Fans of the late Patrick Stewart will have another chance to see him on the big screen, with his posthumous performance hitting cinemas next month. 

Stewart, who passed away last week at the age of 86, will appear one last time as Professor Charles Xavier in the forthcoming Marvel blockbuster Avengers: Doomsday.

Best known for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, as well as the telepathic mutant Professor Xavier in the X-Men franchise, Stewart died at his Los Angeles home on October 28.

His death followed, what his family described as,  a “brief and poignant journey” with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. 

Stewart’s appearance in Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for release on 18 December 2026, will reunite audiences with one of his most celebrated screen characters.

Marvel Studios paid tribute to the actor following the announcement of his death, saying “all of us at Marvel Studios are deeply saddened by the passing of Sir Patrick Stewart”.

“Sir Patrick brought Professor Charles Xavier to life with extraordinary grace, intelligence, and humanity, defining the character for generations of fans, from X-Men to Logan to Avengers: Doomsday,” it added.

 “He was a singular talent, a generous collaborator, and a true gentleman.”

It is believed Stewart filmed his scenes last year for Avengers: Doomsday, which is set to bring together characters from across the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including figures associated with the X-Men films.

The role of Charles Xavier brought Stewart renewed international recognition after he had already become a household name through Star Trek: The Next Generation, which ran for seven seasons between 1987 and 1994.

Stewart starred alongside friend Ian McKellan in the X-Men movies. Photo: Disney

He subsequently reprised Jean-Luc Picard in several films and the television series Star Trek: Picard, which concluded in 2023.

Stewart’s career began in British theatre, where he became an established Shakespearean performer with the Royal Shakespeare Company before achieving international television and film success.

He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2010 for his services to drama.

Stewart also worked alongside his longtime friend Ian McKellen, 87, who played Magneto in the X-Men films.

McKellen had initially advised Patrick against accepting the role of Picard, believing he should continue concentrating on his theatre career.

Reflecting on his early years filming Star Trek, Stewart recalled struggling to adjust to the more relaxed atmosphere among his fellow cast members.

He told the New Yorker in 2023: “And one of the cast members said, ‘Oh, come on, Patrick, we’ve got to have some fun.’ And I thumped the chair and said, ‘We are not here to have fun’ — which they have never let me forget. They taught me so much about loosening up and being freer.”

-with AAP