Professor X look inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnesscontinues the setup for a young Defenders squad in the MCU . A lurid cameo in theDoctor Strange 2trailer revealed that Patrick Stewart is link up the MCU – presumably as Professor Charles Xavier . In both the comedian and the movies , Xavier is the founder of the X - Men team and a mentor material body to many of Marvel ’s mutant heroes .

interchangeable to the situation withTobey Maguire and Andrew Garfieldand their translation of Spider - Man , Stewart ’s Professor X is from a disjoined moving-picture show enfranchisement . However , the conception of the multiverse has create an opportunity for the studio to bring iconic portrayals of sure Marvel characters into the MCU who could n’t have work before . Stewart ’s interpreter enunciate “ we should tell him the truth ” in theDoctor Strange 2trailer reveal that after appearing in various moving-picture show as Professor X over a 15 - year period , the character may be about to make a surprising parachuting to the MCU . It would seem that in Doctor Strange ’s latest dangerous undertaking , he ’ll be reintroduced as a extremity of a secretive organization .

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Professor X’sDoctor Strange 2role hints at the introduction of boththe Illuminatiand the X - human race , but there ’s actually a third superhero team he could help lay up . Even though he is n’t directly affiliated with them in Marvel Comics , Professor X could factor in into the formation of a funny - accurate Defenders roster . Thanks to Marvel ’s Netflix shows , there ’s already a live - legal action Defenders chemical group , but it bears such little resemblance to the classical team that the movie could easily have their own . Here ’s how Professor X and the X - Men are connected to the Defenders , and how their ties toDoctor Strange 2’sstory lay extra groundwork for the squad joining the MCU .

Marvel’s Defenders Lineup & X-Men Connection Explained

Theclassic version of the Defendersthat protected the Earth during the seventies and 1980s is basically unlike from the group that made a base against unionized crime in Netflix ’s show . Originally depicted as a “ non - squad ” who only came together when needed , the Defenders started out as an all - herculean threesome that dwell of Doctor Strange , Namor the Sub - Mariner , and the Hulk . In add-on to them , the most important characters in the mathematical group were without question Valkyrie and Nighthawk , a Batman - alike millionaire who used his riches to become a superhero . Silver Surfer was around in their early twenty-four hour period as well , but he never delay for very long .

Strange , Hulk , Namor , Nighthawk , andValkyriedefined the Defenders for most of the seventies . When the original three dropped out , Nighthawk and Valkyrie moved on without them . During this time , hoagie like Hellcat , Beast , Gargoyle , Iceman , and Angel rose up and developed prominent function in the comics . By the conclusion of the comedian ’s streak in the 1980s , the 10 - Men made up more than one-half of the Defenders roster . Due to break in the decade - Men and other developments , Beast , Iceman , and Angel had all found new homes for themselves in the Defenders . Alongside Valkyrie and Gargoyle , all three mutants became mainstays of the team and focal point of multiple major storyline . Through them , mutantkind had plenty of mental representation in the Defenders for several age .

How Marvel Is Already Building The MCU’s Defenders Team

on purpose or not , Marvel has beenquietly building the Greco-Roman Defendersfor quite a while now . It already has Hulk , Valkyrie , and Doctor Strange . Plus , rumors aboutBlack Panther : Wakanda Foreverindicate that the MCU is in a good position to pick up at least one more Defender in Phase 4 . If it ’s truthful that Namor is appear inBlack Panther 2,the MCU will have the right tools to form a proper version of Doctor Strange ’s Defenders squad . avowedly , it ’ll still be miss Nighthawk , but as other MCU movies have proven , the absence seizure of one character wo n’t hold Marvel back from moving in this direction . Thor : Ragnarokalready team up Hulk and Valkyrie , so it ’s hard to imagine the MCU pairing these two up again , peculiarly if the former is somehow fix to the status quo inShe - Hulk . Doctor Strange could one day call on both of them ( and Namor ) for service with a future job .

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Also , ware forDoctor Strange 2hints at the moviehaving Defenders connectedness . It seems that a character presently dub “ Defender Doctor Strange ” will be a foreign variant from the multiverse . It ’s possible that this character lead the Defenders in his own timeline . His introduction could be used to loosen the MCU ’s Strange finally embarking down the same path .

Captain America vs Cyclops in Avengers vs X-Men Comic Art

Professor X In Doctor Strange 2 Means The X-Men Are MCU Canon

More withstander characters will be on the table when the X - Men finally bring together the MCU . Many were under the premise that Marvel would hold off until Phase 5 before head down that road , but theDoctor Strange 2trailer indicate otherwise . If Stewart really isreprising his character as Professor X , that means the ten - Men definitely exist in the MCU ’s multiverse . Being the founder of Xavier ’s School for Gifted Youngsters and the leader of the original X - Men squad are what made Professor X who he is . It ’s likely that his natural process with the X - military personnel and the purpose he played in helping them save the world are what made him a part of what appear to be the MCU ’s Illuminati .

Marvel introducing the concept of the X - Men inDoctor Strange 2could service as an supernumerary pace toward the geological formation ofthe Defenders . Because of the presence of mutants , Marvel will have more candidates available to them if and when they make the Defenders . base on their comic history and long - endure association with the Defenders , Iceman , Beast , and Angel would all be possible roll additions for aDefendersmovie orDoctor Strange 3 . Any or all of the three characters could be teased in a post - credits scene . Perhaps under the direction of Professor X , they could cross over from the multiverse and bring together up with Doctor Strange . Alternatively , foreign could search them out early on in his next MCU outing , peradventure because he learned about mutants from his interactions with Professor X.

adjust Beast , Angel , Iceman , or a different mutant with the Defenders could ferment out to be a great move for the MCU if cover well .   As one of the most popular squad in comic Word history , the Adam - Men boast over two dozen well - cognise superheroes , many of which being household names . With that in mind , it would make staring sense for Marvel to split them up . After all , it can only use so many inone X - Men movie . Despite being original members of the first X - Men team in the comics , Beast , Iceman , and Angel are n’t guaranteed roster floater in the MCU’sX - Menreboot . That ’s why it may be better for some X - Men heroes to be go to a different team , like the Defenders . AfterDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessand Professor X ’s first MCU appearance , Strange may have even more potential recruits he can calculate to when it come metre to form the Defenders .

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