James McAvoy speaks out on his 'biggest criticism' of the X-Men franchise

He made his debut as a young Professor Charles Xavier back in 2011’s X-Men: First Class.

James McAvoy would later star in three more films between then and 2019, those being X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: Apocalypse and Dark Phoenix.

But rumours that McAvoy didn’t enjoy making the films have been knocking around the internet for years, and now the actor has finally set the record straight.

Suzan Moore / Alamy Stock Photo

Speaking to GQ, the IT: Chapter 2 star revealed he'd actually had a blast working on the blockbusters, calling his involvement ‘one of the most positive experiences I’ve had with a studio’.

He added: “I don’t really [see them as just] money gigs. Days of Future Past I think is one of the better films that I’ve been involved in.”

However, McAvoy did confess that he had one gripe with the films - and it involved his co-star Michael Fassbender, who played Magneto.

He said: “My biggest criticism of what we did throughout the four movies was that after the first movie, we didn’t take advantage of the relationship between [Xavier and Magneto], which really formed the backbone of the first film.

“It was like, why did we just eject that massive weapon?”

When asked why he might give off the impression to Marvel fans that he doesn’t want anything to do with the MCU, McAvoy replied: “I'm very quick to say, ‘No, I'm done.’ Or ‘I'm not that bothered about coming back.’ Because you move forward.”

The actor also spoke about the possibility of him popping up in Avengers: Secret Wars.

Following Disney’s acquisition of Fox, it’s been rumoured that OG X-Men characters are being approached about cameos in the forthcoming blockbuster.

When asked whether Marvel boss Kevin Feige had called him about the movie, McAvoy quipped: “I’ve definitely not got the call. And if I did I would definitely not be telling you.”

Marvel confirmed two new Avengers movies are on the way back in July.

Due to hit screens in 2025, the first is called Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and the second is Secret Wars.

The films will be part of Phase 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The Kang Dynasty will release on May 5th 2025, while Secret Wars will come later on November 7th 2025, marking the first time two Avengers films will be released in the same year.

The films are part of the Multiverse Saga, which kicked off in Phase 4 of the MCU.

Phase 4 ended this month with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Phase 5 will begin in February 2023.