10 Actors Who Turned Down Marvel Motion pictures

Superhero films produced by Marvel Studios have been among the many greatest tentpole blockbusters in Hollywood for years. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has largely turn into ubiquitous with the superhero style, with its tasks usually that includes the largest names in leisure in varied starring roles. With their international attain, Marvel films can present their actors with the most important potential viewers so far as trendy cinema goes. Nonetheless, not each actor has readily accepted the chance to hitch Marvel movies, even for essentially the most distinguished components within the MCU.

Whether or not as a consequence of not significantly connecting with the fabric or issues exterior of their management, quite a few A-list actors have turned down Marvel film roles. In some instances, these actors have then gone on to seem in movies primarily based on Marvel’s greatest competitors, DC Comics. With actors rejecting a few of Marvel’s most essential characters, the MCU would’ve seemed very completely different if a few of its deliberate castings panned out as meant. Listed below are 10 actors who turned down Marvel film roles and why they averted the franchise.

2010’s “Iron Man 2” started to construct out the MCU in earnest, together with debuting the SHIELD super-spy Natasha Romanoff, higher often called Black Widow. Scarlett Johansson made a splash as Romanoff, with the MCU sequel having her assigned to observe Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) earlier than helping him towards his enemies. Romanoff went on to co-found the Avengers within the 2012 blockbuster and remained an integral fixture of the MCU till her 2021 solo movie, merely titled “Black Widow.” Nonetheless, Johansson almost did not play Black Widow; British actor Emily Blunt was being eyed for the position.

“Iron Man 2” filmmaker Jon Favreau was reportedly desirous to forged Blunt, recent off the success of “The Satan Wears Prada,” as Black Widow. Blunt was equally to play a superhero and work reverse Downey, Jr., but it surely was to not be. By the point that the MCU alternative arose for her, Blunt was contractually certain to seem in 2010’s “Gulliver’s Travels,” which pressured her to show down Black Widow. Blunt later referred to the scenario as “a heartbreaker,” personally preferring the possibility to play Black Widow than seem in a comedy flop.

Black Widow is not the one founding Avenger who was almost performed by a special actor. Thor, the Asgardian God of Thunder, was one of the crucial difficult roles Marvel roles to forged. 2011’s “Thor” not solely launched your complete world of Asgard and its crown prince to the MCU, however had its titular hero actually fall to Earth. This required the lead actor to not solely channel the regality and presence of the warrior god, but in addition the relatability of somebody discovering their sense of humility.

British actor Daniel Craig, nonetheless very a lot within the midst of taking part in James Bond on the time, reportedly turned down a suggestion to play Thor in 2008. Alan Ritchson, over a decade earlier than starring in “Reacher,” learn for the position, although admittedly did not take the audition critically. Finally, the casting search got here down between brothers Chris and Liam Hemsworth, with Chris profitable out when Liam was deemed too younger for the half. Had Craig accepted the Thor position, he would’ve been headlining two blockbuster film franchises concurrently; he most well-liked to maintain his concentrate on Bond.

Academy Award winner Jessica Chastain has the uncommon distinction of turning down a number of MCU roles, although not due to any disinterest in Marvel Studios or the superhero style. Chastain was first supplied a job in 2013’s “Iron Man 3”: Maya Hansen, a scientist with historical past with Tony Stark and hyperlinks to the sinister group gunning for him. Chastain turned down the half, with Rebecca Corridor later forged in her place, although the position was considerably reconfigured within the last movie. Chastain additionally rejected a chance to play Christine Palmer, Physician Unusual’s major love curiosity, with Rachel McAdams taking part in the position as an alternative.

For “Iron Man 3,” Chastain attributed scheduling conflicts to her not being forged, expressing hope for a special Marvel venture sooner or later. For “Physician Unusual,” screenwriter C. Robert Cargill revealed Chastain turned the position down, hoping to finally play a Marvel villain or hero as an alternative of a love curiosity. Although Chastain has but to seem within the MCU correct, she bought her want, kind of, taking part in the extraterrestrial villain Vuk within the Fox-produced “Darkish Phoenix.” Given the X-Males film’s tepid reception in 2019, hopefully Chastain will finally play one thing extra substantial in an MCU venture.

