of cooperation between humans and mutants came from a place of ignorance. The fan explained that Xavier hadn’t experienced what most of his fellow mutants had gone through and hence could be shortsighted in his decisions sometimes.
According to this Reddit thread, fan-favorite suggestions for the new Professor X actor include Ralph Fiennes, Daniel Craig, Ewan McGregor, and Bryan Cranston. Fans will have to wait some more time for an update from Marvel.
Chris Claremont, Who Wrote X-Men Comics For Years, Did Not Base The Characters On The American Leaders
During an interview with Empire, Chris Claremont shared that the comparisons fans make between Charles Xavier & Magneto, and Martin Luther King Jr. & Malcolm X were valid. However, he shared that he had his own parallels for both the characters. Claremont was instrumental in shaping the X-Men characters that were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
Claremont shared that making such an analogy with the civil rights leaders felt presumptuous to him. He shared that he used former Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin as an inspiration for Magneto. Claremont shared with Empire:
There’s a lot of talk online now that Magneto stands in for Malcolm X and Xavier stands in for Martin Luther King…but for me, being an immigrant white, to make that analogy felt incredibly presumptuous. An equivalent analogy could be made to Menachem Begin as Magneto, evolving through his life from a terrorist in 1947 to a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize 30 years later.
Fans hope that the MCU could do justice to these complex interpretations of both Magneto and Charles Xavier in their new X-Men movie. In the meantime, fans can rewatch Fox’s version of the characters in the X-Men movies that are now streaming on Disney+.
