The movies of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have occasionally wasted great actors, with many such individuals deserving another chance within the franchise. The MCU’s movie timeline has seen it grow from a handful of connected stories to the biggest and most successful franchise in modern cinema. Movies based on the characters and stories of Marvel Comics have never been more prevalent in pop culture consciousness, with an ever-growing number of characters being introduced on the big screen.
As the number of movies in the MCU has grown, so too has its list of cast members. Inevitably, some Marvel movie actors find themselves wasted in a role, either because it was too short-lived or because it didn’t play to their strengths as an actor. In many cases, the actors in question deserve another chance in Marvel movies, either being brought back in their previous role or being reintroduced in an entirely new one. With that in mind, here are 10 wasted Marvel movie actors who deserve a second chance.
10
Lawrence Fishburne
Previously played: Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer & Bill Foster in Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
There are many great actors who have appeared in Marvel movies, but very few of them can lay claim to having been wasted by comic book adaptations on as many occasions as Lawrence Fishburne. Two separate Marvel franchises have employed Fishburne’s talents, with both wasting him in different ways. Fishburne voiced the Silver Surfer in 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, and later played Bill Foster in Ant-Man and the Wasp in the MCU.
Voicing the Silver Surfer robbed Fishburne of any ability to truly emote in the role, wasting much of his acting talent. However, his MCU role wasted him even more, as his iteration of Bill Foster not only was not given a chance to appear as his superhero alter ego, but was afforded only a minor role in the franchise. Considering Fishburne’s excellent acting ability, Marvel movies have let him down on more than one occasion, and he thoroughly deserves another chance in the MCU.
9
Tommy Lee Jones
Previously played: Colonel Chester Phillips in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Tommy Lee Jones is one of the most recognizable and respected actors of a generation. His appearance in Phase 1 of the MCU came in Captain America: The First Avenger as Colonel Chester Phillips, acting as a mentor of sorts to Steve Rogers both before and after he was given the super soldier serum. Despite playing an important role in Captain America’s MCU story, Tommy Lee Jones was another actor wasted by his Marvel movie role.
It’s not that the MCU failed to give Jones a role that played to his strengths, but rather narrative constrictions that wasted the actor. Being part of the MCU’s 1940s story meant that he was unable to logically appear again in the present-day franchise, and Jones was not given a further role. As he’s a hugely talented actor and playing his role incredibly well, Tommy Lee Jones more than deserves an opportunity to return to the MCU.
8
Mads Mikkelsen
Previously played: Kaecilius in Doctor Strange (2016)
Mads Mikkelsen made his Marvel movie debut in 2016’s Doctor Strange, with his character Kaecilius serving as the movie’s main antagonist. An agent of Dormammu, Kaecilius’ plan was to allow his master to arrive on Earth from the Dark Dimension, pitting him against Strange and his fellow sorcerers. Kaecilius’ MCU story came to an abrupt end after just one appearance, and Mikkelsen has not reprised the role in the franchise since.
Considering Mikkelsen’s broad acting talents, his single MCU appearance seems markedly disappointing. Not only did the character of Kaecilius give Mikkelsen very little chance to shine, it was also an incredibly short-lived part in the wider MCU. Mads Mikkelsen is undoubtedly an actor wasted by the MCU, and his reappearance either as Kaecilius or in an entirely new role would be a welcome development for many.
7
Donald Glover
Previously played: Aaron Davis in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Early in Spider-Man's MCU movie timeline, the hero encountered a character destined to become a villain. Donald Glover’s MCU cameo as Aaron Davis – also known as the Prowler, Miles Morales’ uncle – was the cause of much excitement, not just because it teased Morales’ existence in the MCU but because Glover himself is such a well-loved presence. Unfortunately, Glover has not made a full appearance as the character, and has only returned for one other cameo in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
With just two Marvel cameos to his name, Donald Glover has clearly been wasted so far. The overwhelming support for his appearance as an MCU villain speaks to the potential he has in the role, with his knack for injecting levity even into serious roles perfect for the franchise. Glover undoubtedly deserves more of a chance to shine in the MCU, as he has so far been completely wasted on all-too-brief cameos.
6
Walton Goggins
Previously played: Sonny Burch in Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
Ant-Man and the Wasp is far from the worst MCU movie, but it features a number of forgettable moments and multiple wasted characters. One of these is Sonny Burch, played by Walton Goggins, who serves as the movie’s secondary antagonist. Burch’s plan is to steal and sell Pym’s technology on the black market, and the movie ends with him and his associates being arrested.
