The Marvel Cinematic Universe has some of Hollywood’s most in-demand stars, and many actors in the franchise would be perfect for new hero or villain roles in the DC Universe. After directing some of the MCU’s best movies with the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, James Gunn has left Marvel for DC. The director has already cast some MCU stars in the announced DCU projects, including actors like David Harbour, Maria Bakalova, Frank Grillo, and more.
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The MCU is rumored to be facing some form of a reboot after 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars. That could lead to major players departing the franchise in favor of a new generation taking over. That possibility and the fact that Gunn wants to cast Guardians of the Galaxy and MCU actors in future DCU movies could lead to some huge character swaps. Here are 20 MCU stars who could find perfect roles for them in the DCU.
20 Dave Bautista
Bane
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First up is Dave Bautista. The actor has made it clear that he wants to work with Gunn at DC, and given the director’s comments about Guardians of the Galaxy stars joining the DCU, that should happen at some point. There is a chance it is already in the works.
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A Bane and Deathstroke movie is reportedly in development. Dave Bautista has revealed that Bane was his DC dream role for a long time. The actor has the physicality needed for the role, and his drama skills in movies like Blade Runner 2049 show that he would also make Bane a compelling intellectual foe like he is in Batman comics.
19 Josh Brolin
Deathstroke
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Josh Brolin almost joined the DCU already. The MCU’s Thanos actor was offered the role of the Green Lantern Hal Jordan in HBO’s Lanterns series, which he chose not to take. Still, Brolin is open to joining the DCU in another role.
Brolin’s turn as Thanos shows he can play an overarching villain like Deathstroke well.
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With the Deathstroke and Bane movie in development, that character could be none other than Slade Wilson. Brolin’s turn as Thanos shows he can play an overarching villain like Deathstroke well. His take on Cable in Deadpool 2 also shows the actor could deliver thrilling action scenes in the role, bringing grit and confidence to the DC villain.
18 Karen Gillan
Poison Ivy
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Karen Gillan wants to play Poison Ivy in the DCU. More than that, the MCU’s Nebula actress has revealed that she would love for her Poison Ivy to be dating Harley Quinn in James Gunn’s DCU. That could very well happen.
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Gillan looks pitch-perfect for the role. The actress also has the skills to make Poison Ivy a multi-faceted DCU character. Gillan’s body of work includes plenty of action roles, hilarious characters, and strong dramatic work. Alongside Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn — or someone else in the role — she would be a delight to watch.
17 Hayley Atwell
Big Barda
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Hayley Atwell is now having more fun in the MCU, thanks to Captain Carter. The actress has always been one of the franchise’s fan favorites, and Atwell could play another powerful character if she joins the DCU. Perhaps too old for the DCU’s Wonder Woman, she has another possible exciting role.
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The DCU’s Chapter One is called “Gods and Monsters.” That could lead to a project or more focused on DC Comics’ New Gods. Big Barda would have to be part of that, and Atwell is perfect for the character. A fierce and determined warrior like Barda matches Atwell’s Peggy Carter and Lara Croft characters in key ways, showing she is a good fit.
16 Sebastian Stan
The Riddler
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Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes continues to be an important part of the MCU. The actor will be one of the stars of 2025’s Thunderbolts*, a new Marvel team. However, Stan recently said he could see himself as the Riddler.
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|
Confirmed Thunderbolts Cast Member |
Character The Actor Plays |
|---|---|
|
Sebastian Stan |
James “Bucky” Barnes, A.K.A. The Winter Soldier |
|
Florence Pugh |
Yelena Belova, A.K.A. Black Widow |
|
Wyatt Russell |
John Walker, A.K.A. US Agent |
|
David Harbour |
Alexei Shostakov, A.K.A. Red Guardian |
|
Hannah John-Kamen |
Ava Starr, A.K.A. Ghost |
|
Olga Kurylenko |
Antonia Dreykov, A.K.A. Taskmaster |
|
Julia Louis-Dreyfus |
Contessa Valentina Allegra De Fontaine |
|
Harrison Ford |
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|
Lewis Pullman |
Bob (Sentry) |
|
Geraldine Viswanathan |
Unconfirmed |
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Stan’s Winter Soldier shows that a merciless villain is within his skills. The actor’s turn as the Mad Hatter in Once Upon a Time offers proof that his Riddler could be as quirky and fearful as required. No Batman villains have been confirmed for The Brave and the Bold yet.
