X-Men: James McAvoy Hates Shaving His Head For Professor X Role

After decades of comic book and onscreen appearances, it’s safe to say that one of Charles Xavier/Professor X’s defining physical characteristics is his bald head. But for James McAvoy, the actor currently portraying the X-Men leader, the unique haircut has become more of a curse than a blessing.

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, McAvoy spoke about having to shave his head for the two most recent X-Men films, X-Men: Apocalypse and the upcoming X-Men: Dark Phoenix. According to the actor, the haircut has grown a bit too recognizable, after he sported it in two prominent blockbusters within the past year.

“I used to like the fact that it afforded me a certain amount of anonymity but it no longer does that,” McAvoy explained. “Since I did two movies [X-Men: Apocalypse and Split] that everybody saw where I had a bald head, now it’s like a f—ing beacon.”

The actor – who currently sports the shaved head for filming of Dark Phoenix – then revealed his general dislike for the haircut – aside from one element.

“But what do I like about it? Not a lot at the moment.” McAvoy revealed. “I like when it’s been about five or seven days going in, then it’s cool. But when it’s properly skinhead I look a bit weird. I do like the fact that I don’t have to do anything in the morning.”

While the days of McAvoy’s portrayal of Professor X having hair – as was seen in X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Days of Future Past, and most of X-Men: Apocalypse – are probably in the past, we’re sure the actor’s shaved head will be worthwhile when X-Men: Dark Phoenix premieres in 2018.

X-Men: Dark Phoenix will be a direct sequel to X-Men: Apocalypse. The film will take place in the 1990s and will be inspired by “The Dark Phoenix Saga,” the most popular X-Men story of all time.

Fox attempted to adapt “The Dark Phoenix Saga” once previously, in X-Men: The Last Stand. The attempt was not well-received by fans.

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