10 Risky MCU Casting Decisions That Completely Paid Off

The MCU has nailed most of its casting decisions, but that doesn’t mean the studio hasn’t taken risks with some of its choices. Many of the MCU’s brightest stars have become Hollywood icons, but many of these actors were relatively unknown or experienced dips in their careers before becoming superheroes. Some actors were certified gold, such as Benedict Cumberbatch, Zoe Saldaña, or Samuel L. Jackson. These actors had already proven themselves before Marvel made them essential parts of the universe. Marvel is banking even more on proven talent, including Mahershala Ali, who is set to join the universe as Blade.

Iron Man, Spider-Man, and Captain America are all classic Marvel characters that comic book readers wanted to see brought to life faithfully. Fortunately, most of these risks have paid off for Marvel, despite initial doubts. Though some concerns may seem silly in hindsight, these 10 MCU casting decisions were anything but a sure thing.

10 Chris Pratt As Star-Lord

The Parks and Recreation Actor Was Far From An Action Movie Star

Chris Pratt is everywhere now, and that’s largely thanks to his role as Peter Quill/Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy. However, the actor wasn’t a proven talent yet, despite his hilarious role in Parks and Recreation. Not only did he bring his humor to the Guardians franchise, but he also showed that he is a true action star with the ability to pull off dramatic moments. Since his MCU debut in 2014, Pratt has led a few other franchises, including the Jurassic World trilogy and The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

9 Mark Ruffalo As The Incredible Hulk

It Was A Tough Task To Recast A Central Avenger So Early

Mark Ruffalo wasn’t an unknown actor when he first played Hulk in 2012’s The Avengers. He had previously starred in movies such as 13 Going on 30 and David Fincher’s Zodiac. However, Ruffalo was given the difficult job of replacing Edward Norton, who portrayed Bruce Banner in The Incredible Hulk. Fortunately, Ruffalo portrayed the character perfectly and continues to play Hulk today, despite the character’s ever-evolving role in the MCU.

8 Simu Liu As Shang-Chi

Simu Lui Was A Fresh Face For A Relatively Unknown Character

Simu Liu had a starring role in Kim’s Convenience, a Canadian comedy series with a small but passionate following. While Liu showcased his talents in the series, going from that to a Marvel blockbuster was a gigantic leap. Liu proved he was up for the task and has already become a fan favorite, despite only appearing once. His role as Shang-Chi has already led to other opportunities for the young actor, including Barbie. Furthermore, Shang-Chi remains one of the MCU’s best movies post-Endgame.

7 Dave Bautista As Drax the Destroyer

The WWE Star Was Unproven In Movies

Besides Dwayne Johnson and John Cena, it has been difficult for many WWE stars to transition from wrestling to acting. Dave Bautista’s first significant role was Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy. While it was unclear if Bautista could pull off a major role like this, he proved any doubters wrong by delivering a hilarious and heartfelt performance. Even though his time as Drax may be over after the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, he has shown he is a phenomenal talent in other projects like Dune and Knock at the Cabin.

6 Iman Vellani As Ms. Marvel

The Canadian Actor Made Her Acting Debut In The Series

Marvel often likes to take a chance on newcomers, and that’s precisely what they did with Iman Vellani. The Pakistani-Canadian actor had never appeared in anything before Ms. Marvel, and she embodies the character on and off the screen. She adores the character, and it comes through in spades in her performance. Besides the series, Vellani also proved she could hold her own with acting juggernauts like Brie Larson and Teyonah Paris in The Marvels. It might have been a risk to cast someone so inexperienced, but it’s currently paying off nicely for Marvel.

5 Chris Hemsworth as Thor

The Australian Had Few Roles Before The MCU

Despite looking like a Norse god himself, there was a time when people weren’t sure if Chris Hemsworth was right for the role. The actor was known for only a few minutes in Star Trek before debuting as Thor in 2011. Not only was Hemsworth perfect for the job, but he has also improved as an actor as the MCU has gone on. He has outstanding comedic timing, and he’s shown emotional depth in films like Avengers: Infinity War and Thor: Ragnarok.

4 Paul Rudd as Ant-Man

Rudd Wasn’t Known For Action Or Science Fiction

Before becoming a superhero, Paul Rudd was best known as a comedic actor, starring in movies like Anchorman, Knocked Up, and Dinner for Schmucks. When it was announced he would be playing Ant-Man/Scott Lang in the MCU, many were concerned if he could carry a superhero role on his shoulders. However, it was a perfect fit as director Peyton Reed took a more comedic approach to the character, leading to Rudd’s talents complementing the character well. He has also proven he can hold his own against the other Avengers in Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Endgame.

3 Tom Holland as Spider-Man

The Latest Spider-Man Role Was Hotly Contested

When Marvel announced that Spider-Man was joining the MCU, audiences were concerned if the character could compete with past iterations. Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield were both phenomenal in the roles, and each delivered a unique take on the famous webslinger. Holland had a lot to live up to, and he immediately proved worthy of the role, starting with Captain America: Civil War. Holland embodies the best attributes of Spider-Man and Peter Parker, and seeing him alongside the other two actors in No Way Home was absolute perfection.

2 Chris Evans as Captain America

Evans Had Already Played A Superhero In A Less Beloved Franchise

While everyone associates Chris Evans with Captain America now, it wasn’t his first Marvel role. Evans portrayed the Human Torch in the first two Fantastic Four movies, and while he was great, those movies weren’t well-received by audiences or critics. There were concerns over bringing Evans from a failed Marvel franchise into a new one, but the actor blew past people’s expectations. It’s hard to imagine anyone else playing Steve Rogers, and he often carried the MCU on his shoulders with some of the best films in the franchise.

1 Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man

Downey Jr. Needed A Career Comeback

Robert Downey Jr. was a rising star in the 1980s and 1990s. However, several arrests and issues with drugs and alcohol brought his career to a halt. He went several years without a significant role, but that obviously changed. He started to come back in the 2000s with films like Zodiac, but many weren’t sure if he could be trusted as the centerpiece of a new franchise. Jon Favreau had faith in him and cast him as Iron Man for the 2008 film. Favreau’s gamble paid off, and Downey Jr.’s role kickstarted the MCU on a high note and helped it become the most successful cinematic universe ever.