With Phase 3 behind us and Phase 4 ramping up, Marvel has brought in a new wave of talent to help lead the franchise. The departure of Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and Scarlett Johannson from their respective roles are a colossal loss for the MCU as a whole. To help soften the blow, Kevin Feige and company have brought in superstar actors David Harbour, Kit Harrington, Emilia Clarke, Angelina Jolie, Olivia Colman, Mahershala Ali, Hailee Steinfeld, and more. So far, that seems to just be the tip of the iceberg for what’s to come. Today I’ll be taking a look at some potential roles for star actors who have yet to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
John David Washington
Role: Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic
In terms of upcoming Marvel actors, John David Washington is a must-have in my opinion. He’s been a prime example of up-and-coming talent that Marvel needs to snag. Washington first came onto the scene with an impressive performance in BlacKkKlansman and then starred in the latest Christopher Nolan movie, Tenet. Taking on the role of Reed Richards would be great for Washington, as it is a character that will be at the forefront of the MCU for a long time to come.
Saoirse Ronan
Role: Jean Grey
With a reported Mutants film in development for Marvel Studios, we can finally discuss the X-Men arriving in the MCU. Jean Grey has been one of the most prominent members of the team for quite some time. Saoirse Ronan is already a coveted Marvel target, as she was in the running with Little Women co-star Florence Pugh for the role of Yelena Belova in the new Marvel movie Black Widow. Although it may be a bit of a cliché pick, this pick makes sense to me. Jean Grey will be a long-term MCU character and getting Saoirse Ronan in a long-term role would be a great find for Marvel.
Pedro Pascal
Role: Dr. Doom
Pedro Pascal is big time, the heart and soul he brings to his roles and his charm in the public eye puts him at the top of the food chain for future MCU stars. I’ve loved him in every role he has played, he excelled in Game of Thrones, Narcos, and now the hit show The Mandalorian. Dr. Doom is a role I would love to see him play, Cillian Murphy was my backup choice for Dr. Doom but I chose to stick with Pascal. Pedro Pascal is the type of actor that could portray Victor Von Doom for ten years and continuously bring a refreshing take on the character each time.
John Krasinski
Role: Hank McCoy/Beast
Yes, I know it’s not Reed Richards. The John Krasinski-Reed Richards believers might be a bit upset with this one, but Krasinski would make a very interesting Beast for me. Those who wanted to see Krasinski in a scientist/superhero role would still get their wish. Krasinski as Reed Richards would be believable, but to me, Hank McCoy just makes more sense. If Kevin Feige opts to go on the younger side for the X-Men, then my choice for Beast would likely be Will Poulter, but for now, I’ll stick with Krasinski.
Henry Cavill
Role: Hercules
I sat and pondered this one for quite some time. With the help of some friends and a lot of research, I decided on Hercules for Cavill. Part of me wanted to go with Captain Britain and part of me wanted to go with Hyperion, but I honestly believe Henry Cavill was born to play godlike characters. I also remembered that The Olympians are on the verge of debuting in the MCU, with Russell Crowe expected to play the god Zeus in the upcoming movie Thor: Love and Thunder. Bringing Hercules into the MCU would open the door to new stories and would give the MCU another Thor-like character that fans seem to love, and Henry Cavill is perfect for the role
As I said before, this is only the tip of the iceberg for Marvel Studios. There are hundreds of new characters to be introduced over the next decade that will help to shape the next epic saga of the MCU. There’s still the X-Men, The Fantastic Four, and countless classic villains and heroes yet to be cast for Marvel. Who do you want to see brought in to play a Marvel character? Let me know in the comments!
