Recasting 10 Avengers As Villains In The MCU

It is incredibly difficult to think of any Avenger that wasn’t perfectly cast in the MCU, but that doesn’t mean the actors who portrayed them couldn’t also make for some fantastic recast villains. After doing much justice to the beloved heroes they brought to the big screen, it is hard to separate many of these actors from their standout performances as Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. It is safe to assume, therefore, that they would bring a similar level of standout quality if their MCU career took a different, darker path.

The MCU has now become a treasure trove of Hollywood A-Listers, from royalty like Anthony Hopkins to more fresh-faced talent like Tom Holland. There are an increasing amount of the best actors in the industry, however, who prefer to take on the roles of the MCU’s greatest villains, making a more fleeting yet lasting impression on the franchise with some truly memorable MCU performances. So, in a show of appreciation for their tenure as the good guys, here are some as-yet-unseen villains that the Avengers cast could also play based on their work so far.

10 Chris Evans (Captain America) As Kraven The Hunter

From his standout role in Knives Out as the scheming Ransom to his overly masculine portrayal of Lucas Lee in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Chris Evans has proven he is capable of portraying an egoistical and arrogant yet captivating villain. Although Kraven the Hunter has a far stricter moral code than Ransom ever did, Evans’ portrayal of the so-moral-it-hurts Captain America has the more respectable side of Kraven covered. Add to that his imposing physique and a villainous black goatee, and it is easy to see Evans sporting the fur-heavy getup of the Spider-Man rival and boasting about how he could do the web-slinging job better.

9 Chris Hemsworth (Thor) As Sabertooth

Starting out as a relatively unknown actor in the MCU, Hemsworth really came into his own playing Thor, especially in later movies. Hemsworth’s comedic skills were on full display in Thor: Ragnarok and Avengers: Endgame, turning him into one of the most beloved MCU actors for his efforts; but the moments where he truly embodied the mightiness of the Mighty Thor are what make Hemsworth a perfect fit for the bestial Sabertooth. That, and the fact that the visual similarities are hard to ignore. Hemsworth is among the fittest cast members of the Avengers and could capably terrify as a hulking Sabertooth worthy of standing up to Wolverine.

8 Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) As Mephisto

Somebody who exudes as much charisma as Robert Downey Jr. is exactly the kind of person you could imagine convincing just about anyone to take a bite out of an apple they have been forbidden from eating. Mephisto is one of the most anticipated MCU villains yet to grace the multiverse with his presence (overtly, at least) for good reason. As Marvel’s answer to the Devil himself, and one of the most powerful villains in Marvel lore, Mephisto deserves a grand entrance – something that Robert Downey Jr. is particularly experienced in. The chance to witness a more sinister manifestation of his quick wit and repartee would also be a delight to behold.

7 Scarlet Johansson (Black Widow) As Mystique

Scarlet Johansson is Oscar-nominated and BAFTA-winning Hollywood royalty more than capable of conveying the troubled, complex, and deadly Mystique. The X-Men mainstay’s famous dexterity is also familiar ground for Johansson, whose tenure as super-assassin Black Widow graced the silver screen with many acrobatic wow-moments reminiscent of Mystique’s seminal first big-screen outing when portrayed by Rebecca Romijn. Mystique is one of Marvel’s deepest characters, deserving of a narrative focus that Johansson could easily carry.

6 Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye) As Sandman

When it comes to making him a villain, Jeremy Renner is prohibitively likable but also experienced in playing a character with a sympathetic backstory mostly designed to counteract the hammy “powers” he was given. Sandman is a character whose powers, while unique, aren’t the most threatening and who often comprises one of several bad guys for Spider-Man to tussle with, which matches up well with Renner’s resume. Renner would also bring an element of charisma and charm to Sandman, who is not as inherently evil as many other Spidey villains but more of a misunderstood thug with an exceptional gift.

5 Mark Ruffalo (Hulk) As Doctor Octopus

It is Mark Ruffalo’s ability to portray an unimposing, meek middle-aged genius that aligns him with the Spider-Man stalwart, Doctor Octopus. This is probably where the similarities end, however, as the rogues gallery icon is notorious for his arrogant darker side, and his ability to rally together fellow villains to a common cause. Ruffalo’s tenure as the Hulk has been arguably underused, so to see him channel his quietly quirky nature into something more sinister yet strangely sympathetic would be an interesting take on the eight-limbed adversary.

4 Elizabeth Olsen (Scarlet Witch) As Emma Frost

As Fox’s X-Men movies demonstrated, it is a tall order to portray a cold Emma Frost without diminishing her on-screen presence; but Olsen’s formidable portrayal of an “evil” Scarlet Witch proved that she needed few words to command a scene and instill fear. Emma Frost is a natural-born leader and master manipulator, something which would counterbalance Scarlet Witch’s backseat role in many installments of the Avengers movies. As a powerful telepath, she also exudes a large measure of power – though it is almost impossible to match up to the power of the Scarlet Witch.

3 Tom Holland (Spider-Man) As Pyro

The problem with casting Tom Holland as a villain is that his innate likability gets in the way. It also doesn’t help that the 24-year-old, who was expertly cast as the teenage Peter Parker, is so young. Thankfully, the X-Men villain Pyro fits the bill as a young, impressionable mutant enlisted into the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants by Mystique only to go through several redemptive arcs. It would be interesting to see the notoriously humble Tom Holland portray the cockiness of Pyro, as well as witness his exceptional accent work, this time taking the guise of an Australian.

2 Paul Bettany (Vision) As Galactus

Though Vision is a beacon of goodness in the MCU, he is the exception to the rule when it comes to Bettany’s filmography, which mostly comprises roles as more sinister characters such as Silas in The Da Vinci Code. Bettany is well-versed in delivering gravitas with few lines, making him an ideal choice for the largely indifferent world-eater, Galactus. There are few threats more intimidating than this cosmic being – but it is the unsettling aloofness with which he goes about his planet munching that makes Bettany a solid casting choice for this MCU villain.

1 Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange) As Knull

Knull is a truly terrifying presence in Marvel, a god responsible for all symbiotes and a world-ending force to be reckoned with. From his distinctive features to the terrifying evil he exudes, the multi-award-winning Benedict Cumberbatch would be the perfect casting choice to portray Knull, should the MCU and Sony’s Spider-Man universe ever collide. Cumberbatch’s role as Smaug in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit is one that springs to mind when recasting Cumberbatch as an MCU villain, and his fondness for meaty roles makes him a solid choice to portray the immensely menacing Knull.