Patrick Stewart says he had never heard of X-MEN when he was offered the role of Professor

Patrick Stewart he had a long and prolific career as an actor, but his two best known and loved roles were undoubtedly that of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek franchise and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films. But the actor was actually unfamiliar with Professor X and the entire X-Men comic book universe when he was approached with the opportunity by the film’s director.

In his new autobiography Making it like this: a memoir (via /Film), Stewart recalls being invited to attend a meeting where he was offered the role of a character he resembled. Stewart recalls that he was abandoning his work on the 1997 film Conspiracy theory when an assistant handed him an envelope with the producer Lauren Donnerit’s got the name on it. She was supposed to visit him in his office for a new tempting offer. Donner apparently had a portrait of Professor X, drawn to look like Stewart, mocked up in her office. Stewart asked Donner what it was, and she proudly announced—seemingly trying to excite Stewart—that it would be Stewart in six months, as she would play the powerful psychic mutant, Charles Xavier. Stewart’s reaction was unexpected, as he said, “Who the hell is that, Lauren?” He explained that he was the leader of the X-Men. Stewart was still lost. He has written:

“This conversation made as much sense to me as the one I had with Steve Dontanville all those years ago where he asked me why Gene Roddenberry wanted to meet me. Charles Xavier? The X-Men? I didn’t have a damn clue what was going on. .”

In the end it all came out:

“Lauren patiently explained that ‘X-Men’ would be a big-budget film based on a team of Marvel Comics superheroes. Charles Xavier was the creation of comic book legends Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. He is a telepath and paraplegic who exists in a world where mutants represent the next stage of human evolution, but face discrimination and bigotry due to their superhuman powers. He oversees an academy called the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters and a strike force of fellow do-gooding mutants called X -Men. He’s the one who puts the X in X-Men.”

Patrick Stewart was intrigued Bryan Singer – fresh The usual suspects and not yet ousted over sexual assault allegations – was going to direct the film, but wasn’t that interested in the superhero aspect of the film. He instinctively wanted to refuse the role, writing:

“My thoughts at the time? No. No more fantasy. No more science fiction. No more telepaths. No more actors locked in tight costumes. I’m done with all of that. Thanks for thinking of me, but – no, absolutely not. “

It was Singer who finally convinced Stewart. The two met for lunch and Stewart expressed all the reasons why he didn’t want the role. Not only was it another fantasy story, but he felt that Professor X and Captain Picard were too similar. Singer argued the opposite. Stewart wrote:

“Bryan passionately argued that there were no great similarities between Jean-Luc Picard and Charles Xavier, or between ‘Star Trek’ and ‘X-Men.’ One was a science fiction franchise and the other was part of the burgeoning film industry. big-budget comic book adaptations, totally different in style and content. He said he had studied the work I had done over the last ten years, and “X” Men had nothing to do with any of it. With bravado, Bryan said this would be totally new territory for me, and the whole world would see my work.”

Stewart admits this won him over. In Singer’s mind, the only similarity between Captain Picard and Professor X was the shape of their heads. The actor called Donner the next day, contracts were drawn up, and the rest is history. I can’t imagine anyone else in the role. What’s your favorite movie starring Stewart as Professor X?