‘Outer Range’ Star Tom Pelphrey Reveals He Auditioned for Professor X in Marvel ‘X-Men’ Reboot

Marvel Studios has been quietly piecing together its new cinematic vision for ‘X-Men’ in 2026, and the casting rumor mill has been buzzing for months. Speculation has swirled around nearly every major mutant role, but the search for a new Charles Xavier, the iconic wheelchair-bound telepath, has generated particular interest.

Tom Pelphrey has become a recognizable figure in prestige television, earning two Emmy nominations and winning fans with his performances in shows like ‘Ozark,’ ‘Banshee,’ and ‘Task.’ While he may not be as widely known as some of the other actors vying for the Professor X role, which reportedly included Bill Skarsgard, Harris Dickinson, and Will Poulter, his audition has certainly caught attention.

This week, Pelphrey confirmed the speculation when a clip surfaced of him discussing his audition. This aligns with reports that both he and Christopher Abbott auditioned for the role of Charles Xavier in the upcoming ‘X-Men’ film. The casting process has attracted significant media coverage, with outlets naming Abbott, Skarsgard, Dickinson, Pelphrey, and Poulter as the five actors who tested for the role, ultimately leading to Abbott securing the part at Marvel Studios.

Pelphrey expressed no bitterness about not landing the role. During an appearance on the podcast, he humorously noted that missing out on the role spared him from a challenging haircut, joking about having “a fat head” and a “watermelon” for a skull. He even mentioned that he had requested an AI-generated image of himself bald before considering the role, thinking it might be “horrifying enough.”

He continued with his light-hearted commentary, mentioning that the real benefit of being the runner-up was avoiding the daily shaving routine an on-screen Xavier would necessitate. He quipped that the only hat that fits him is a size eight and that a shaved head would not be a pretty sight. This self-deprecating humor has endeared him to fans who have followed his journey through ‘Task’ and earlier work on ‘Banshee.’

Beyond the jokes, Pelphrey took a moment to reflect on his growth as an actor. He expressed gratitude for being part of the audition process for ‘X-Men,’ recognizing that many opportunities have come his way that were never publicized. He credited his decision to get sober in 2013 as a pivotal moment that changed his perspective, allowing him to view every closed door as an opportunity waiting to be discovered.

The casting saga for Professor X has been one of the most closely monitored narratives leading up to Marvel’s ‘X-Men’ reboot, with insiders speculating about who else might join the cast. Reports have also mentioned Patrick Wilson as a potential candidate, though Marvel ultimately preferred a younger actor for the role. Historically, Charles Xavier has been portrayed with a British accent by both Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy, but some sources suggest this may change, considering the character’s New York roots.

For now, Abbott appears to be the studio’s choice for the iconic role, while Pelphrey seems to be taking the news in stride with his characteristic humor. Given the ongoing buzz surrounding every casting announcement related to this project, it’s likely that Pelphrey’s name will resurface in future discussions, perhaps accompanied by another joke about hat sizes.

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