Much like Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness is fully embracing the multiverse, bringing multiple versions of Marvel from disparate realities. The premise alone led fans to speculate which characters, and from which properties, would make the cut, with rumors abounding about how the film could be used to finally introduce the X-Men or the Fantastic Four -- long controlled by 20th Century Fox -- to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Released during Super Bowl LVI, the full-length trailer for Doctor Strange 2 seems to confirm one of the more consistent rumors to be true. A pivotal moment at about the 1:21 mark suggests that Patrick Stewart's Professor Xavier, from Fox's X-Men franchise, will indeed join the MCU. The only question is, which version? The X-Men movies had their own divergent timelines, so the identity of the Charles Xavier in this film could keep speculation alive.
Which X-Men Movie Is Doctor Strange's Professor X From?
The most obvious answer is that this version of Professor X from the Doctor Strange 2 trailer is the one seen in the Days of Future Past timeline, before Wolverine changes the future. That would explain the dark outfit of the largely unseen figure in the footage, which somewhat resembles the futuristic costumes worn in that grim timeline's future. Whether he somehow survived in that now-erased timeline, or else was pulled from some point, is unknown, however.
Xavier could instead be from the more hopeful ending shown in the revised timeline of Days of Future Past's conclusion, although not as many know that it leads to the much more dour status quo of Logan. Still, Professor X could be from this timeline, namely before the catastrophic events that lead to its dystopian conclusion.
What does being brought to this new world mean for Xavier? In his universe(s), the only superhumans were mutants, feared and hated by humanity. If the rumors are true, and this version of Professor X is acting as a member of some alternate universe's Illuminati, perhaps his new mission is to control his new world's superhuman population so as to prevent mutants from being persecuted. Likewise, if he's indeed a malevolent force in this movie, he may instead take on a mentality more akin to Magneto, seeking to control this world's humans. Doing that would be highly controversial, however, as the heel turn would completely upend Stewart's iconic portrayal of Professor X in the X-Men movies.
Is Professor X in Multiverse of Madness a New Version?
There's also the possibility this is simply a new variant of Xavier within the multiverse, and that he's merely played by Stewart. That would allow the MCU to draw from the iconography of his portrayal without affecting the old continuity. It would also permit this new version to logically continue acting in his rumored role as a member of the Illuminati.
One continuing theory is that Wanda Maximoff erased mutants from the MCU during the events of WandaVision. With the Scarlet Witch seemingly being pushed into a villainous role in Doctor Strange 2, it's possible she could be prime to cause this magical genocide. If so, Stewart's appearance may simply be a prelude to the actual MCU Professor X showing up if, or when, mutants are restored and formally introduced.