Split image of Sir Patrick Stewart as Professor Charles Xavier in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) on the left, Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek on the right

Sir Patrick Stewart’s iconic run in the X-Men franchise was made better because of a previous role. Marvel fans have grown to know and love Stewart as Professor Charles Xavier ever since his debut in 2000’s X-Men. He would go on to play the character for over 20 years, and Stewart’s Professor X has now become one of the longest-running superhero portrayals. However, Stewart was a well-established sci-fi icon before X-Men thanks to his other popular role.

Stewart first appeared as Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987, becoming a prominent figure in the show’s 90s run then returning in the 2020s with his solo series, Star Trek: Picard. Initially, Stewart wanted to turn down the role of Professor X because of his time as Picard, citing that the two sci-fi roles may be too similar for audiences and himself. The actor wasn’t looking to play any more fantasy roles for the time being, but it was X-Men director Bryan Singer who convinced him to try it out.

Patrick Stewart’s Marvel & Star Trek Roles Have More In Common Than You Might Think

Patrick Stewart as Earth-838's Professor X in the Illuminati in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Thanks to Singer’s efforts, sci-fi fans live in a world where Stewart portrays two sci-fi icons. Stewart was initially worried that Professor X would be too similar of a role to Picard and that the X-Men franchise would overlap with Star Trek. Singer reassured the actor that the most obvious similarity would simply be the shape of the characters’ heads. However, as Stewart’s portrayals ran their courses, the two characters did develop some similarities, but not in the repetitive way that Stewart was concerned about.

Stewart’s experience as Picard subtly shaped how he carried the character of Professor X. Both characters are respected leaders within their franchises, with Picard being the commanding officer of the Federation Starship and Charles Xavier being the founder and occasional leader of the X-Men. As authority figures, both characters were level-headed and self-assured. There are some pronounced differences between the two characters’ personalities, but the fundamentals of a good leader are present in both.

Star Trek Let Patrick Stewart Practice A Lot Of What Made His Professor X Performance Truly Iconic

Patrick Stewart as Picard in Star Trek Picard season 3

Stewart was afraid that his portrayal of Picard would overlap with the Professor X role, but his experience on Star Trek actually helped make his X-Men performance more iconic. Although Picard initially started as a more aloof, no-nonsense character, the level of humanity and dignity that Stewart brought to the role was what made him such a fan favorite. Even in the comics, Professor X has always been more of a gentle authority figure, and Stewart was able to bring the nuances of Picard over to his Marvel role.

Stewart would’ve undoubtedly done a great job with Professor X regardless of his previous experience in Star Trek, but his time on Star Trek just went on to help make his Marvel role all the more impressive. Already knowing how to portray patience and resolve in a leader through Picard, it made for Stewart’s stellar understanding of Professor Xavier. It’s hard to imagine a world where Stewart really did reject his X-Men role because of Star Trek, but superhero fans can be thankful that Picard eventually helped shape his Professor X portrayal instead of hindering it.