Key roles in the MCU were recast with new actors since the inception of the Marvel Universe. While it can be jarring when a familiar character shows up with a new face, Marvel found talented performers who made these parts their own. And all this happened without making the audience feel any different.
Let’s take a look at a few of the most significant Marvel character recastings over the years and see how the new actors measured up.
| Actor Replaced | Character Played | New Actor | First Movie | Last Appearance | Reason for Recasting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terrence Howard | James Rhodes/War Machine | Don Cheadle | Iron ManIron Man is a fictional superhero created by Marvel Comics. ... More (2008) | Iron ManIron Man is a fictional superhero created by Marvel Comics. ... More (2008) | Howard had financial disputes with Marvel over salary |
| Edward Norton | Bruce Banner/Hulk | Mark Ruffalo''Mark Alan Ruffalo'' (born November 22, 1967) is an America... More | The Incredible HulkHulk is a fictional superhero created by Marvel Comics. He f... More (2008) | The Incredible HulkHulk is a fictional superhero created by Marvel Comics. He f... More (2008) | Norton’s acting approach didn’t fit Marvel’s style |
| John Slattery | Young Howard Stark | Dominic Cooper | Iron ManIron Man is a fictional superhero created by Marvel Comics. ... More 2 (2010) | Ant-Man (2015), Agent Carter (TV) | Slattery had scheduling conflicts |
| Abby Ryder Fortson (child Cassie), Emma Fuhrmann (teen Cassie) | Cassie Lang | Kathryn Newton | Ant-Man (2015) | Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) | Recast to portray older version of Cassie |
| Joshua Dallas | Fandral | Zachary Levi | ThorThor Odinson is a fictional superhero from Marvel Comics and... More (2011) | ThorThor Odinson is a fictional superhero from Marvel Comics and... More (2011) | Dallas had scheduling conflicts |
| Jonathan Majors | KangKang the Conqueror is one rad supervillain with a passion fo... More Variants | TBD | LokiAbout Loki - Wiki SectionInformationReal NameLoki LaufeysonA... More (TV 2021) | LokiAbout Loki - Wiki SectionInformationReal NameLoki LaufeysonA... More (TV 2023) | Legal Issue/Contract Terminated by Marvel |
| Damion Poitier | ThanosThanos is a villainous fictional character that first appear... More | Josh Brolin | The Avengers (2012) | The Avengers (2012) | Poitier was a temporary stand-in for an early cameo |
| Hugo Weaving | Red Skull | Ross Marquand | Captain AmericaCaptain America is a fictional superhero created by Marvel C... More: The First Avenger (2011) | Captain AmericaCaptain America is a fictional superhero created by Marvel C... More: The First Avenger (2011) | Weaving had salary disputes with Marvel |
| Miley Cyrus | Mainframe | Tara Strong | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) | Cyrus had scheduling conflicts |
| William Hurt | Thaddeus Ross | Harrison Ford | The Incredible HulkHulk is a fictional superhero created by Marvel Comics. He f... More (2008) | Black WidowBlack Widow is a fictional character from Marvel Comics and ... More (2021) | Recast after Hurt’s passing in March 2022 |
James Rhodes
After Terrence Howard’s exit, Don Cheadle stepped in to play James Rhodes/War Machine.
Why did Howard hang up War Machine’s armor after the first Iron ManIron Man is a fictional superhero created by Marvel Comics. ... More film?
Reports cite financial disputes – Howard claimed Marvel failed to pay him his full salary, while Marvel said he asked for too much money for future films.
Either way, Cheadle slid seamlessly into the role starting with Iron ManIron Man is a fictional superhero created by Marvel Comics. ... More 2, making Rhodey one of the MCU’s most indispensable players. Don Cheadle was last seen in Secret Invasion season 1 and is expected to get his own movie, Armor Wars.
New Hulk
Edward Norton played Bruce Banner in The Incredible HulkHulk is a fictional superhero created by Marvel Comics. He f... More, but by 2012’s The Avengers, Mark Ruffalo''Mark Alan Ruffalo'' (born November 22, 1967) is an America... More became our newest jade giant.
Rumors indicate Norton’s serious, method approach to acting clashed with Marvel’s looser style. For his part, Ruffalo brought a twitchy, intellectual energy and always-imminent anger that meshed perfectly with the MCU’s HulkHulk is a fictional superhero created by Marvel Comics. He f... More. And fans loved it.
