10 Superhero Movie Castings Everyone Was Wrong About

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In the history of the MCU, the DCU, and other superhero movies, there have been many casting decisions that everyone was eventually proven wrong about. With the growth of franchises via the movies of the MCU and DCEU, the superhero genre has never been bigger. With increased popularity and exposure comes additional scrutiny, particularly where casting decisions are concerned. Bringing comic book stories to life is no simple task, and choosing the right actors to play beloved characters is often the key to success.

Throughout the movie timelines of the DCEU and the MCU, there have often been casting choices that turned out differently than expected. Sometimes, a popular casting turns out to have been a poor choice, while in contrast, what once seemed a bad decision sometimes surprisingly comes good. With that in mind, here are 10 superhero movie casting decisions that everyone was wrong about.

10 Chris Evans as Captain America

First appearance: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

The character of Captain America was bound to appear early in the MCU’s movie timeline, as he typically plays such a major role in the wider Marvel Universe. When it was announced that Chris Evans would play the MCU’s iteration of Steve Rogers, there were many who voiced concerns over his casting. There was some backlash to the idea of Marvel recycling a cast member from the Fantastic Four franchise, and many did not consider Evans to possess the physical presence needed for the role.

As Captain America’s MCU story played out, it became clear just how wrong those initial concerns were. Not only did Evans work incredibly hard to achieve the super soldier's physique, his acting ability also proved perfect for the complex character of Steve Rogers. Chris Evans’ turn as Captain America remains one of the best performances in the MCU, proving that people were wrong to doubt the efficacy of his casting.

9 Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman

First appearance: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Gal Gadot played Wonder Woman in many movies in the DCEU, and feelings about her casting proved to be wrong on several occasions. Initially, when Gadot was cast to make her DCEU debut as Wonder Woman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, there were some concerns about a relative unknown taking on such a high-profile role. However, her initial appearance, followed up by a successful solo movie, seemed to prove these doubts wrong.

Unfortunately, just as Gadot was becoming considered a perfect casting for the role of Wonder Woman, this new perception saw further complications. The release of Justice League in 2017 and then Wonder Woman 1984 in 2020 complicated this perspective with some more divisive releases, leaving Gadot's overall time in the role on a more tumultuous note despite Wonder Woman having proved many wrong about the actor by demonstrating the potential she had as the DC hero.

8 Chris Pratt as Star-Lord

First appearance: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

When it was first announced that Chris Pratt had been cast as Star-Lord in the MCU, there were serious doubts over whether he would be able to deliver. At the time, Pratt was known largely for his supporting roles in television, with Parks & Recreation being his most significant credit. Pratt was seen as a goofy comedy actor, but he didn’t possess any obvious leading man qualities at that time, prompting concerns over how effective he’d be as an MCU hero.

These doubts proved unfounded, as when Pratt made his debut in Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014, he seemed to have been born for the role. The lovable, roguish Star-Lord embraced Pratt’s tested comedic qualities, but also afforded him scope to showcase his broader acting talent. The role firmly proved that Pratt was a capable leading man in big blockbusters, and cemented him as a key figure in the MCU for years to come.

7 Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam

First appearance: Black Adam (2022)

Dwayne Johnson leading the cast of Black Adam as the titular antihero in the DCEU prompted huge excitement. Seeing the larger-than-life performer finally take on a major superhero role seemed a perfect fit, as both his wrestling and acting careers proved his physical abilities were more than up to the task. Johnson had also shown himself to possess significant screen presence, and, having played various roles across multiple genres in his acting career, it seemed that his take on Black Adam was set to be nothing short of excellent.

This was not the case, however. Johnson’s pre-release promises of one of the biggest and most groundbreaking DCEU movies fell flat, and his performance as Black Adam left much to be desired. It wasn’t all Johnson’s fault in terms of his acting, but as the movie failed to live up to expectations, the excitement around his casting was proved to have been unfounded.

6 Jamie Foxx as Electro

First appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

After the release of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in 2014, the casting decisions made about the movie’s villains were called into question. Jamie Foxx, in particular, was considered to have been a poor choice of casting for the villain Electro, with his performance seemingly not capturing the spirit of the character. It was considered a poor casting choice, as Foxx failed to deliver a satisfying live-action adaptation of the villain.

However, with Foxx’s return as Electro in the cast of Spider-Man: No Way Home, this was proven wrong. Despite limited screen time, Foxx stood out in the role as one of the movie's more complex and interesting villains, thoroughly redeeming the character’s underwhelming debut. No Way Home showed his detractors that Foxx was not poorly cast, but rather that The Amazing Spider-Man 2 simply mishandled the character’s story.

