Not every actor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe ended up playing their preferred role, and many have since revealed which character they had always dreamed of playing. The MCU boasts an impressive and star-studded cast that has brought beloved Marvel heroes to life for decades, often fulfilling Marvel readers’ dreams of seeing their favorite superhero brought to life. However, some central MCU cast members have explicitly noted that their dream was to play a different character.

Many MCU actors have commented on how much they love playing their characters and how it was a dream come true. Tom Holland is a notable example of an actor who has loved his character ever since he was a young child and was overjoyed to play Spider-Man in the MCU timeline. Others, like Robert Downey Jr., embodied their character so effectively, that they have been celebrated as delivering the quintessential rendition of the character, appearing in the very best MCU movies.

10Donald Glover – Aaron Davis (Spider-Man: Homecoming)

Who He Wanted To Play: Spider-Man

Donald Glover served as the original inspiration for Miles Morales, the teenage Spider-Man. As such, when The Amazing Spider-Man was in development, Glover actively campaigned to be cast as Morales on social media and in the series, Community. Andrew Garfield was ultimately cast, but Donald Glover’s association with Miles Morales has been cemented ever since. As Glover has aged out of the teenage role, it is unlikely that he will ever play Spider-Man in live-action – though he has voiced Miles in the Ultimate Spider-Man animated series.

Glover’s connection to the Spider-Man universe continued when he was cast as Aaron Davis, Miles Morales’s uncle, in Spider-Man: Homecoming. In the film, Davis hints at his nephew’s existence, a nod to Miles Morales’s potential future appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This casting choice delighted audiences, acknowledging Glover’s initial campaign and his enduring association with the beloved character.

Who She Wanted To Play: An X-Men

Before Pom Klementieff became widely recognized for her role as Mantis in the MCU, she harbored a different superhero dream: to be one of the X-Men. Kelmentieff first appeared as Mantis in James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and was a mainstay character in the franchise until Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 concluded several character arcs. Klementieff discussed working with Gunn at the Ace Superhero Comic Con (via Cinema Blend), stating:

“For me it was amazing to work with James Gunn, it was always my dream to be an X-Men or part of a Marvel movie. Then, I saw the first Guardians of the Galaxy, and it became my first Marvel movie ever. Then, I got cast in the second one. I feel so lucky.”

Although she did not become a member of the X-Men, Klementieff’s dream of acting in a Marvel movie certainly did come true. Klementieff’s performance of Mantis was captivating and offered a thrilling and dynamic update on the classic Marvel Comics character. While Klementieff would have flourished as one of Marvel’s mutants, her Mantis was staggeringly entrancing, endearing audiences with her gentle yet formidable presence.

Who He Wanted To Play: Doctor Doom

Following his character’s death in the MCU Phase 5, Ben Mendelsohn desperately wants to be recast as Doctor Doom. Mendelsohn portrayed the Skrull Talos, who was first introduced in Captain Marvel and then appeared throughout Secret Invasion. At the end of the miniseries, Talos was killed, prompting Mendelsohn to lobby for the iconic Marvel villain, Victor von Doom.

In several interviews after completing Talos’s arc in the MCU, Ben Mendelsohn has been emphatic about his desire to play Doctor Doom. Mendelsohn has spoken at length about his interest in Doom’s complex and tragic motivations and even railed against the Fantastic Four in true supervillain fashion. While perhaps not as physically intimidating as one might expect for the MCU’s Doctor Doom, Mendellsohn’s ability to portray nuanced and damaged characters would serve him well in portraying the highly anticipated villain.

Who He Wanted to Play: Black Panther

Before Wesley Snipes became synonymous with the character Blade, he had his sights set on playing Black Panther. In the early 1990s, Snipes began pushing for a Black Panther movie, noting his desire to explore the hero’s rich cultural heritage and history as a black superhero. Despite his efforts, various obstacles, including script issues and technological limitations, stalled Wesley Snipe’s Black Panther project.

However, Snipes’ ambition to bring a black superhero to the big screen did not go unfulfilled. In 1998, he was cast as Blade, Marvel’s half-vampire hero. Blade became one of the most influential comic book movies ever, spawning two sequels and establishing several essential superhero movie tropes. While the MCU is rebooting the character, Wesley Snipe’s performance as Blade was so quintessential that Snipe’s Blade is rumored to be joining the MCU as an older variant of the character.

Who He Wanted To Play: Spider-Man

Chris Evans was celebrated for his iconic portrayal of Captain America in the MCU, embodying the character’s valor, integrity, and resilience. However, Evans’ childhood hero wasn’t the famed first Avenger, but rather Spider-Man. After leaving the mighty cinematic franchise, Evans discussed his love for Marvel’s Spider-Man and noted that he would have loved to play Peter Parker in a Spider-Man movie.