Howard Stark
When the time came to portray Tony Stark’s father Howard in his younger years, John Slattery tagged out and Dominic Cooper took a turn as the elder Stark in Captain AmericaCaptain America is a fictional superhero created by Marvel C... More: The First Avenger. Slattery reportedly had scheduling conflicts that prevented him from reprising the role.
Luckily, Cooper exuded the same clever charm while showing Howard’s early days as an ambitious inventor and ally to Cap.
Cassie Lang
Abby Ryder Fortson portrayed Ant-Man’s daughter Cassie in her younger years. But the Avengers’ timeline-jumping brought an older Cassie, played by Emma Fuhrmann, into the fold in Endgame. This let Cassie evolve alongside the MCU’s timeline shifts.
But Marvel didn’t stop just here. Cassie was recast for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania movie and this time Kathryn Newton took over the role for good.
While Abby Ryder Fortson portrayed a child, Cassie, Fuhrmann had a few scenes in the Endgame. However, Kathryn Newton did a great job as Cassie in the Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania movie. Cassie Lang is also said to be a part of upcoming Young Avengers movies.
Kang
When iconic villain Kang the ConquerorKang the Conqueror is one rad supervillain with a passion fo... More entered the MCU in LokiAbout Loki - Wiki SectionInformationReal NameLoki LaufeysonA... More, Jonathan Majors anchored the role. He played different variants of KangKang the Conqueror is one rad supervillain with a passion fo... More in LokiAbout Loki - Wiki SectionInformationReal NameLoki LaufeysonA... More (season 1 and season 2) and also appeared in his KangKang the Conqueror is one rad supervillain with a passion fo... More role in the Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania movie.
However, after a setback in a legal battle of his life, Jonathon Majors was declared guilty by a jury in a case that later led Marvel to fire him from his Kang role. Marvel hasn’t announced a new KangKang the Conqueror is one rad supervillain with a passion fo... More actor casting yet, but it’s likely that a new actor will take over the role in the upcoming movies.
A major setback for the fans however, there were already rumors that MCU might shift focus from KangKang the Conqueror is one rad supervillain with a passion fo... More, especially after the poor reception of his appearance in the Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania movie.
Thanos
Marvel had been building Thanos’ character since The Avengers movie but it wasn’t Josh Brolin who first played the character.
When the casting for ThanosThanos is a villainous fictional character that first appear... More wasn’t finalized, Damion Poitier was playing the role physically with his first appearance in post-credits of The Avengers movie, after LokiAbout Loki - Wiki SectionInformationReal NameLoki LaufeysonA... More, played by Tom Hiddleston failed to do the task.
Later, Josh Brolin was picked to play ThanosThanos is a villainous fictional character that first appear... More who not only voiced but physically played (using CGI) ThanosThanos is a villainous fictional character that first appear... More in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame.
Red Skull
Hugo Weaving originated Red Skull in Captain AmericaCaptain America is a fictional superhero created by Marvel C... More: The First Avenger. But after pay disputes, Ross Marquand took over the voice role in later films. Red Skull was last seen in the Avengers: Endgame and his last interaction was with Black WidowBlack Widow is a fictional character from Marvel Comics and ... More. He’s expected to make further appearances in the MCU.
Fun fact about Ross Marquand is that he
Mainframe (GotG)
Miley Cyrus voiced Mainframe in a Guardians 2 credits scene but scheduling issues led Tara Strong to take over the role in the sequel.
Thunderbolt Ross
After William Hurt’s tragic passing in March 2022, Harrison Ford inherited the role of Thaddeus Ross starting in Captain AmericaCaptain America is a fictional superhero created by Marvel C... More 4. Ford was seen on the set without typical Ross’ famous mustaches.
The MCU marches on, and more casting changes likely await around the bend. But Marvel has shown they can pull off these transitions and keep fans happy with fresh faces under the iconic masks.
The hardest one yet would be recasting KangKang the Conqueror is one rad supervillain with a passion fo... More. There are also rumors that Marvel will be moving away from KangKang the Conqueror is one rad supervillain with a passion fo... More and putting in Dr. Doom as the future Thanos-like villain but it’s too early to say anything.
Let’s see how this transition moves forward.