2015’s “Ant-Man” was in growth for years, initially connected to British filmmaker Edgar Wright as early as 2006. With the film lastly set to start out filming in 2014, one in every of its main forged members was Patrick Wilson, rumored to play the villainous Darren Cross. Nonetheless, Wright and co-writer Joe Cornish departed the venture shortly earlier than filming was to start after Marvel Studios commissioned a rewrite of the script with out Wright or Cornish. Although the film’s July 2015 launch date was unaffected, its filming begin date was, as Marvel Studios rapidly seemed for a brand new director.

This transformation in scheduling led a number of forged members to drop out, because it conflicted with their availability. Probably the most notable actor to depart “Ant-Man” was Wilson, with the a part of Darren Cross finally given to Corey Stoll. Although Wilson hasn’t appeared in any MCU tasks since, he did get the possibility to play a special comedian guide supervillain. Wilson portrayed the underwater enemy Orm in 2018’s “Aquaman” and its 2023 sequel, making villainous waves in a special superhero cinematic universe.

Earlier than he made a splash within the DC Prolonged Universe as its oceanic hero Aquaman, Jason Momoa almost joined the MCU. In February 2013, Momoa was reportedly supplied the position of Drax the Destroyer in “Guardians of the Galaxy.” The green-skinned warrior was the muscle of the cosmic superhero crew and Momoa’s imposing construct made him a pure match for the half. Momoa had lately turned heads as Khal Drogo within the 1st season of “Sport of Thrones,” with an MCU position just about assured to take him to new heights. Nonetheless, Momoa turned down the chance, with the position going to fan-favorite actor Dave Bautista as an alternative.

Momoa later revealed he wasn’t keen on taking part in extra sturdy silent sorts that made him preserve his shirt off and be caked in make-up on the time. As an alternative, he opted to direct, produce, and co-write the 2014 indie thriller “Street to Paloma,” starring within the film alongside his then-wife Lisa Bonet. Momoa praised Bautista for his efficiency as Drax whereas persevering with to take roles he felt had been higher suits for his appearing pursuits. This notably included Aquaman, beginning with 2016’s “Batman v. Superman: Daybreak of Justice,” earlier than starring in 2017’s “Justice League” and two solo movies.

Drax wasn’t the one Guardian of the Galaxy who noticed a casting change, with the character of Gamora additionally going to a special actor than initially deliberate. Amanda Seyfried turned down the position, with Zoe Saldaña taking over the half to widespread acclaim. Within the years following the primary Guardians of the Galaxy film’s launch, Seyfried has supplied two completely different causes for passing on the chance to hitch the MCU.

Initially, Seyfried claimed that she did not need to spend months in a manufacturing requiring her to continuously put on inexperienced make-up. Seyfried cited her buddy Jennifer Lawrence’s experiences being in blue make-up taking part in Mystique within the X-Males movies informing her resolution. Seyfried later elaborated that, although she loved the script, she could not see the potential in a film “a few speaking tree and a raccoon.” Eager to keep away from the doubtful distinction of starring within the MCU’s first field workplace flop, Seyfried declined the provide.

Stephen Unusual, the MCU’s resident professional on all issues magical, has been performed by British actor Benedict Cumberbatch since 2016’s “Physician Unusual.” Although Cumberbatch was on the shortlist to play Unusual previous to his official casting, the position almost went to Joaquin Phoenix. By August 2014, Phoenix was in last talks to play Physician Unusual, going so far as to reportedly start actively researching to organize for the half. Nonetheless, Phoenix turned down the position two months later, with Marvel Studios and Derrickson agreeing to accommodate Cumberbatch’s schedule to star as Unusual as an alternative.

