Many Marvel fans have been celebrating what seems to be the return of Patrick Stewart as Professor X, but let’s not set off the party poppers just yet. In the recent trailer for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, a very familiar voice was heard, seemingly of Stewart reprising his X-Men role. Beyond this tease, the actor’s involvement hasn’t been officially confirmed, and both Stewart and Marvel have held back giving an explanation.

Stewart has now broken his silence on the situation in a recent chat with Comicbook.com. The veteran actor insinuates that perhaps that isn’t actually him in the Doctor Strange 2 trailer. He says how people have been “imitating” his voice for decades and that it’s not his fault if people perceive that a certain way, such as if he’ll be included in a certain Marvel sequel. As explained by Stewart:

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

It’s possible that Stewart is telling the truth. Stewart had already been rumored to appear in the film and maybe the Marvel marketing team is merely having some fun with that with a Professor X impersonator. Even so, it seems more likely Stewart is dodging the question in an effort to keep his rumored return as much of a surprise as possible. Let’s not forget that Andrew Garfield spent the past year denying his involvement in Spider-Man: No Way Home before proving the rumors true in December when the movie finally premiered.

Many More Surprises Will Be in Store in Doctor Strange 2

     Marvel Studios

Patrick Stewart’s possible return as Professor X would be just one of the many surprises director Sam Raimi has in store for Marvel fan with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. There isn’t much else in the way of anything officially confirmed, but the trailer teased the introduction of the superhero team known as the Illuminati. That includes Tony Stark, and because Robert Downey Jr. has finished up his run in the role, there are rumors of Tom Cruise appearing as a variant Iron Man.

In any case, Marvel will be saving a lot for the film itself, regardless of what’s been teased in the trailer. Raimi directs the film using a screenplay by Michael Waldron. Benedict Cumberbatch returns as the titular superhero alongide Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Rachel McAdams. Stewart may or may not appear in the film as Professor X, and as seen in the trailer, there’s no telling who else might be coming through with the multiverse fractured.

The synopsis for the movie reads: “In Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the MCU unlocks the Multiverse and pushes its boundaries further than ever before. Journey into the unknown with Doctor Strange, who, with the help of mystical allies both old and new, traverses the mind-bending and dangerous alternate realities of the Multiverse to confront a mysterious new adversary.”

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is scheduled to be released in movie theaters on May 6, 2022.