Who Should Play The X-Men In The MCU
3. Professor X - Ralph Fiennes
One of the most critical factors for the dynamic between Magneto and Professor Xavier is for them to feel like similar characters who happen to have walked different paths. Magneto can be fanatical, while Professor X advocates for peace.
With that in mind, an actor who has the gravitas to bring such qualities to the role is Ralph Fiennes. In regards to Xavier's intelligence and elegance, Fiennes would be unmatched. His calm and authoritative voice would establish power and trust, and would also provide the right level of charm the character needs.
The prestige of the role is considerable, and thus casting an actor who has a similarly significant presence in the world of film is essential. Fiennes certainly has this and were he to play the role it would instantly lend credibility to the part and the entire franchise.
What could make him even more compelling is Fiennes' affinity with playing villainous characters. In the same way as Bardem, Fiennes has built a lot of his legacy around playing antagonistic roles, most notably Lord Voldemort. He could bring a slight edge to Xavier that whilst trustworthy and likeable shows the extent of what he could be capable of. This would make the character far more layered and deliver some great options for storytelling.