Chris Evans revealed in an interview that he was keen to play Spider-Man’s wall-crawling and urban acrobatics – presumably during Tobey Maguire’s era. However, Evans had significant reservations about the Spider-Man suit. Evans is claustrophobic and was concerned about wearing the mask and the form-fitting, full-body costume that the role requires. While he didn’t get to play his childhood hero, Evans noted that he was very satisfied playing Captain America, and even preferred his costume.

Who He Wanted to Play: Black Panther

Anthony Mackie has revealed that before being cast as Sam Wilson in the MCU, he was actively trying to play the franchise’s Black Panther. In an interview with Inverse, Mackie discussed how fervently he petitioned Marvel to produce a Black Panther movie, with him in the lead role. Mackie even claimed to have written letters to Marvel producers requesting the movie and the role.

Marvel ultimately decided that Mackie was better suited to play the MCU’s Sam Wilson, aka Falcon, for Captain America: The Winter Soldier. This role has since flourished into one of the franchise’s main characters, appearing in each Avengers movie and finally becoming the next Captain America in the MCU’s Captain America: Brave New World. As one of the most prevalent cast members, and boasting one of the most significant character arcs, it would seem Marvel made the correct decision.

Who He Wanted To Play: Captain America

John Krasinski harbored ambitions of playing Captain America in the MCU, even making the shortlist alongside Chris Evans. During the casting process for Captain America: The First Avenger, Krasinski auditioned and even tried on the iconic suit. The prospect of embodying the quintessential American hero was thrilling for him. However, despite his initial enthusiasm, Krasinski ultimately decided not to pursue the role further, frequently joking that he was intimidated by Chris Hemsworth’s enormous physique.

Krasinski’s Marvel journey, however, did not end there. In 2022, he made a surprising and much-celebrated appearance as a variant of Mister Fantastic, the leader of the Fantastic Four, in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. This cameo delighted audiences who have repeatedly voted for Krasinski as the dream casting for Reed Richards. Krasinski will not be reprising the role in the MCU’s The Fantastic Four but has stated he is open to returning to the franchise in the future.

Who She Wanted To Play: Storm

In the 1980s, acclaimed actress Angela Bassett was a top contender to play Storm in a planned X-Men movie by director James Cameron. This project, however, was ultimately shelved. Bassett’s commanding presence and powerful delivery would have made her an ideal fit for Storm, capturing the grandeur and strength reminiscent of the character’s portrayal in X-Men: The Animated Series. Her ability to embody both authority and empathy would have brought the weather-controlling mutant to life very effectively.

Decades later, Bassett joined the MCU as Queen Ramonda in Black Panther. Her portrayal of the Wakandan queen was both regal and deeply emotive, earning her widespread acclaim. In 2022, Bassett’s performance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever garnered her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, making her the first actor to receive an Oscar nod for a role in a Marvel film.

Who He Wanted To Play: J. Jonah Jameson

Stan Lee, the legendary co-creator of many iconic Marvel characters, made memorable cameo appearances in nearly every Marvel film until his passing. Marvel Studios later confirmed a fan theory that Lee portrayed an informant for the Watchers, a race of cosmic beings who observe and record significant events across the universe. This clever continuity linked Stan Lee’s diverse cameos into a cohesive narrative thread.

Before his iconic run of Marvel cameos, Stan Lee had ambitions to play J. Jonah Jameson, the irascible editor of the Daily Bugle, in a live-action Spider-Man movie. Lee actively lobbied for the role, believing his energetic and outspoken persona suited Jameson perfectly. However, by the time Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man was released in 2002, Lee was too old for the part that went to J. K. Simmons, but Lee did appear in one of his trademark cameos.

Who He Wanted To Play: Professor Xavier

Giancarlo Esposito, known for his captivating performances in Breaking Bad and The Mandalorian, has been cast as a villain in Captain America: Brave New World. This announcement has generated excitement among audiences eager to see Esposito’s signature intensity and charisma in the MCU. Esposito’s ability to portray complex and menacing characters makes him a perfect addition to the MCU’s roster of villains, promising a memorable performance.

Interestingly, Esposito had previously expressed a strong desire to play the X-Men’s Professor Charles Xavier, noting that he was keen to play a hero. He envisioned bringing a new dimension to the iconic role, emphasizing Xavier’s intellect and moral strength, and suggesting that Marvel ditch the mutant’s famed wheelchair. Esposito discussed the role in an interview on The Tonight Show, where he showed enthusiasm for bringing the famed mutant leader to life in the MCU’s future.

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10 MCU Actors Who Weren’t Cast In Their Dream Roles