Patrick Stewart has officially ascended to the position of the second longest-serving Marvel actor following his casting in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. This achievement places him ahead of renowned actor Hugh Jackman, although he still trails behind another Marvel veteran in terms of longevity. While the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has been entertaining audiences since 2008, the franchise’s cinematic history predates that era with various adaptations such as Fox’s X-Men, Sony’s Spider-Man, and Universal’s Hulk.
Stewart’s journey as Professor Charles Xavier commenced with the release of the first X-Men film in 2000. With the news of his role in Avengers: Doomsday, slated for release in May 2026, he surpasses Jackman, solidifying his claim to the second spot on the list of Marvel’s longest-serving actors. Nevertheless, despite this impressive nearly 26-year timeline, Stewart does not hold the top position, which is currently occupied by another actor who recently returned to the MCU in Deadpool & Wolverine.
Patrick Stewart Surpasses Hugh Jackman as Second Longest-Serving Marvel Actor
Hugh Jackman Drops to Third Place After Avengers: Doomsday
Hugh Jackman first portrayed Wolverine in the seminal 2000 film X-Men, sharing the screen with Stewart. Over the years, they have both reprised their iconic roles across various iterations of the X-Men franchise and, more recently, ventured into the MCU. While Stewart initially gained the edge by featuring in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, reclaiming the top spot in 2022, Jackman quickly regained prominence with his return in Deadpool & Wolverine.
With his inclusion in Avengers: Doomsday, Stewart now has a roughly two-year lead over Jackman in terms of tenure. However, there’s still a possibility that Jackman could join the ensemble for Doomsday, which would put them on a level playing field once again. Notably, Jackman’s resurgence in Deadpool & Wolverine briefly elevated him above Stewart, yet another actor has since emerged to surpass them both.
Wesley Snipes Remains the Longest-Serving Marvel Actor in History
Blade Edges Out Professor X Thanks to Deadpool & Wolverine
The recent film Deadpool & Wolverine pays homage to many Marvel properties, featuring actors from prior Fox films and even Chris Evans reprising his role as Johnny Storm from 2005’s Fantastic Four. Among the returning stars is Wesley Snipes, the original Blade, whose career in Marvel began with the Blade trilogy’s debut in 1998. With his return in Deadpool & Wolverine, Snipes has now taken the lead, surpassing both Jackman and Stewart in the ranks of Marvel actors.
- Wesley Snipes: 9,474 days (25 years, 11 months, and 8 days) including the end date.
- Patrick Stewart: 9,423 days (25 years, 9 months, and 18 days) including the end date.
Snipes’ first Blade movie emerged in 1998, while X-Men followed in 2000. His reprisal in Deadpool & Wolverine and Stewart’s upcoming role in Doomsday both contribute to a remarkable legacy spanning almost 26 years. However, Snipes retains a narrow edge, with just weeks separating their tenures as Marvel characters. If Snipes also appears in Avengers: Doomsday, Stewart’s chance of surpassing his record diminishes significantly. Conversely, if Snipes does not participate in future productions, there remains a potential opportunity for Stewart to reclaim the title in the forthcoming Avengers: Secret Wars.