Top 10 Actors Who Should Play Superheroes

Last Updated on August 3, 2021

Like it or not, but comic book movies are not going away any time soon. In fact, with AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR proving you can get dozens of marquee actors in a single film, I would expect to see more and more famous faces gracing the worlds of Marvel and DC films. With that in mind, here is our ranking of the ten actors and actresses we would love to see in a superhero movie. Some may be no brainers while others you may not have considered, but every one of these performers would add something special to the worlds of superheroes. If you disagree or think we missed someone, let us know in the comments below.

Tom Cruise

This one may seem like a no-brainer, but if Cruise is willing to put everything into franchises like MISSION IMPOSSIBLE and is willing to try universe building like he did with THE MUMMY, why not be a superhero while you are at it? His salary may make his casting impossible, but couldn’t you just see Cruise becoming the new anchor needed to replace Robert Downey Jr or Chris Evans? Or maybe have him play against type and become the baddest bad guy the MCU has ever seen! Whatever the case, get this guy into some armor or spandex, stat!

Charlize Theron

Charlize played an original superhero/villain opposite Will Smith in HANCOCK and has since become one of the top acting talents in Hollywood. So, where is her superhero movie? Make Charlize into She-Hulk or any number of iconic Marvel or DC characters. She is too stunning to not have played in that sandbox with everyone else. Plus, you cannot question whether Charlize could hold her own opposite any of her male counterparts after seeing ATOMIC BLONDE.

John Cena

Twenty years ago, who expected WWE superstar Dwayne Johnson to be one of the top actors in Hollywood? I know I didn’t. Since then, everyone has been waiting to see which wrestler would be the next to hit the big time. Thanks to his comedic talents, John Cena has proven himself to be a crossover success. Now, I thought Cena would have made a great Shazam but that doesn’t mean he isn’t the physical perfection needed for any number of superhero characters. I would love to have seen him go toe to toe with Black Adam, but I am open to seeing him as Booster Gold, Plastic Man, or any number of characters that can benefit from his muscles and his sense of humor.

Emily Blunt

Anyone who say EDGE OF TOMORROW knows that Emily Blunt will need to be a superhero someday. Many considered her the frontrunner for CAPTAIN MARVEL before it was given to Brie Larson. Both a talented actress and physically impressive, Blunt has forged her own career in redefining roles with each new film. Still, I want to see her play a character like Star Sapphire, Spider-woman, or pretty much any female superhero. She would also make a damn good Invisible Woman now that Disney has FANTASTIC FOUR back. Maybe John Krasinski could play Reed Richards?

Jake Gyllenhaal

Gyllenhaal is a damn good actor and a very intense one, which is why he has been linked to both Spider-man and Batman roles over the years. Personally, I see Gyllenhaal more as a Nightwing than anything. As an actor, Gyllenhaal always seems to gravitate towards broken people who are a challenge to play. While he could definitely bring something different to the role of Batman, I would love to see him tackle a character like Moon Knight and bring him into the mainstream in the way only the best actors could.

Eva Green

Eva Green has already appeared in a couple of comic book adaptations in the form of SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR and 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE, but they aren’t superhero movies. Tim Burton’s current muse has the looks of an number of heroes or villains and the presence to hold her own against anyone ranging from Scarlett Johannson to Gal Gadot. In fact, someone should definitely reach out to Green for potential roles in the developing BLACK WIDOW movie and even a future WONDER WOMAN sequel.

John Krasinski

John Krasinski has tried to be a superhero but it just has not worked out for him. Maybe it was the fact he was best known as Jim from NBC’s The Office that held him back from getting the lead roles in CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER and GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, but since then the actor has buffed up for Michael Bay’s 13 HOURS and plays the lead in Amazon’s upcoming Jack Ryan series. Taking over a role played by Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford, Chris Pine, and Ben Affleck should be more than enough to warrant consideration for the MCU or DCEU.

Natalie Dormer

Dormer has had her fair share of success in Hollywood but has yet to land a lead in a major studio production. The former Game of Thrones actress did have a well received turn in THE HUNGER GAMES franchise. There, the post-apocalyptic landscape suited the sultry actress. I could see her in any number of roles but definitely something on the X-MEN side of things. As long as she shaves the side of her head again, I am all in.

Bryan Cranston

Once rumored as a frontrunner to play Lex Luthor, the award winning Cranston has stayed away from true superhero projects, assuming you don’t count POWER RANGERS. Cranston is often cited as an ideal villain, but the actor could have played one hell of a Hank Pym. There are elder statesmen type roles and veteran heroes that the Breaking Bad star could play. In fact, if DC is going to go crazy they could get Cranston for the older Bruce Wayne for a BATMAN BEYOND film.

Anna Kendrick

Anna Kendrick’s bubbly and manic pixie personality would be ideal for a character like Squirrel Girl. While Kendrick will be voicing that minor Marvel character, there is certainly room for her diminutive figure to be used in live action on the big screen. While we often think of superheroes as tall and buff, Kendrick’s intelligence and comic timing would make her a great addition to anything from a DEADPOOL sequel to mainstream MCU offerings.

Source: JoBlo.com

About the Author

5874 Articles Published

Alex Maidy has been a JoBlo.com editor, columnist, and critic since 2012. A Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic and a member of Chicago Indie Critics, Alex has been JoBlo.com's primary TV critic and ran columns including Top Ten and The UnPopular Opinion. When not riling up fans with his hot takes, Alex is an avid reader and aspiring novelist.