Phoenix later shared that, on the time, he turned down affords to seem in blockbuster tasks, feeling them unfulfilling to his pursuits as an actor. Phoenix went on to star in 2019’s “Joker,” which grew to become an infinite business success and earned him the Academy Award for greatest actor. Apparently, Cumberbatch turned down a really completely different MCU position previous to his Physician Unusual casting: “Thor: The Darkish World” fundamental antagonist Malekith. Contemporary off showing in “Star Trek Into Darkness,” Cumberbatch wasn’t keen on taking part in one other blockbuster villain, preferring to carry out for a juicier MCU position, together with his endurance paying off.

With Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) one of the crucial charming scoundrels within the MCU, the casting for his father, Ego the Dwelling Planet, would require somebody a minimum of as equally personable. Ego made his debut in 2017’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” finally changing into the sequel’s fundamental antagonist. Although Kurt Russell was finally forged, the position was initially supplied to Matthew McConaughey. McConaughey, nonetheless, determined to move on the chance, as an alternative signing on to play the villainous Man in Black in “The Darkish Tower.”

Earlier than the discharge of “The Darkish Tower,” McConaughy defined his reasoning in favoring the Stephen King adaptation over the “Guardians of the Galaxy” sequel. Regardless of sharing an appreciation for the Marvel property, McConaughey believed he would merely be a cog in an enormous studio manufacturing. McConaughey felt “The Darkish Tower” would give him extra artistic freedom in creating and taking part in the Man in Black in comparison with taking part in the MCU’s Ego. Years later, McConaughey made his MCU debut in 2024’s “Deadpool & Wolverine,” albeit as a vocal cameo taking part in Cowboypool.

Simply as Natasha Romanoff is not the one Black Widow within the MCU, the casting for her eventual successor, Yelena Belova, did not go as initially deliberate. Belova, launched in 2021’s “Black Widow” as Romanoff’s adoptive sister and a fellow Black Widow trainee, was performed by British actor Florence Pugh. Although Pugh has rightfully earned a constructive response for her super-spy position and reprised it in quite a few Marvel tasks, together with “Thunderbolts*,” it was initially supplied to another person. Acclaimed Irish actor Saoirse Ronan was reportedly supplied the a part of Yelena Belova earlier than Pugh, however handed on the position.

When requested about turning down the chance, Ronan noticed that she could not see herself taking part in a Marvel character. As an alternative, Ronan was extra open to doubtlessly working in a James Bond venture than as a Marvel superhero. Years prior, Ronan was linked to the MCU superhero Scarlet Witch, a job which memorably went to Elizabeth Olsen. Coincidentally, Ronan and Pugh co-starred in 2019’s “Little Ladies,” taking part in a really completely different sister dynamic than the 2 Black Widows.

The 2025 antihero ensemble movie “Thunderbolts*” has seen its fair proportion of casting modifications throughout its manufacturing. The film reunites director Jake Schreirer and screenwriter Lee Sung Jin after working collectively on the acclaimed Netflix unique collection “Beef.” The pair initially deliberate to work with one other one in every of their “Beef” collaborators in “Thunderbolts*”: actor Steven Yeun. Yeun was forged as Sentry, a robust anti-hero whose deep instability has him continuously toe the road between hero and villain.

Nonetheless, almost a 12 months after his “Thunderbolts*” casting was made public, Yeun quietly bowed out of the venture. He rapidly made it clear that his departure wasn’t acrimonious on his half, citing scheduling conflicts attributable to Hollywood labor strikes in 2023 which delayed “Thunderbolts*” manufacturing. Lewis Pullman was recast as Sentry, whereas Yeun stays open to showing in a Marvel venture sooner or later. Yeun wasn’t the one main actor to go away “Thunderbolts*,” with “The Bear” star Ayo Edebiri additionally dropping out due to scheduling conflicts; she was changed by Geraldine Viswanathan.