The Marvel Cinematic Universe is only as strong as its performances – though some get more credit than others. The MCU was set up from the beginning for enormous success with the inclusion of many celebrated actors in complex roles. While some, like Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, have received consistent acclaim for their performances, others have been overlooked. This is bound to happen in creating an enormous, lived-in universe with many past and upcoming MCU movies; however, it is worth reflecting on some of these lesser-celebrated roles to remember how important they have been to the franchise.

Friends and foes alike, many minor Marvel characters have been pulled from the pages of comics and reinvented to better serve the Marvel Cinematic Universe stories. Others have been made up as original MCU characters simply for their inclusion in these stories, with their actors managing to blend them into a world of well-established figures. Looking at some of these performances of villains and heroes, many excellent performances can be highlighted, all of which deserve to be remembered and some of which must be explored in the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

10

Tommy Lee Jones As Colonel Chester Phillips

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Captain America’s journey through the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been one of the most important. The characters he encountered who either doubted or believed in him fed into that. A rough military man, Phillips initially opposes Rogers’s participation in the Super Soldier project but slowly becomes supportive of the idea. With genuine emotion, Phillips’ hardened edges soften throughout the film.

As an audience surrogate, Jones is incredible to watch here as he journeys through reflection and discovery, and it is effective to see the brusque masculine Marvel character be transformed by what is before his eyes. Jones is a strong performer, and seeing his emotional acting range play out here reflects how the world sees Steve Rogers. This strong performance has left audiences wondering what became of Phillips after Captain America.

9

Jeff Bridges As Obadiah Stane

Iron Man (2008)

Jeff Bridges played the first MCU villain and was one of the best and most effective antagonists in the universe. With a unique presence that oscillates wildly between genuine, paternal friendless, and terrifying, ugly menace, Bridges rises to the occasion with his role in Iron Man in a way that would continue to shape the MCU’s perspective on war, weapons, and profiteering. Understanding the character’s profit-driven outlook and seeing that vilified was a compelling introduction to the universe.

Iron Man, as a character, has massive connections to warfare and weapons technology, and those are never better explored than in the conniving, corporate maneuvering of Obadiah Stane. Some rumors suggest the Iron Man villain could reappear, but even if the villain had never put on an Iron Monger suit of his own, the effects of his character and how they influenced Stark’s outlook on defense are necessary to the universe. Bridges’ strong performance gives the character and material great depth.

8

Stanley Tucci As Abraham Erskine

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Abraham Erskine, portrayed with exceptional charisma by one of the best actors working today, serves as an emotional anchor for Captain America: The First Avenger. Tucci’s Erskine is a man who sees beyond Steve Rogers’ physical appearance, influencing his faith in inner strength. Despite Steve’s constant struggle with his initial size, Erskine’s understanding of his true potential never wavers, nurturing him towards the man he would become in the Super Soldier program.

Erskine’s faith, understanding, and belief are significant for how they shape the Captain America character as well as the MCU universe. The components of his character, executed with such quiet effectiveness, have gone on to influence the moral ideals of the universe, perfectly showing the importance of the franchise’s theme of having faith in others.

7

Corey Stoll As Darren Cross

Ant-Man (2015)

Stoll’s performance as Darren Cross in Ant-Man is a testament to his acting prowess. He effectively brings to life a twisted and sadistic villain, balancing fear, fierceness, madness, brilliance, and jealousy. The mania that consumes Cross in Ant-Man transforms him into a compelling antagonist. Stoll’s portrayal is a masterclass in using strength and tension to create a memorable character.

Unfortunately, some of these performances should not be revisited. Stoll’s inclusion as the MODOK character in Quantumania seemed to fundamentally misunderstand the character of Darren Cross, reducing him to a more simplified figure compared to his prior appearance. While the actor is a strong performer, and his Darren Cross character was an excellent addition to the original film, this revisiting of Cross may, unfortunately, and unfairly, make even this excellent performance seem weaker in retrospect.

6

Ray Stevenson As Volstagg

Thor (2011) And Thor: The Dark World (2013)

The entire Warriors Three, including the late Stevenson, go a long way toward building the world of Asgard in the MCU. Stevenson’s portrayal is powerful and authentic, adding a layer of realism that is often underappreciated. His raw, entertaining charisma makes the world feel lived in and real, and his relationship with Thor is believable and fleshes out the world of Asgard.

