Patrick Stewart Retiring From X-Men Movies After Logan

02/24/2017 07:03 pm EST

Patrick Stewart has told EW that he is officially done with the X-Men Movie Universe after this latest film:

"A week ago, Friday night in Berlin, the three of us sat, watching the movie," said Stewart. "And I was so moved by it, much more moved than I had been the first time of seeing it. Maybe it was the company of these two guys, but the movie ended and — this is an admission — but at one point [Hugh] reached out, and he took my hand in those last few minutes, and I saw him go [mimes wiping a tear from his eye] like this, and then I realized I had just done the same thing. Then, the movie ended… and we were going to be taken up on stage, but not until the credits were over. So, we had some time to sit there and, as I sat there I realized there will never be a better, a more perfect, a more sensitive, emotional, and beautiful way of saying au revoir to Charles Xavier than this movie. So, I told [Hugh] that same evening, 'I'm done too. It's all over.'"

This shouldn't come as too much of a surprise. We here at Comicbook.com have been saying for some time now that the X-Men universe is in need of a reboot - and part of that reasoning comes from the obvious fact that the star who began the franchise - Stewart, Jackman, Halle Berry - have clearly been tiring of their run. Even X-Men: First Class reboot stars like Jennifer Lawrence and Michael Fassbender have also hinted at imminent departure; so while this IS a big announcement from Stewart, it's not one that fans didn't see coming.

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"In the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X in a hide out on the Mexican border. But Logan's attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces."

Logan stars Hugh Jackman (Logan), Boyd Holbrook (Donald Pierce), Patrick Stewart (Charles Xavier), Dafne Keen (Laura Kinney/X-23), Doris Morgado (Maria), Stephen Merchant (Caliban), Elizabeth Rodriguez (Gabriela), and Richard E. Grant (Dr. Zander Rice). James Mangold is directing and helped on the screenplay along with Scott Frank and Michael Green.

Logan hits theaters on March 3, 2017.

MORE X-Men Movie/TV News:

• Legion: Chapter 4 Preview Released
• Logan Director Talks X-23's Future
• Ryan Reynolds Speaks Out About Reported Deadpool 2 Writing Changes

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