Recent uncertainty surrounding an MCU actor’s role has made Dwayne Johnson’s MCU dreams more viable. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is one of the biggest names in show business, starring in multiple blockbusters across the last two decades that culminated in his leap into the superhero genre with Black Adam. Unfortunately, this movie would fail to meet financial expectations and cut Dwayne Johnson’s DCEU career short before getting off the ground. Surprisingly, however, Dwayne Johnson has yet to land an MCU role.

This is despite nearly two decades’ worth of Marvel movies and series being released, but a role may soon become available. It was recently reported that Luke Cage actor Mike Colter gave a noncommittal response to the possibility of reprising his role in the MCU now that his series and the Defenders Saga, in general, have been officially confirmed as MCU canon. In the eventuality he does not return to the MCU, Colter’s MCU replacement could become the very Hollywood star that campaigned to take on the role years ago.

Dwayne Johnson Campaigned To Play Luke Cage 11 Years Ago

Kevin Feige was interviewed by Collider in 2013 to talk about Iron Man 3 and the immediate future of the MCU, which at that point was looking forward to Avengers: Age of Ultron, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Doctor Strange. Another of the more pertinent questions posed was whether Feige was looking to cast Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in a future MCU role. Feige responded very positively as he praised Johnson’s work and proactive approach when promoting a project, ending with the comment, “I would love him to be part of the Marvel universe somewhere, someday.”

This prompted Dwayne to respond via Twitter/X with the line “I’ll be ready,” alongside a picture of Luke Cage and himself standing in similar poses. The resemblance is hard to ignore, with Johnson’s bulky stature lending itself very well to Luke Cage’s. The suggestion garnered several responses in agreement at the time it was posted. Interestingly, however, there is a lot more pushback from replies posted in 2022 following his fleeting tenure as Black Adam and Mike Colter’s well-received stint in the role. Regardless, with Luke Cage now being MCU canon, he’ll likely reappear even if not played by Johnson.

How Luke Cage Could Fit Into The MCU’s Upcoming Plans

The re-emergence of Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock and Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk in the MCU was met with widespread enthusiasm as they started integrating with the cinematic heroes of the MCU. Their arrival hinted at the approaching confirmation that the Defenders Saga was MCU canon with expanded stories en route. Both characters are poised to make a full return in Daredevil: Born Again, where a decidedly street-level story will play out in a significant change of pace to the cosmic focus the MCU has recently experienced.

Daredevil: Born Again‘s street-level focus will of course be taking place in New York. This means that a plethora of heroes and villains will be in the vicinity, including Luke Cage. Cage was last seen embodying the role of a crime boss to control the organization from within, meaning he will be a pretty significant presence in Harlem. Kingpin, meanwhile, who will likely be Daredevil’s arch-nemesis in Daredevil: Born Again, was last seen gearing up for a mayoral run.

It is, therefore, impossible for Luke Cage, a powerful crime boss in his own right, not to encounter Kingpin down the line. Unless Marvel has been particularly effective at keeping details under wraps, however, it does not look like any of the Defenders Saga stars will be reprising their roles in the first season of the new Daredevil series. With that being said, Daredevil: Born Again will at least reestablish the New York-based, street-level stories of which Luke Cage is an integral part.

Will Dwayne Johnson Actually Join The MCU?

Nearly a decade after gunning for the Luke Cage role, Dwayne Johnson had big plans for the DCEU, with reports suggesting that he wanted Black Adam to play a more pivotal role than his comic book counterpart. This would likely have precluded Johnson from playing a role in the MCU. But within weeks of Black Adam‘s release, the DCU reboot was announced, with the majority of DCEU actors being forced to relinquish their roles to give way to new ones. This has renewed the possibility that Dwayne Johnson could play a significant role in the MCU, instead.

Dwayne Johnson is a big name in Hollywood right now, with a (mostly) bankable level of fame that might particularly appeal to an MCU in crisis following a disappointing 2023 financially. Furthermore, Dwayne Johnson’s relationship with Disney is pretty solid, having starred in multiple Disney productions, including Moana, which is poised for a sequel later this year. With all that in mind, Dwayne Johnson stands in good stead to be cast in the MCU at some point down the line. Though Luke Cage may not be the favorite, there are still plenty of other roles he could embody.

Who Else Dwayne Johnson Could Play In The MCU Besides Luke Cage

There is no shortage of fancasts for Dwayne Johnson, whose distinctive appearance and acting style lend themselves to plenty more characters than Luke Cage. Hulking characters Johnson could embody include Cain Marko/Juggernaut or Apocalypse in the MCU’s adaptation of the X-Men, or Ares, now that Thor: Love & Thunder introduced the Olympians and Ares’ half-brother Hercules, portrayed by Brett Goldstein. One of the more popular fan-casts for Johnson, however, is Gladiator – a member of the Imperial Guard and one of Marvel’s answers to DC’s Superman.

This would be a particularly fitting role for Johnson, whose version of Black Adam bid farewell to his DCEU career in the wake of a Black Adam vs. Superman tease. Gladiator, whose power increases with confidence, is a pretty apt role by comparison. It is worth noting, however, that this off-piste version of Black Adam, and Johnson’s reported refusal to have him go up against his traditional arch-nemesis, Shazam, did not paint Johnson in a good light with comic book fans.

Instead, recent sentiments surrounding Johnson’s possible involvement with the MCU have somewhat soured in light of Black Adam and the significant alterations made to his character. The MCU is not beyond making creative changes to popular Comic Book characters and their stories, but it is a risky endeavor that can result in reputation-harming condemnation from casual fans and enthusiasts alike. While there is nothing to suggest that Johnson is poised to, or wishes to, make such changes to the MCU, it might behoove the studio to wait until the dust has settled on Black Adam first.

Source: Collider/Twitter