There are countless superstar actors who have already established their positions in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – Robert Downey, Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Pratt, Anthony Hopkins, and Chris Evans, to name but a few – but there are countless others on the way.
The franchise is already scheduled to continue until at least 2019 (it will undoubtedly go beyond that, given its popularity), and there are no less than eleven movies planned for the years between now and then.
That’s a lot of new characters – hence, the need for new actors. This article will list ten superstars we’re most excited about seeing join the franchise.
Tom Holland
Tom Holland will portray Spider-Man. Source: mirror.co.uk
Tom Holland is an exciting young English talent who will, of course, be portraying Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – beginning with this year’s Captain America: Civil War and going on to appear in his own movie in 2017.
The nineteen-year-old is best known for his portrayal of Billy Elliot in Billy Elliot the Musical, and has gone on to appear in films like The Impossible, How I Live Now, and Pilgrimage.
Holland will play the youngest Spider-Man seen to date in a movie – his version will be just fifteen years old – and he will be the first to appear in a franchise that isn’t a solo Spider-Man franchise produced entirely by Sony Pictures. We really can’t wait to see him in action.
And now for another actor who will first appear in Captain America: Civil War before getting a solo movie…
Chadwick Boseman
Chadwick Boseman will play Black Panther. Source: Marvel Studios/Youtube
Chadwick Boseman is a highly accomplished actor who has appeared on both the big and small screens. On television, he is most famous for his roles in Lincoln Heights and Persons Unknown. In movies, he is best known for his portrayal of James Brown in 2014’s Get on Up, as well as for his roles in 42, The Express, and Draft Day.
He will be the first black actor to headline a comic book movie for quite some time when he appears as Black Panther in 2018 – and that’s quite exciting in itself, because there’s a distinct lack of black superhero solo movies in the world today.
Of course, his first appearance will come in this year’s Captain America: Civil War, and we can’t wait to see him in it. He’s an extremely talented man who will add something totally different to the movie.
And now for a man that many were surprised to see cast in a comic book movie…
Martin Freeman
Martin Freeman will play an as yet unspecified role in the MCU. Source: BBC
Popular British actor Martin Freeman has starred in television shows like The Office, Fargo, and Sherlock, as well as movies like the Lord of the Rings franchise, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and The World’s End - and he's an exciting addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Freeman will be appearing in this year’s Captain America: Civil War as an as-yet-unknown character. It is generally believed that he will be someone who has something to do with the Sokovia Accords - the legislation that requires superhumans to register as such - but that is all we’ve been led to believe thus far.
He has a tendency to just play himself, however, and it will be interesting to see if he breaks typecast to become a formidable figure capable of standing up to the likes of Captain America and his team of superheroes.
Now onto the next actor, who is truly of the highest caliber…
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Chiwetel Ejiofor will portray Baron Mordo. Source: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Chiwetel Ejiofor is the incredibly talented, Academy Award-nominated star of great movies like Kinky Boots, Children of Men, 2012, 12 Years a Slave, and The Martian.
He will portray Karl Mordo, aka Baron Mordo, in 2016’s Doctor Strange movie – and he will bring a lot to the table when it comes to the role.
Apparently, Ejiofor’s Marvel Cinematic Universe version of Mordo will apparently not be as completely villainous as the version in the comic books, and he will be more of an amalgamation of various characters from the Doctor Strange mythos. It will be very interesting to see how this gifted star conveys this ambiguity and whether or not the altered character will be perceived well by fans.
And now for our first female entry on this list…
Marisa Tomei
Marisa Tomei will play Aunt May. Source: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Marisa Tomei is a very sexy actress who looks absolutely incredible for her age – she’s fifty-one years old (born in 1964) – so it was something of a surprise to see who she was cast as in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It was also very exciting.
Tomei is the Academy Award-winning star of movies like My Cousin Vinny, What Women Want, Anger Management, and The Wrestler – and in the MCU, she will portray Peter Parker’s Aunt May.
What is so surprising – and refreshing – about this casting is that Aunt May is generally presented as a frail, elderly lady (albeit one who can look after herself). She is old in the comic books and was portrayed by Rosemary Harris (born 1927) and Sally Field (born 1946) in previous Spider-Man movies.
