James McAvoy starred as young Professor X in the newer X-Men films. In preparation for his role, he accidentally shaved his hair too early. He then had it glued back on.
James McAvoy played young Charles Xavier aka Professor X in the new X-Men films X-Men: First Class (2011) up to X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019).
Because he thought that his character had already lost his hair in the second film of the new X-Men series X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), the actor shaved his hair short – but it was too early, as he told GQ in December 2022.
“We do hair extensions and I get real 70s hair”
In preparation for his role as Professor X in X-Men: Days of Future Past, James McAvoy thought it would be good to shave his hair this time.
He was convinced that his character already had the iconic bald head at that point, as known from the comics and the earlier portrayal by Sir Patrick Stewart.
So the actor got a buzz cut, where the sides were very short and only a little hair remained on top of the head.
You can watch the YouTube video of the interview yourself here. For the hair story, jump to 6:50:
“I will shave it even more when I get there [to the set]”, James McAvoy planned. However, upon arriving on set, the reaction to the new haircut was different than expected:
But when I arrived on set, they said: “No, no, no, no, no, no.” […] I get the script and see that it is set in the 70s and I say: “Okay, we do hair extensions and I get real 70s hair.”
James McAvoy via YouTube
Although the actor was assured that it could be done without the hair extensions. But James McAvoy denied this with the words: “No, you really can’t pull that off.”
Especially when James McAvoy learned that he would be seen in the film alongside Sir Patrick Stewart and thought about how the other actor portrayed the character, the decision for the hair extensions was final:
The actor wanted to have long hair and look like he was using drugs, “just to show how long the journey [for Charles] must be before he becomes Sir Patrick Stewart.”
In another interview, the actor spoke about why he thinks the new X-Men films have become worse over time, which you can read here with our colleagues at Filmstarts.
The actor approached the main person responsible for hair in the film and asked if someone could come quickly to take care of the hair extensions for Professor X.
Indeed, someone was found who could create a long unkempt mane from the actor’s short shaved hair using extensions.
It took a whole 18 hours for James McAvoy to have the hairstyle that we finally see in X-Men: Days of Future Past.
Another member of the X-Men could have also become an iconic secret agent, but the actor declined the offer:
That’s why “Wolverine” had no interest in playing James Bond
