Actor Christopher Abbott says his casting announcement as Professor Charles Xavier at Disney’s D23 event last month felt “a bit of a nightmare.” He describes being humbled by the audience’s reaction when he stepped onto the stage for the reveal, noting that many people did not yet know who he was.
Both outlets report that Abbott is set to star in Marvel’s upcoming X-Men reboot, which is scheduled for release in May 2028. While Variety frames his comments as a mix of humility and surprise at audience recognition, ComingSoon.net emphasizes the same core recollections—nerves around stepping into an iconic comic-book role and the pressure of receiving attention at a high-profile industry event.
Together, the articles present Abbott’s account of how the moment unfolded, focusing less on production details and more on the personal impact of being announced publicly as Professor X at D23.