15 Chris Hemsworth
Aquaman
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Jason Momoa and the rest of the DCEU’s Justice League are reportedly out. As such, the Aquaman role is up for any actor to take. Since the character is so important, a major MCU star could do the role justice.
Jason Momoa is rumored to be playing Lobo in the DCU.
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Chris Hemsworth’s Thor experience makes him perfect for Aquaman. It would also allow the DCU to go for a more comic book-accurate route with Arthur Curry. Hemsworth could make Aquaman regal and a defender of his people, using a little of his Thor humor when needed to balance the character out.
14 Scarlett Johansson
Mera
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If Hemsworth were to play the DCU’s Aquaman, then there is another MCU star who could be by his side. Scarlett Johansson has made it clear that she is done playing Black Widow. However, her stance on a move to DC is unknown.
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Mera is every bit as capable as Aquaman. Johansson would be able to make it so that the character’s importance to Atlantis and the larger DCU is felt. Mera could even be part of the DCU’s Justice League instead of Aquaman, switching things up from what the DCEU did, and Johansson has the star power to make it work.
13 Zendaya
Starfire
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Zendaya is one of the most popular fancasts for the DCU’s Starfire. With a Teen Titans movie in development, Starfire is most likely going to be part of it. At 28, Zendaya could help James Gunn’s 10-year DCU plan take shape.
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The actress has been part of some major franchises. In the MCU, she does not get to have powers of her own. With two Emmys to her name and popular dramatic roles, she could make Starfire a fierce fighter. Zendaya also has great comedic timing, which could suit the DCU’s Starfire if they go with the more innocent version of the character.
12 Tom Holland
Nightwing
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While it would be shocking to see Tom Holland join the DCU, if Zendaya plays Starfire, then he could follow her in a major role. Nightwing is very much like Spider-Man in many regards. Due to that, Holland could excel in the DC world of characters.
Like Holland’s Peter Parker, Dick Grayson is also his franchise’s most charismatic character. The hero often serves in a leadership role, and with the actor’s huge box office impact, he has what it takes to make Nightwing the star he should be. Holland can deliver a compassionate, charming, strong, and funny Nightwing.
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11 Robert Downey Jr.
Brainiac
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Robert Downey Jr. is one of Hollywood’s most talented stars. The actor is making a return to the MCU, now playing Doctor Doom instead of Iron Man. If he were to join DC, a villain role would suit him.
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RDJ could be the ideal pick for Brainiac. The villain was requested by fans for Henry Cavill’s Man of Steel 2 and, more recently, for David Corenswet’s Superman. Brainiac is extremely intelligent, shows no emotion, and tries to collect civilizations and knowledge from every place in the universe. Downey could make Brainiac a frightening DCU foe.
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10 Mark Ruffalo
Doctor Fate
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Another original member of the Avengers could also play a powerful DCU character. Pierce Brosnan’s Doctor Fate was incredible in Black Adam. Mark Ruffalo has the skills to make a new version of the complex character just as compelling.
After the Hulk became played for laughs in the MCU, Doctor Fate could give Ruffalo a more serious comic book role. The character is extremely powerful and nuanced, with Nabu — the Lord of Order behind Fate’s helmet — slowly influencing Kent Nelson more and more. Ruffalo’s past roles show he would be perfect for the character’s intricate backstory and twists.
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9 Sterling K. Brown
Martian Manhunter
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Sterling K. Brown would have loved to join the DCU as the Green Lantern John Stewart. However, Aaron Pierre has been cast as John in the Lanterns series. Still, the Black Panther franchise actor could play another major DC hero.
Brown is extremely talented in dramatic roles. His turn in This Is Us, as well as other projects, show how great he could be as Martian Manhunter, who is a colder and wiser character. The star would be great as a mentor to younger DCU heroes.
8 Jeremy Renner
Jim Gordon
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After his snowplow accident, Jeremy Renner might choose to retire from demanding superhero stunts. As such, instead of playing another hero like he does as Hawkeye in the MCU, Renner could play a very important supporting character in the DCU.
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Jim Gordon is one of Batman’s main partners. At 53, Renner is at a good age to play him, and the no-nonsense attitude and sense of justice that multiple of his roles have fits perfectly with Gordon. Renner’s Jim Gordon could be loyal, a true leader, and compassionate.
7 Benedict Cumberbatch
Darkseid
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Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange has become one of the MCU’s most popular heroes. While the actor has become known for his heroic character, Cumberbatch can play some captivating villains. Darkseid is DC’s biggest, and the MCU star has one role that shows he would deliver a potent performance as Darkseid.
