Avengers: Secret Wars promises not only to bring together most MCU characters but also to shine a light on versions of Marvel characters from outside the MCU. The Multiverse Saga has thrilled fans with the inclusion of several past Marvel favorites, like Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire reprising their respective Spider-Man characters in Spider-Man: No Way Home. This will continue in Avengers: Doomsday with the inclusion of the Fox X-Men characters, but that won’t be the end of it.
While there’s still a long wait until Avengers: Secret Wars arrives, plenty of rumors already suggest other former Marvel actors will return. This could include some fan favorites, but there are also some fun possibilities with certain actors whose versions of these Marvel characters weren’t beloved. Avengers: Secret Wars gives them a last shot at redemption.
Eric Bana as Hulk
While Mark Ruffalo took over the role of Bruce Banner in the MCU from Edward Norton, there was another actor before him. Way back in 2003, when superhero movies were just starting to gain popularity, Oscar-winning director Ang Lee brought audiences a live-action Hulk movie with Eric Bana in the lead.
The movie was seen as a disappointment at the time, and Bana’s performance was largely forgotten. However, Lee’s take has been reappraised over the years. It could be interesting to see Bana’s sadder Hulk join the MCU. It could be a chance to give more credit to an early superhero movie that many feel deserved more love.
Nicolas Cage as Ghost Rider
Though Nicolas Cage nearly played Superman and eventually played a version of Spider-Man, his first superhero role on the big screen was as Johnny Blaze in Ghost Rider. The 2007 movie was not well received by critics, and audiences weren’t overly impressed either. Cage returned in the sequel, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, but its failure ended the would-be franchise.
Ryan Gosling’s Ghost Rider project is already an anticipated MCU project on the horizon, but Cage remains a beloved actor fans would love to see pop up in the MCU. Hopefully, it would be a more rewarding use of the actor than his cameo in The Flash.
Ben Affleck as Daredevil
Fans are still waiting for Charlie Cox to suit up as Daredevil in an MCU movie, but another Daredevil could appear before him. Before taking on Batman, Ben Affleck played the iconic Marvel hero in 2003’s Daredevil. The movie was a box office hit, but fan and critical reaction was mixed, and it never became the franchise they intended it to be.
Affleck’s unhappy time in the DCEU likely makes him a little wary about returning to the superhero world, but even a cameo could help to undo some of the negative reputation his version of the character has. Still in action-hero shape, he could be a fun addition to the giant Secret Wars roster.
Thomas Jane as The Punisher
Jon Bernthal has solidified himself as the most beloved live-action take on Frank Castle, aka The Punisher, but Thomas Jane deserves one more shot at the role. In 2004, Jane starred as Castle in the R-rated action movie that brought the character to the big screen. Despite negative reviews, there was some hope of Jane continuing on in further movies, but he was ultimately replaced by the late actor Ray Stevenson.
Jane’s stoic and cold take on Castle was one of the highlights of the 2004 movie, and if the MCU could make Bernthal’s version suitable for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, there is no reason Jane’s R-rated take couldn’t be toned down slightly as well.
Doug Jones as Silver Surfer
Fox’s take on Fantastic Four was set to be the next big superhero franchise following Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man movies. However, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer brought the franchise to an abrupt end. That movie is best remembered for its lackluster take on the villainous Galactus, but its version of Silver Surfer was a highlight.
While the character was voiced by Laurence Fishburne, Doug Jones served as the on-screen actor, bringing the character to life with incredible practical designs. As impressive as the MCU’s Silver Surfer was in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, it would be fun to see Jones play the character practically once again, especially now that he is a big enough name to voice the role himself.
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