10 Controversial Superhero Movie Choices That Aged Surprisingly Well

21 hours ago 8

Marvel Cinematic Universe

Split image of Henry Cavill as Superman looking emotional and Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool gasping and covering his mouth

The superhero movies of the MCU, the DCU, and beyond have seen some controversial decisions made, but some of them aged surprisingly well. The success of the movies of the MCU helped the superhero genre grow into one of the biggest in modern cinema, although that success hasn’t come without controversy. Though the genre itself has found a large global audience, with that popularity comes the added scrutiny that leads to controversial choices.

Often, as with the movies of the DCEU, these controversial choices concern casting decisions or a creative angle that some struggle to accept. Adapting popular stories from the comics often sees creative liberties taken that initially prove divisive, but these sometimes turn out remarkably well. Though controversy can often appear to hurt a movie’s reputation, in these 10 cases, the divisive choice turned out to age well in a way that many wouldn’t have expected.

10 Ryan Reynolds As Deadpool

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

X-Men Origins: Wolverine continues to be considered one of the worst movies in Fox’s X-Men movie franchise, with many controversial and generally unpopular choices made during its production. One was Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool, which took significant creative liberty with the character, failing to deliver a remotely comic-accurate representation of the antihero. Many considered Reynolds’ Deadpool a horrific choice, with some considering him to have been a poor casting.

custom image of Deadpool with his finger pressed against his mask on a background of X-Men

Face It, X-Men Origins Could Never Have Used The Real Deadpool

X-Men Origins: Wolverine is widely believed to be one of the worst Marvel movies, but adding today's Deadpool would not have improved it.

However, seven years after X-Men Origins: Wolverine’s release, Reynolds proved that the controversial decision was actually a good one, but that the movie’s handling of the character was at fault. Reynolds eventually brought the character to life on the big screen in emphatic fashion, delivering an incredibly comic-accurate R-rated take on Deadpool. Considering the criticisms leveled at Reynolds’ casting and his apparent incompatibility with the superhero genre, the controversial choice aged well in the end.

9 Recasting Spider-Man

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

Throughout the 2000s, Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy of movies helped to establish the potential of the superhero genre at the box office. After production on the planned Spider-Man 4 stalled, it was announced that the hero would be recast, and Sam Raimi’s franchise would be rebooted. The decision to do so proved to be divisive, considering not just the popularity of Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man but the relatively underwhelming reception to the two Amazing Spider-Man movies.

After the disappointing reception to The Amazing Spider-Man 2, the franchise came to an abrupt end, and Spider-Man soon made his MCU debut to considerable fanfare. However, the years since have actually seen Andrew Garfield’s turn as Spider-Man reappraised far more favorably, making the decision to make the 2012 reboot age particularly well. As the potential of Garfield’s Spider-Man continued to shine through in Spider-Man: No Way Home, it’s safe to say that the initial controversy was unfair.

8 Having Superman & Zod Destroy Metropolis

Man of Steel (2013)

Even from the very first movie in the DCEU’s timeline, the franchise proved controversial. One particular way in which 2013’s Man of Steel divided opinions was in its portrayal of Superman, whose story was told with a significantly darker tone than usual. The film saw him battling Zod, with the pair leveling significant parts of Metropolis during their combat. Superman’s apparent indifference to that destruction proved especially controversial.

Though Superman and Zod’s battle causing so much collateral damage was not a popular choice, it proved to age well upon release of the sequel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The sequel itself may have proved divisive, but it picked up the plot thread of the Battle of Metropolis by having it as the basis for the animosity between the titular heroes. Seeing the controversial development serve as a set-up for the sequel helped it age surprisingly well, as it was clearly in service of a further narrative.

7 Iron Man 3’s Mandarin Reveal

Iron Man 3 (2013)

One of the most controversial choices in the history of the MCU came in Iron Man 3, with the movie’s Mandarin twist serving as a largely unpopular development. It made Iron Man 3 one of the MCU’s most notorious movies, as its mishandling of the source material did not impress fans of Iron Man’s comic book nemesis. However, the controversial decision actually aged surprisingly well due to the MCU’s later handling of the character’s story.

Iron Man 3 and Shang-Chi Posters Custom MCU Image

Iron Man’s Final MCU Mystery Missed Its Perfect Answer 3 Years Ago

Marvel's Phase 4 had the perfect opportunity to answer one of the biggest remaining Iron Man mysteries with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

After the backlash to Iron Man 3’s Mandarin twist, the MCU teased the real Mandarin in the one-shot All Hail the King. The tease finally paid off in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, redeeming the controversial choice much further down the MCU’s movie timeline. By revisiting and better adapting the character into the franchise, the MCU was able to undo the damage from one of its most divisive decisions.

6 Replacing Edward Norton

The Avengers (2012)

Though The Incredible Hulk is far from the worst movie in the MCU, it certainly isn’t the best-loved, either. The movie introduced Edward Norton as the franchise’s Bruce Banner, only to announce that he was being replaced for the character’s next appearance in 2012’s The Avengers. The choice, which came about as the result of behind-the-scenes issues, proved controversial, with some considering Mark Ruffalo a downgrade from Norton in terms of acting ability.

