Christopher Abbott Calls Professor X Reveal a 'Nightmare'

Christopher Abbott says his D23 reveal as Professor X was "a bit of a dream and a nightmare" — because much of the audience had no idea who he was.

The actor, known for "Girls" and the upcoming Netflix adaptation of "East of Eden," will play Charles Xavier in Marvel's "X-Men" reboot, which is set for release in May 2028. Marvel unveiled him on stage at D23 last month alongside Inde Navarrette as Rogue, Maya Boyd as Storm and his "Girls" co-star Adam Driver as the villainous Mr. Sinister.

Speaking to New York Magazine — in a robe at the Russian and Turkish Baths in New York City — Abbott described how his confidence collapsed mid-walk.

"I think I started walking out pretty enthusiastically, and then I kind of felt like a lot of people there didn't know who I was, so then my energy shifted within the split second," Abbott said. "I was a little bit more humble about it."

The audience reaction, he said, caught him off guard.

"I almost did a fist pump when I walked out, and then I felt like the applause was muted," Abbott continued. "So I was like, 'I'm just going to walk out and nod.' It feels almost like a video game, or a dream. Not like a good dream. It's a bit of both — a bit of a dream and a nightmare."

The film marks the first theatrical reboot of the mutant franchise since Fox's "Dark Phoenix" in 2019. That film starred James McAvoy as Professor X, Michael Fassbender as Magneto, Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique, Nicholas Hoult as Beast, Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, Tye Sheridan as Cyclops, Alexandra Shipp as Storm, Evan Peters as Quicksilver and Kodi Smit-McPhee as Nightcrawler.

Abbott joins a cast that already includes Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops and Samara Weaving as Emma Frost.

Before entering the Marvel Cinematic Universe in what will be his most commercial role to date, Abbott appears in Netflix's "East of Eden" miniseries alongside Florence Pugh and Mike Faist. It premieres Thursday.

With nearly four years until the "X-Men" reboot reaches theaters, Abbott has time to work on his stage entrance — fist pump optional.