Fans of Marvel comics and fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have long been speculating when the X-Men would join the MCU's ranks. And now, the official Super Bowl trailer for "Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness" has potentially given them their answer.

During a sequence in the new trailer, Stephen Strange is hauled off, handcuffed, to a mysterious room. There, a mysterious figure approaches him, and the unmistakable British baritone of Patrick Stewart can be heard saying "We should tell him the truth." This can only mean one thing: Stewart is reprising his role as the mutant heroes' mentor and leader Professor Charles Xavier for this film and potential future MCU projects -- and could even bring other characters from 20th Century Fox's "X-Men" film franchise with him. But it also points to the formation of another Marvel super-team -- and its existence leading to potential conflicts down the road.

To Me, My X-Men!

In Marvel Comics canon, Doctor Strange and Charles Xavier joined a secret group known as the Illuminati. This group -- which also consists of Iron Man, Namor the Sub-Mariner, the Inhuman king Black Bolt, and the Fantastic Four's Reed Richards -- took it upon themselves to shape the destiny of the superhuman community. The MCU could draw from the Illuminati's actions to craft film and TV projects, and have even started to do so. One of their adventures led to a conflict with the shapeshifting Skrulls, which kicked off the "Secret Invasion" storyline -- which is slated for a Disney+ adaptation.

And what of other mutants potentially crossing the multiverse? A third "Deadpool" film has been confirmed to be in development with Ryan Reynolds reprising his role as the Merc with a Mouth. Could Ian McKellen's Magneto or James Marsden's Cyclops join Xavier in this bold new world? Or will Xavier find new mutants in the MCU and attempt to continue his dream of peace between mutants and humans? Time will tell, but it's clear that between this and "Star Trek: Picard," Stewart is enjoying a second coming of sorts in the realm of pop culture.

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