Giancarlo Esposito, widely recognized for his villainous roles in "The Mandalorian" and "Breaking Bad," has revealed that he would have preferred to play Magneto over Professor X, despite early fan casting suggesting him for the latter. While Esposito expressed interest in the Professor X role previously, he stated his preference for Magneto's complex character and the world associated with him. He also noted that the role of Professor X in the upcoming X-Men movie ultimately went to Christopher Abbott.
Esposito did join the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2025, appearing as Sidewinder in "Captain America: Brave New World." However, the actor expressed disappointment that the film's script did not closely follow the comic book origins of his character, Seth Voelker. In the comics, Voelker is an economics professor who turns to villainy while working for the corporation Roxxon. Esposito felt the film limited his ability to explore this richer backstory.
Beyond his Marvel appearances, Esposito expressed interest in portraying historical figures such as the poet Alexander Pushkin and Toussaint Louverture, the leader of the Haitian Revolution. He finds inspiration in revolutionaries and historical figures who navigated complex societal and political landscapes.
Currently, Esposito can be seen in "The Gentlemen" season 2, where he plays Stanley Johnston, a billionaire fascinated by power, royalty, and legacy. He finds the character's intellectual curiosity about human behavior and decision-making compelling, noting that Johnston is interested in observing whether characters like Duke Eddie Horniman will preserve or squander their inheritance and influence. The series is set to return for a third season, and fans continue to hope Esposito will be cast in one of his desired revolutionary or comic book villain roles.