First appearance: The Avengers (2012)

The release of The Incredible Hulk in 2008 was part of the foundations of the MCU, introducing Edward Norton’s Bruce Banner as the titular Avenger. However, after behind the scenes complications, Norton was replaced in the role, with Mark Ruffalo taking over as Banner and the Hulk for 2012’s The Avengers. Ruffalo’s casting was subject to widespread concern, as he was largely unknown and his only credits of note had been in either romantic comedies or independent films.

Those who took issue with Ruffalo being cast were swiftly proven wrong by The Avengers, which established that Ruffalo was great both as Banner and the Hulk. Ruffalo then went on to reprise the role in the MCU several times, eventually becoming practically synonymous with the character. Ruffalo’s Hulk is generally considered far superior to Norton’s, highlighting just how wrong people were to doubt his casting.

4 Zendaya as MJ

First appearance: Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

When Zendaya was first cast in Spider-Man: Homecoming, she was not a particularly well-known actor. Her only real credits at the time came in Disney Channel productions, and Homecoming was her big-screen debut. The rumors that she would be playing Mary Jane Watson caused some controversy, with specific attention being paid to a Black actress taking on the role of a character who is white in the comics. Concerns over comic-accuracy and whether Zendaya would be able to do the character justice marred the news of her casting.

Upon the release of Spider-Man: Homecoming, Zendaya was able to silence the doubters. Not only was her MJ not Mary Jane Watson - instead being Michelle Jones - but she was brilliantly brought to life by Zendaya, who served as one of the movie’s most charismatic supporting characters. In subsequent appearances, Zendaya has gone on to win over audiences with her take on MJ, proving that those with concerns over her casting need never have worried.

3 Hugh Jackman as Wolverine

First appearance: X-Men (2000)

Back in 2000, Fox’s X-Men movie franchise got its start, bringing Marvel’s mutant heroes to life in live-action. As Wolverine had long proven himself to be one of the most popular members of the team, his casting in particular drew attention. When the original choice for the role, Dougray Scott, was forced to drop out due to scheduling conflicts, the then-unknown Australian actor Hugh Jackman was brought in. Jackman was widely considered too tall and too untested for such a major role, and was written off.

Fast-forward a little more than two decades, and Jackman’s turn as Wolverine is hailed as one of the greatest casting decisions ever made. Having played the role throughout Fox’s X-Men movies before crossing over into the MCU, Jackman’s career has been defined by his iconic turn as Wolverine. Though it seems strange to consider now, there were in fact once many who thought Jackman would never be able to do the character justice.

2 Ben Affleck as Batman

First appearance: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

The DCEU got off to a divisive start, with 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice proving particularly controversial. One of the most widely contested decisions was Ben Affleck being cast as Batman, with many considering him a poor choice for the iconic hero. Affleck was thought to be lacking the dark charisma to play Batman, with many citing his previous role as Daredevil in 2003 as an example of his inability to lead a superhero movie.

Though initial reactions to Affleck’s Batman were not overwhelmingly positive, his turn as the hero was later considered much more favorably. By the time the DCEU ended, Affleck was celebrated as Batman, with many hailing him as a perfect choice to play the hero within the franchise’s dark and gritty world. Though his opportunities to appear in the role were limited, Affleck was still able to prove that everyone was wrong about his casting.

1 Heath Ledger as the Joker

First appearance: The Dark Knight (2008)

When it was announced that Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight had cast Heath Ledger as the Joker, there was significant backlash. The consensus was that Ledger was far too good-looking and sympathetic to play such an unhinged villain, and that his previous roles in romantic comedies and dramas did not indicate anything to suggest he could make his Joker stand out. Generally speaking, Ledger’s casting was considered a major misstep.

The release of The Dark Knight proved that Ledger was not just an excellent choice, but that his take on the Joker redefined the character. Ledger’s performance as the Joker was an instant classic, and is considered one of the best villains in the history of cinema. As such, it would seem that the reaction to his casting was almost certainly that of the most incorrect in the history of the MCU, the DCU, and the wider world of superhero movies.

Marvel Cinematic Universe

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount's Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
DC Universe

The DC Universe is one of the biggest comic book franchises and often competes with Marvel. DC Comics started as National Allied Publications, founded by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson in 1935. Since then, the franchise has exploded with thousands of comic books, movies, TV shows, and video games. 2013 marked the beginning of the most recent iteration of the superheroes, with Zack Snyder introducing Henry Cavill as Superman. After several movies with mixed reviews, DC underwent a soft reboot under the helm of James Gunn and Peter Safran.