Thankfully, the controversial choice aged well, with Ruffalo making the role his own. Though his Banner and Hulk proved very different from Norton’s, he worked well alongside the other heroes in the franchise, and has since proved a staple of the MCU’s team-based stories. Despite the initial controversy surrounding his casting, Ruffalo was able to prove his ability over time, and the decision aged well as a result.

5 Gwen Stacy’s Death

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was a divisive movie in many ways, with many of the creative choices taken in the film called into question. Its handling of the death of Gwen Stacy proved especially controversial, particularly after the franchise was unable to follow up on its implications on Peter Parker’s story. The announcement of Spider-Man being introduced into the MCU seemed to make the plot point a narrative dead-end.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was initially supposed to feature Shailene Woodley as Mary-Jane Watson, setting up another love interest for Peter Parker, but her scenes were cut from the film.

Andrew Garfield’s return as part of the cast of Spider-Man: No Way Home actually saw the controversial decision age well, as it specifically referenced Gwen’s death. Hearing Garfield’s Spider-Man speak about how Gwen’s death affected him made The Amazing Spider-Man 2’s shocking ending seem better in hindsight, because it confirmed that it served as something of a dark turn in his story. Though it led to renewed calls for an Andrew Garfield-led follow-up, it helped the decision to kill the character off serve a greater purpose.

4 Star-Lord Attacking Thanos

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Avengers: Infinity War remains one of the most ambitious comic book movies ever made, bringing together a broad range of heroes and villains from across the Marvel Universe and tying up a wealth of disconnected plot threads in the process. It saw the heroes of the MCU come together in an attempt to thwart Thanos, though their plight was ultimately in vain. One particularly controversial moment saw Star-Lord punch a captive Thanos, giving the Mad Titan an opportunity to escape and overcome the MCU’s heroes to gather the Infinity Stones.

Split image of Angelina Jolie's Thena overtaken by Mahd Wy'ry with her sword out in Eternals (2021) on the left, Thanos during the Battle of Wakanda in Avengers Infinity war (2018) on the right

Years Later, This Thanos Theory Is Still The Best Answer To Why His Infinity War Plan Was So Misguided

Thanos' plan for the universe in Avengers: Infinity War was never going to work, but one theory potentially explains his misguided actions.

The choice saw backlash leveled at Star-Lord, proving controversial for the previously beloved character. However, it actually turned out to age well by the end of Avengers: Endgame, in which it was revealed that Star-Lord's actions were a contributing factor to the single timeline in which the Avengers won, as glimpsed by Doctor Strange. Given the way in which things ultimately played out, the controversial choice involving Star-Lord's rash decision actually turned out to age well.

3 Peacemaker Kills Rick Flag

The Suicide Squad (2021)

2021’s The Suicide Squad had the unenviable task of following up the unpopular 2016 movie Suicide Squad. Though it was able to surpass its predecessor, one of the most controversial choices made in the movie was to have Peacemaker kill Rick Flag. The shocking moment divided opinions, with many considering it an unfair and unceremonious victory for a seemingly devious character.

When Peacemaker was brought back for his solo DCEU series, the choice turned out to age well. As the show wound on, Peacemaker became one of the DCEU’s most complex and interesting characters, and his actions in The Suicide Squad facilitated his appearance on the show. All things considered, Peacemaker killing Rick Flag turned out to have been a generally good narrative decision, even if it did prove controversial at the time of The Suicide Squad’s release.

2 Bucky Barnes Not Becoming Captain America

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

The ending of Avengers: Endgame brought with it many narrative developments, some of which were somewhat unexpected. One of the most controversial was the decision to have Steve Rogers pass the mantle of Captain America directly to Sam Wilson in the MCU, passing over his childhood friend Bucky Barnes in the process. As Bucky famously served as Rogers’ replacement in the comics, the choice proved divisive as many considered it an unnecessary snub.

While helping Sam Wilson assume the responsibility of the mantle in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Bucky also went about making amends for his years spent as a Hydra pawn.

Though it was initially assumed that not becoming Captain America might ruin a chance of the MCU adapting Bucky’s redemption arc from the comics, the franchise instead did just that in an even more interesting way. While helping Sam Wilson assume the responsibility of the mantle in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Bucky also went about making amends for his years spent as a Hydra pawn. This allowed for the once controversial decision to actually seem much better in hindsight.

1 Peter Parker’s Role As Iron Man’s Sidekick

Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

When it was announced that the MCU would be introducing its own Spider-Man, anticipation was high. However, the franchise’s method of including the young hero was to establish him as something of a sidekick to Iron Man, with Tony Stark serving as Peter Parker’s mentor and father figure. The choice was a controversial one, as some felt that though the narrative was good, it potentially robbed the MCU’s Spider-Man of the independence that made him such a popular Marvel figure.

Doctor Strange looking shocked in front of Spider Man and Iron Man

By the ending of Spider-Man: No Way Home, the MCU’s take on the hero had taken on a more comic-accurate aspect. The death of Stark and the after-effects of Doctor Strange’s memory spell offered Spider-Man a clean slate in the MCU, albeit still with the ties to the Avengers and other heroes that had previously been established. As such, it’s one of those controversial decisions from the MCU, the DCU, and other comic book movies that ultimately aged surprisingly well.