While Ray Stevenson has tragically passed, the role remains a testament to his acting talents. A generous and compelling performer, Stevenson fulfills a unique Hollywood type, and his relationship with Thor in these films evidences strong connections between Asgardians that are underexplored in later films. As hero or villain, and doling out violence or friendship, Ray Stevenson imbues every role he inhabits with distinct character and intensity.

5

Liv Tyler As Betty Ross

The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Liv Tyler provides the emotional crux for Edward Norton’s Hulk, and their chemistry goes a long way to accomplishing that. In addition, Tyler plays an excellent audience surrogate in the film through her humanity. Her role is characterized by her resistance to her father and fears for Banner, which are human components that are immensely important in a film of CGI monsters.

As this role was arguably underutilized, Marvel appears set to redeem some low points of their franchise with the return of Betty Ross in the MCU. The actress will be appearing in Captain America: Brave New World which will hopefully lead to further appearances in the franchise. Having the romance between Bruce and Betty would be an excellent way for the MCU to evolve with effective character stories.

4

Lee Pace As Ronan The Accuser

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Menacing and terrifying, Lee Pace gives one of the best MCU villain performances, which is regrettably under-celebrated. As Ronan, Pace commands the screen, and every word he says is powerful and impactful. With a larger universe and cast of characters to set up in Guardians of the Galaxy, however, there is little room for Ronan to be used here to his full potential. Still, Pace shines in every moment he appears.

With an excellent costume, and powerful emotion expressed through a face frozen in stoicism, Pace pulls out the nuances of the character’s emotions and quietly creates a brutal, menacing threat in Ronan. Much of his subdued performance is full of suppressed intensity that allows Pace to effectively blend into the ensemble.

3

Emily VanCamp As Sharon Carter

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

While his MCU story hinges around his romantic relationships, the exploration of Captain America’s personal life in the MCU is oddly lacking in many aspects. His relationship with Sharon Carter feels like the main challenge to this, but it is a complex relationship rife with conflict due to Cap’s relationship with Peggy. Sharon feels complex and larger than the role, with her evolving connections to the MCU as more is unveiled about her. Played with a difficult, ambiguous style, the character feels whole from her first appearance and yet is allowed to evolve and change significantly in subsequent projects.

This complex characterization is taken in a different direction with Sharon’s appearance in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which received mixed responses. However, Sharon’s role there does suggest that the character will have a future in the MCU. This is exciting because VanCamp is a strong and charismatic performer, so being given the opportunity to evolve beyond her complex pairing with Captain America could allow her role to become yet more layered and nuanced.

2

Jon Favreau As Happy Hogan

Iron Man (2008) & Iron Man 2 (2010)

Jon Favreau has grown to a surprising heart of the MCU throughout the recent Spider-Man films, even if he is often used as a punchline. His character, however, began as a small on-screen role when he directed Iron Man, and largely functioned as an extension of his directorial outlook. Happy Hogan is used as a tool to allow other characters to shine; Favreau is a generous performer who plays Hogan intending to elevate his onscreen co-stars like Paltrow and Downey, allowing them to further show off their acting talents and complex characters.

In Iron Man and Iron Man 2, Favreau plays an excellent counterpoint to the effortless cool of Tony Stark with his dorky charm. As Tony’s assistant, he is desperate, a little flawed, and always entirely human. It is difficult to fulfill a role like this, but Favreau makes it seem easy with humor and charisma.

1

Shaun Toub As Yinsen

Iron Man (2008)

Shaun Toub’s turn as Yinsen in Iron Man sets up much of Tony Stark’s journey. Both brilliant scientists, Stark and Yinsen worked together in the cave to build the first version of the Iron Man suit and the arc reactor. Through all of this, Toub plays his role with a plaintive intensity that leads up to a conclusion where he is killed. Yinsen was always planning this, and his words throughout the film are given new meaning by his sacrificial death.

Beyond his effects here, Yinsen is an emotional anchor influencing Tony Stark’s view of mortality throughout the MCU. Yinsen’s death significantly influences Stark’s final trajectory in Endgame, where the hero gives himself up to save others. In a way, Toub’s performance creates the digital heart of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and his role should be remembered much more fondly.