Laurence Fishburne ‘Fantasized’ About Joining the MCU

Laurence Fishburne wanted to play a Marvel character long before it was announced that he would be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Dr. Bill Foster in Ant-Man and the Wasp. Fishburne is one of a small number of actors to play both DC and Marvel characters.

Fishburne’s first role in a major superhero film came in 2007 when he voiced the Silver Surfer in 20th Century Fox’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Fishburne was later cast as Perry White, the Editor-in-Chief at the Daily Bugle, in Man of Steel, the first movie in the DC Expanded Universe. Fishburne reprised the role in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice but due to scheduling conflicts was unable to return for Justice League. Instead, the actor is to jump from DC to Marvel for Ant-Man and the Wasp to play a colleague of Hank Pym’s, Dr. Bill Foster, who in the comic books became the size-changing superhero, Black Goliath.

Related: Ant-Man & The Wasp Set Photos Hint At Hank Pym Flashback

In an interview with Yahoo, Fishburne talked about his excitement at playing a marvel character like Bill Foster. Fishburne says that he long had an ambition to be involved in a Marvel movie. Fishburne’s love for Marvel started when he was a child. Though mostly “a Marvel guy,” Fishburne also read comics from DC, Vertigo, and Dark Horse. According to Fishburne, being in a Marvel movie is something that he’s always wanted to do.

I’ve been watching Marvel movies for a long time and I’ve imagined and dreamt and fantasized that one day I’d be lucky enough to be in the Marvel Universe and that day has come.

Fishburne has spoken before about his interest in working for Marvel. The actor said that he pitched an idea to Marvel prior to receiving the part of Bill Foster. Though nothing was worked out at the time, Fishburne is now working on a secret project with Marvel, which suggests that he could develop a long, fruitful relationship with Marvel that could go beyond his role as Foster.

It remains to be seen what Fishburne’s role as Foster will entail, other than the fact that he will share his comic book counterpart’s history as Hank Pym’s assistant. In the comics, Foster was called upon by Pym when an accident caused Pym to be stuck at 10 feet tall. Only Foster had the scientific expertise to help him return to his normal height. Years later, Foster used Pym Particles to suit up as the second Giant-Man and later as Black Goliath. Fans will have to wait and see if Foster’s past life as a superhero will be addressed in the movie.