And now onto another female performer who will be great to see in the MCU…
Tilda Swinton
Tilda Swinton will portray the Ancient One. Source: Soda Pictures
The wonderful Tilda Swinton is a multi-award-winning British actress (and performance artist, model, and fashion icon) who can, among other things, boast nominations for Academy Awards, BAFTAs, and Golden Globes. The impressive list of movies she has appeared in includes Vanilla Sky, Adaptation, Michael Clayton, We Need to Talk About Kevin, and The Grand Budapest Hotel.
She will bring her unique look and acting style to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2016’s Doctor Strange, in which she will portray the titular character’s mentor – known as the Ancient One.
What is particularly interesting about this is that the Ancient One is always depicted as a male in the comic books, so it is a gender swap for the movie. It will be great to see what she brings to this character, given the alteration that has been made for the Ancient One’s introduction to the world of cinema.
And now, on to another extremely talented female…
Cate Blanchett
Cate Blanchett is expected to portray either Hela or Enchantress. Source: Sony Pictures Classics
The incredibly talented Cate Blanchett is an Australian actress who has received widespread critical acclaim, as well as two Academy Award nominations. Her impressive filmography includes The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Lord of the Rings movies, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and Blue Jasmine.
She will appear in 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok as an as-yet-unconfirmed character – but that character is largely expected to either be Hela or Enchantress.
Both characters are great and very popular in the comic books – and Blanchett would undoubtedly do either of them justice – but the fact that she could potentially be the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s love interest for Thanos is very exciting, and it could mean that her role extends into the Avengers: Infinity War movies.
And now for a wickedly talented man…
Mads Mikkelsen
Mads Mikkelsen will portray a villainous sorcerer. Source: NBC
Mads Mikkelsen is a truly brilliant acquisition for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He will portray an as-yet-unnamed villainous sorcerer in this year’s Doctor Strange movie – and we can’t wait to find out exactly who he will be playing.
The star of television’s Hannibal and movies like Casino Royale, Clash of the Titans, The Hunt, and A Royal Affair plays sinister roles to perfection, and he will make a great villain, whomever he happens to play.
The most common – and certainly the most exciting – rumor about his potential character is that it may be Dormammu. The flame-headed being is incredibly powerful and could potentially succeed Thanos as the MCU’s big-bad. He would also look absolutely awesome in live action.
And now onto the man who will undoubtedly be tasked with defeating Mikkelsen’s character, initially…
Benedict Cumberbatch
Benedict Cumberbatch will portray Doctor Strange. Source: Marvel Studios
Benedict Cumberbatch is one of the most sought after actors in the world right now – and the people at Marvel Studios have nabbed him for a starring role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Cumberbatch has performed on the big screen, the small screen, the stage, and on radio. He may be most famous for starring in the small screen’s Sherlock and in the big screen’s War Horse, Star Trek Into Darkness, 12 Years a Slave, and The Imitation Game.
He has an otherworldly quality to him that lends itself perfectly to the enigmatic and powerful Stephen Strange. Reaction to his casting was mixed but rest assured that he will make an absolutely fabulous Sorcerer Supreme. He’s the perfect man to introduce the somewhat psychedelic world of magic to the MCU.
And now for the most kick-ass actor that the MCU could ever possibly hope to have attracted…
Kurt Russell
Kurt Russell will presumably portray Star-Lord’s father. Source: The Weinstein Company
How exciting is this?! The legendary actor that is Kurt Russell is coming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe! Russell has been confirmed as a cast member in 2017’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
The sixty-four-year-old star of classic movies like Escape from New York, The Thing, Big Trouble in Little China, Tombstone, and The Hateful Eight will portray the father of Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord – the character that Michael Rooker’s Yondu described as “a jackass” in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie.
It isn’t yet known which character will actually be Quill’s father yet, but Russell is rumored to be playing the likes of Adam Warlock, Starfox, Starhawk, and even the Beyonder.
Regardless of which character he’s playing, Kurt Russell is one hell of a coup for Marvel Studios.
What do you think? Are you excited about these stars coming to the MCU? Are there any other upcoming MCU actors you’re excited about? Have your say below!
