Esposito Shares How Fan Casting as Professor X Paved the Way for His Role in ‘Captain America 4’: “They’ve done Professor X, but would love to do something new”

The second-to-last movie in Marvel’s Phase Five, Captain America: Brave New World, is scheduled to premiere on February 14, 2025. Fans are excited about the film, which will feature Anthony Mackie as the new Captain America, taking over from Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers—though there will be some surprises.

In addition to Mackie, several important characters will be in the movie. Harrison Ford is taking over the role of Thaddeus Ross from the late William Hurt, Tim Blake Nelson is coming back as The Leader, and Giancarlo Esposito will make his first appearance in the MCU as the villain Sidewinder.

Esposito has called his villain “complex” and is glad that Sidewinder’s backstory will be revealed as the story progresses. Unlike some of the clever and manipulative characters he has played in the past, Sidewinder is more physical and depends on his strength and skills.

Esposito also enjoys that this character goes against some typical comic book expectations. In his latest public appearance, he shared that he will be “putting on the costume” again to promote the movie at Brazil’s D23 event.

The Captain America story, as much as it’s been great to be on set to shoot it, I’m actually going back next week to do a little more. I’m so excited. Put that costume back again, baby!

Esposito also shared how his journey in the MCU began. He knew that fans had been casting him as Professor X, a role he expressed interest in playing. However, things took a different turn, and Esposito was able to use his popularity in the fandom to land a different role.

It all happened out of fan casting. Right, I was doing comic con years ago and someone asked you know about Professor X, and I said “god I love that character, I’d love to play Professor X” and it blew up on social media. And so, It just grew. This is going back four and a something years. It grew. It grew. It grew.

I wind up at the Emmy’s last year and so I asked my manager: “Hey do these guys in Marvel know that the fans want me to play Professor X, like that’s what the fans want” So he said, “Oh they are aware.” So we run into one of the head honchos […] They’ve done Professor X, and they would love to do something new.

Esposito explained that even though the role of Professor X was not available, it was the support of the fans that helped him land a role in the popular franchise.

I thank the fans and I’m gonna thank you again tonight.

Regarding Esposito’s comments about Professor X and his statement that “it won’t be the same,” we’re very curious to learn more, especially with the upcoming X-Men live-action reboot in mind.

What are your thoughts? Share them in the comments below!