Rumor: Giancarlo Esposito to play mysterious ‘benefactor’ role in the MCU
By Erik Swann
Veteran actor Giancarlo Esposito may be up for a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Marvel Studios is steadily acquiring talent for its stable of projects, with stars like Angelina Jolie, David Harbour and Mahershala Ali joining their upcoming productions. It’s now being reported that another well-known name could be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
MCU Cosmic reports that Giancarlo Esposito is being courted for a role in a future Marvel Studios project. As of right now, the trade stresses that his casting is a rumor. However, they also mention a recent Marvel casting notice calling for an actor of Esposito’s age to play a character code-named “The Benefactor.” Given this, they speculate the role could actually be none other than Norman Osborn.
Esposito has had a lengthy career in Hollywood, having launched it as a breakout in Spike Lee films like School Daze and Do the Right Thing. In recent years, he’s taken more roles in big-budget films like The Jungle Book and the Maze Runner series. Esposito is, of course, widely known for his role as ruthless, drug kingpin Gustavo “Gus” Fring on Breaking Bad and its prequel spin-off series, Better Call Saul.
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With his credits, it wouldn’t be surprising if Marvel Studios is indeed courting the actor for a role, and there are a few characters that would suit him. Cosmic beings like Beyonder and Galactus come to mind, the latter of which could be performed through motion capture.
Still, Norman Osborn is arguably the most intriguing possibility, and it may be the role that fits Esposito the best. As Gus Fring, he’s been lauded for his subtle, yet imposing, presence. Having played the character for so many years, he also has experience portraying a shifty character who tries to maintain a legitimate, public image.
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Given these factors, Esposito could be the perfect fit for Osborn and could put a fresh spin on Spider-Man’s greatest enemy. And even if he didn’t play the villain, he would still make a strong addition to the MCU.