Walton Goggins is incredibly well-respected for a number of his roles, though his MCU appearance did little justice to the actor. Making a single appearance as a seemingly throwaway villain isn’t entirely fitting for an actor of Goggin’s ability, creating the distinct impression that the MCU thoroughly wasted him. There are many roles that Goggins would be better suited to in the MCU’s future, and hopefully, he will get another chance to appear in the franchise and put his talent to work.
5
Guy Pearce
Previously played: Aldrich Killian in Iron Man 3 (2013)
Iron Man 3 introduced multiple villains into the MCU, but the movie’s main villain, Aldrich Killian, wasted an excellent actor. Guy Pearce was cast as Killian, who served as the founder of AIM and the creator of Extremis, and experimental regenerative treatment. The movie sees Killian die in the final confrontation with Iron Man, marking the end of Guy Pearce’s short stint in the franchise.
Pearce is a perfect actor for the MCU, as he has a wealth of big-screen experience in multiple genres. His action, drama, and sci-fi experience all speak for themselves, making him a perfectly versatile performer that could work excellently in a recurring MCU role. As the franchise wasted the actor, it’s clear that he thoroughly deserves another chance in Marvel movies, as he has the potential to be one of the franchise’s most valuable assets if used to his strengths.
4
Christian Bale
Previously played: Gorr in Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
The cast of Thor: Love and Thunder saw Christian Bale enter the MCU as the film’s villain, Gorr the God Butcher. As well as having direct experience in superhero movies after his celebrated turn as Batman in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, Bale has a reputation as one of the most dependable and respected actors working in Hollywood in the modern era. Sadly, Love and Thunder wasted Bale’s talents on multiple levels.
For an actor as capable as Bale, Gorr was written as an incredibly one-sided villain. With very little depth to explore, Bale was wasted in the role, especially as Gorr was killed off at the end of the movie. Bale’s experience and proven acting talent alone is enough to warrant him getting another chance to feature in a Marvel movie, though hopefully in a role that better employs his abilities the second time around.
3
Tilda Swinton
Previously played: The Ancient One in Doctor Strange (2016)
Doctor Strange featured the MCU debuts of many excellent actors, but few were wasted as thoroughly as Tilda Swinton. Swinton’s career has seen her become a widely celebrated and decorated actor, earning major accolades and appearing in a variety of well-received movies. She featured in Doctor Strange as the Ancient One, Strange’s mentor and the Sorcerer Supreme who is ultimately killed by Kaecilius.
Despite being killed off, the Ancient One has since made two further minor appearances in the MCU via time travel and branching timelines. Even so, the franchise has undeniably wasted Tilda Swinton, whose versatility as a performer has yet to be tapped into in any conceivable manner. Considering the scope of Swinton’s career and the powerful performances she has delivered, the MCU wasted her in a way that proves she deserves another chance in the franchise.
2
Bill Skarsgård
Previously played: Zeitgeist in Deadpool 2 (2018) & Kro in Eternals (2021)
Though Bill Skarsgård’s career might still be in its relative infancy, he has more than proven himself a capable performer. Skarsgård made a brief appearance in Deadpool 2 as Zeitgeist before being shockingly and humorously killed off, and also provided a motion capture and voice performance for the Deviant Kro in Eternals. The nature of the two roles means that Skarsgård has been wasted in Marvel movies on both occasions.
Having delivered multiple memorable performances in recent years, Bill Skarsgård is one of the most promising young actors in Hollywood. His turn as Pennywise the Clown in It proved his capacity to inject an element of physicality into his roles, but this is something that neither Marvel movie appearance gave him the opportunity to do. Skarsgård’s acting talent is as clear as the fact that he deserves another chance to play a major role in a Marvel movie.
1
Cate Blanchett
Previously played: Hela in Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
There are few MCU actors as decorated as Cate Blanchett, but she has only been featured in a single movie in the franchise. Blanchett made her MCU debut in Thor: Ragnarok in Hela, stealing the show as the movie’s villain and blending perfectly into the wider tapestry of the franchise. However, Hela was killed off at the end of the movie, and Blanchett has only reprised the role in the animated MCU series What If...? in the years since.
Cate Blanchett is far too good an actor to waste in the MCU, and her turn as Hela was so perfect that she thoroughly deserves to return. Bringing Hela back would require some creative writing, but could finally allow Blanchett to play a greater role in the rest of the franchise. As one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s best but most wasted actors, Cate Blanchett should undoubtedly be given another chance as Hela.
Custom image by Niall Gray
English (US) ·