The MCU: Always casting a wide net for the right actors

One of the hallmarks of the MCU has always been incredible casting, starting with Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man all the way to the late Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther.

More recently, Disney and Marvel have been making a series of casting announcements for the MCU that show exactly just far they’re willing to go to find the right actor. And how far they’re willing to go to keep some things secret.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe officially arrived at the end of the first Iron Man movie with Robert Downey Jr. The after credits scene depicting Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury showing up to talk to Iron Man about the Avengers Project kickstarted everything into high gear. It was the moment fans knew this movie was part of something much, much bigger.

But more than that, Iron Man was the reinvention and rebirth of Robert Downey Jr. For several years, his career was a string of box office flops, arrests and appearances in courtrooms. Many Hollywood insiders probably saw Marvel’s decision to cast him as incredibly risky.

Eleven years later, Avengers: Endgame hit theatres, depicting the final battle with Thanos. While the Avengers and company were victorious, they suffered heavy losses in the form of Vision, Black Widow and Iron Man. At this point, the movie marks the final time that RDJ will play the now iconic role, something that some fans are still wrapping their minds around.

The rest, as they say, is history. Playing Iron Man launched RDJ back into the A-list category, setting him up for other popular franchises like Sherlock Holmes. Naturally, everything isn’t perfect as he also released bombs such as Doctor Dolittle. Every actor has movies like that. Just ask Hugh Jackman about Ryan Reynolds’ career and he’ll be happy to point out the bombs.

Established Actors

Like their casting of RDJ., Disney and Marvel have not been afraid to bring in established stars when the moment calls for it. Glenn Close, Angela Bassett, Brie Larson, John C. Riley and Scarlett Johansson have all brought their skills to the MCU. Furthermore, it’s impossible to imagine this universe without Samuel L. Jackson, who had been in every movie ever made prior to appearing in Iron Man.

One of the most recent additions to the MCU was Tatiana Maslany, a Canadian actress who rose to fame on the acclaimed science fiction series Orphan Black. She played a series of clones who led very different lives as they found each other and learned the secrets behind their creation. She was deservedly nominated for and won several awards for the role, including an Emmy.

Marvel announced that she would be playing the role of Jennifer Walters, aka She-Hulk, in the upcoming Disney Plus series. Maslany is the perfect choice as she can blend the mix of comedy and drama needed for the role seamlessly.

But bringing in established actors also brings in expectations, as it did with RDJ. Fans and critics start formulating opinions on what this means for the show without knowing much else about it. She might be the perfect choice, but that doesn’t mean the show will do a good job with the character. Speculation can become an issue.

WandaVision and Kathryn Hahn

That recently popped up in the trailer for the upcoming Disney Plus series WandaVision which showed the talented comedian and actress Kathryn Hahn. Fans have immediately theorized that she will be playing Agatha Harkness, a witch and a mentor to Scarlet Witch in the comics.

That may turn out to be true, but there is little or no evidence to support the theory at this point. If she doesn’t turn out to be playing Agatha Harkness, some comic books fans will be upset that the series didn’t live up to their expectations.

When fans see a recognizable star, they automatically assume they’re playing a huge role. They’ve been trained by seasons of Murder, She Wrote episodes where the killer was always that actor you recognized. That’s why many cameos are kept secret until the film debuts. Sometimes, casting a relatively unknown actor is a better idea.

New Faces, New Places

Over the years, several new and growing actors have ridden the tidal wave of the MCU’s success. Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Letitia Wright and many more have become household names thanks to these films. The most recent addition to that list may be Iman Vellani.

The young Canadian has been cast to play the role of Ms. Marvel, once again in an upcoming Disney Plus series. Her only credits on IMDB to date are in the yet-to-be-filmed Marvel series she was just cast in. You don’t get more new to the business than that.

Most studios wouldn’t be willing to take a huge risk on an untested actor in a big budget project. What’s nice about the MCU is that it’s built so much good will with its spot on casting choices over the years that it can take such chances and fans trust them. If the producers think Iman is the right person for the part, fans will believe them.

The reality is that every casting choice is a roll of the dice, whether the actor in question is established or not. Plus, there are always fans who are never happy and just go out looking for anything to complain about. If an actor isn’t playing the part they assumed he or she would, that’s on the person making the assumptions.

Being new or established is irrelevant to the conversation. It all comes down to one simple fact, that the only thing that matters is that the right person is cast. And the one undeniable truth of Hollywood is that Kathryn Hahn is always the right person. Moreover, the one undeniable truth of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is that they rarely – or, more appropriately, never – cast the wrong person.

Which MCU casting is your all-time favorite? Are you looking forward to seeing what the likes of Tatiana Maslany and Kathryn Hahn bring to She-Hulk and WandaVision? Are you excited to see Iman Vellani debut in Ms. Marvel? Let us know in the comments below!