When Patrick Stewart sadly passed away in tardy October, the great actor was already on our minds. Because, Team Empire was putting together our issu
When Patrick Stewart sadly passed away in tardy October, the great actor was already on our minds. Because, Team Empire was putting together our issue on the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, in which Stewart will appear once again – and now, for the final time – as Professor Charles Xavier, a role he originated over a quarter of a century ago. The staunch and wise leader of the X-Men is a part for which he’ll always be remembered, and getting to see him bring all that gravitas once more in Doomsday will be a truly special thing.
As the world learned of Stewart’s death, and we were finishing the issue, we decided to honour his life, legacy, and the cinematic icons he played with a special subscriber cover. Illustrated exclusively for Empire by Thomas Walker, it features fresh art of Stewart as Xavier, as he’ll always be remembered, alongside one of the character’s great quotes: “We’re not as alone as you think.” And since Stewart was also, of course, the legendary Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Picard, and several Star Trek feature films, he’s been drawn looking up into the space – the final frontier.
Empire Editor-in-Chief Nick de Semlyen says: “No matter whether he was tutoring mutants, negotiating with rogue aliens or appearing in something more down-to-earth, Patrick Stewart always brought warmth and wisdom to the screen. Cinema is poorer for his absence, but he will be remembered forever through his iconic performances — not least Professor X, depicted on our new subscriber cover communing with the great unknown. Farewell to the actor who made it so.”
Inside the issue, we also pay tribute to Stewart by looking back on the impact of both Xavier and Picard, with Empire’s Chris Hewitt and Helen O’Hara writing remembrances of two characters who have shaped and defined the world of science-fiction for several decades, and to whom Stewart returned again and again over his lifetime.
While Stewart will be greatly missed, we’re grateful to have the X-Men films, his Star Trek adventures, and other gems from his filmography (Green Room! David Lynch’s Dune!) to look back on – and what a gift it’ll be to see him once more in Avengers: Doomsday. Thanks for everything, Professor.