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In The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Cumberbatch had a full movie to show his villain skills in a major franchise. To turn into the evil dragon, Cumberbatch not only created a frightening voice, but also did motion capture. That is precisely what is needed for Darkseid, with Cumberbatch’s Smaug being a powerful, manipulative, and smart foe, just like the major DC villain.
6 Brie Larson
Black Canary
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After The Marvels was a disappointment at the box office, Brie Larson might end her time as Captain Marvel with the next two Avengers films. That could set her up to join the DCU. Larson, as Black Canary, could be a member of the Justice League.
Like Carol Danvers, Larson could make Dinah Lance a leader among other DCU heroes. The actress has the skills to play one of DC’s coolest female heroes, making Black Canary a fighter that never gives up. Larson is also a great choice for a fun dynamic between Black Canary and Green Arrow in the DCU.
5 Chris Pratt
Green Arrow
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Chris Pratt will join the DCU, as Gunn has a role in mind for him. Green Arrow is perhaps the best possible character for the actor, as it allows multiple skills of his to shine. Oliver Queen can also get to the big screen after not appearing in the DCEU.
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Pratt’s comedic timing is a perfect match for Green Arrow. The MCU’s Star-Lord actor could make Oliver Queen one of the DCU’s funniest and most charismatic heroes. Pratt is a major action star who can take on any fight scene the DCU throws at him, making Green Arrow a fan favorite in no time.
4 Chris Evans
Booster Gold
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Chris Evans is one of the faces of the MCU. While he became known worldwide for playing Captain America, the actor recently returned to the MCU as his version of the Fantastic Four’s Human Torch. That role could inform his perfect DCU hero.
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As one of the MCU’s most recognizable stars, if Evans were to join the DCU, it would have to be in a role that is very different from Captain America. Evans’ comedic talents would be perfect to lead the Booster Gold series. The actor could tap into his Johnny Storm role and past in comedies to make Booster as hilarious as he is in the comics.
3 Hailee Steinfeld
Wonder Woman
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Hailee Steinfeld is not a common name among the DCU’s Wonder Woman fancasts, but she would be perfect for the role. At 27, she is close in age to 31-year-old Superman actor David Corenswet. As for her acting skills, Steinfeld is quite talented. Steinfeld was only 14 when she was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar.
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The star plays Kate Bishop in the MCU. While Marvel has plans for the new Hawkeye, she could stay in the MCU and use her skills to bring a more well-rounded Wonder Woman than Gal Gadot’s to the DCU at the same time. Steinfeld can make Diana Prince as inspiring and fierce as she is known for.
2 Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Batman
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Aaron Taylor-Johnson is bound to lead a major franchise. The actor is a favorite for the DCU’s Batman and the next James Bond. While he could be perfect in both roles, Taylor-Johnson taking on Batman is a perfect match.
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The actor has a history with superhero movie roles, playing Kick-Ass, as well as the MCU’s Quicksilver and soon Sony’s Kraven the Hunter. Taylor-Johnson has shown that he can do great work with dark and brooding characters, while he would make Bruce Wayne’s playboy personality charismatic and fun to watch.
1 Elizabeth Olsen
Catwoman
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While they played brother and sister in the MCU, Elizabeth Olsen and Aaron Taylor-Johnson were a couple in 2014’s Godzilla before that. They could repeat that relationship in the DCU, as the Scarlet Witch actress would make for an excellent Catwoman. Selina Kyle could even be part of one or more teams of DC characters.
Olsen has many roles that show she could pull off Selina Kyle’s playful personality, allure, resourcefulness, and more. She has made the Scarlet Witch possibly the biggest MCU character outside the original Avengers and Spider-Man. Since the Batman part of the DCU franchise will be very important, Olsen could appear in both the MCU and the DCU, making Catwoman a franchise staple.
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The DC Universe is one of the biggest comic book franchises and often competes with Marvel. DC Comics started as National Allied Publications, founded by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson in 1935. Since then, the franchise has exploded with thousands of comic books, movies, TV shows, and video games. 2013 marked the beginning of the most recent iteration of the superheroes, with Zack Snyder introducing Henry Cavill as Superman. After several movies with mixed reviews, DC underwent a soft reboot under the helm of James Gunn and Peter Safran.
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The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount’s Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
DC Universe 5.5/10
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Upcoming DC Movie Releases
- Superman (2025)
Release Date July 11, 2025
- Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
Release Date June 26, 2026
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Release Date October 2, 2026
Superman (2025)
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
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