Patrick Stewart Gets Special Empire Cover as Magazine Pays Tribute
Empire has made a special subscriber cover for its Avengers: Doomsday issue after Patrick Stewart died in late October. It shows him as Professor X, with a famous line from the character, and the issue carries remembrances of Xavier and Picard.
Film magazine Empire pays tribute to the late Patrick Stewart with a special subscriber cover on its latest issue, following the actor's death in late October. The cover shows Stewart as Professor Charles Xavier, the X-Men leader he first played more than 25 years ago.
The magazine was already preparing its issue on the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday when Stewart died. He is due to appear in that film once more as Xavier, and it will be his final time in the role.
A cover made for Stewart
As news of his death spread, the Empire team was finishing the issue. They decided to mark his life, his legacy and the screen icons he played with a dedicated cover for subscribers.
Illustrator Thomas Walker drew it exclusively for the magazine. It features new art of Stewart as Xavier, alongside one of the character's best-known lines: "We're not as alone as you think."
Stewart was also Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, in Picard and in several Star Trek feature films. The artwork reflects that, showing him gazing up into space, the final frontier.
What is inside the issue
Inside, Empire's Chris Hewitt and Helen O'Hara have written remembrances of Xavier and Picard. The magazine says both characters have shaped and defined science fiction for decades, and that Stewart returned to each of them again and again over his lifetime.
The team also points to other parts of his filmography it is grateful to be able to revisit, including Green Room and David Lynch's Dune. It describes the chance to see him once more in Avengers: Doomsday as a gift.
The editor's words
Nick de Semlyen, Empire's editor-in-chief, said Stewart brought a particular quality to every role. "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," he said.
He added that "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."
The magazine's own sign-off to Stewart was shorter: "Thanks for everything, Professor."
