10 Casting Choices That Saved Marvel Movies From Being Completely Forgettable

Summary

  • Rememberable casting choices in Marvel movies have saved forgettable films from fading into obscurity.
  • Actors like Sam Rockwell, Andrew Garfield, and James Spader have elevated somewhat forgettable Marvel movies.
  • Other strong actors in less memorable Marvel films include Florence Pugh, Christian Bale, Emma Stone, and Iman Vellani.



Be it within the Marvel Cinematic Universe or the various other franchises based on Marvel Comics, several forgettable movies have been crafted that have been saved by specific casting choices. While the MCU is often praised for its casting decisions, it remains the case that most projects based on Marvel properties have succeeded in finding great actors to portray iconic superheroes. This is no more evident than in the Marvel movies releasing in 2024, with Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine and Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool headlining a film as two of the best superhero casting choices in history.

Thankfully, it does not seem as though the studio’s casting strengths will dwindle in upcoming MCU movies. First-time MCU appearances by Harrison Ford, Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Mahershala Ali are all expected in the coming years. This is without mentioning the upcoming Spider-Man movie castings from Sony Pictures. Over the decades, however, Marvel movies have not always eclipsed the quality of casting decisions. Some forgettable Marvel outings have often been saved by well-cast heroes who have elevated films beyond their storytelling capacities.


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10 Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky/Abomination

The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Undoubtedly, the most forgettable MCU movie in Phase 1 of the Infinity Saga is The Incredible Hulk. Coming only five years after the last theatrical Hulk movie did not increase anticipation, and the film has since faded from conversations with some even incorrectly dubbing it non-canon to the MCU due to recasts and the absence of story points in subsequent movies, until the story of Captain America: Brave New World, that is. Overall, The Incredible Hulk is simply a solid, enjoyable, if forgettable movie for the most part, though with one casting choice standing the test of time.


Tim Roth has been theorized to appear in the upcoming MCU movie Thunderbolts* which centers around a team of anti-heroes.

The best character in The Incredible Hulk is Tim Roth’s Emil Blonsky. Roth’s one-man-army vibe in The Incredible Hulk makes him an entertaining villain, and his performance elevates the character of Blonsky above somewhat boring side characters like Betty and Thunderbolt Ross. Roth’s performance was so impressive that he is one of the few characters from The Incredible Hulk to return to the MCU in projects like Shang-Chi and She-Hulk. When looking back on The Incredible Hulk, Roth’s Abomination is what most people think of first, a testament to the casting choice.


The Incredible Hulk

The second film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is The Incredible Hulk, which was released in 2008. The film introduced a new backstory for the Hulk to differentiate it from the 2003 movie, Hulk. Actor Edward Norton played the role of the green hulk, and his alter ego Bruce Banner. He is joined by actress Liv Tyler who plays his love interest, Dr. Elizabeth “Betty” Ross. Betty’s father, General Thunderbolt Ross (William Hurt), is hoping to recreate a World War II supersoldier program and, in the process, exposes Bruce to gamma radiation that transforms him into the Hulk. He flees to find a cure for himself but is eventually tracked down by Thunderbolt, who forms an alliance with Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth). After The Incredible Hulk, Mark Ruffalo took over the character for subsequent movies in the MCU.
 

Director
Louis Leterrier

Release Date
June 13, 2008

Writers
Zak Penn

Runtime
112 minutes

9 Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer

Iron Man 2 (2010)

Iron Man 2 is not only counted as the weakest in the trilogy but also one of the worst-ranked MCU movies overall. It is fun and has great action sequences and performances, but its plot is forgettable thanks to a poor central villain. However, the secondary antagonist of the film is what allows the villainous presence of Iron Man 2 not to fall completely flat. Sam Rockwell’s Justin Hammer is a bright spot of Iron Man 2 and is similar to Roth in that his performance is what stands out amid several unmemorable aspects.


Rockwell’s Hammer has an overwhelming charisma, making him a hilariously corporate evil in the MCU. No matter who Hammer shares the scene with, the chemistry is evident and Rockwell’s many scenes are often marked as highlights of Iron Man 2. While Rockwell is yet to return to the MCU, the fact that audiences have been clamoring for his return only proves how he aided Iron Man 2 to be somewhat memorable.

Iron Man 2

The third film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Man 2, is an action-superhero film that occurs six months after the original film’s events. After outing himself as the heavy metal superhero known as Iron Man, Tony Stark goes to great lengths to avoid demands from the government for his tech. But, unfortunately, the technology Tony used to save his life is beginning to impact his health inversely – just in time for a man named Ivan Vanko to arrive, who creates his version of the Iron Man tech to settle a decades-long score with Howard Stark’s son.

Release Date
May 7, 2010

Writers
Justin Theroux

Runtime
124 minutes

8 Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker/Spider-Man

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)


The Amazing Spider-Man is not a bad movie and has many great elements. However, some narrative similarities and rehashed plot points from Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man cause The Amazing Spider-Man to be more forgettable than the Maguire films, as does the latter series’ inability to go past a second installment. That said, one aspect that no one has forgotten about The Amazing Spider-Man and its sequel is Andrew Garfield as the titular web-slinger.

Garfield’s performance as Peter Parker often sees him counted among the best live-action Spider-Man actors. From his strength in Peter’s emotional moments to the much-improved quippy, sarcastic nature of Spider-Man from the Maguire movies, Garfield embodied everything about the character from Marvel Comics. Garfield’s return in Spider-Man: No Way Home solidified this, with his reminder of how perfect he was as Spidey causing calls for the canceled Amazing Spider-Man 3 story to be revived. Amid familiar thus forgettable plot points, Garfield’s casting as Spider-Man is what remains a bright spark to this day.


The Amazing Spider-Man

In Andrew Garfield’s first film as the iconic Marvel superhero, Peter Parker gains his powers and his alter ego as Spider-Man. Meanwhile, the Lizard is a growing threat, and Spider-Man must use his newfound abilities to save the day.

Director
Marc Webb

Release Date
July 3, 2012

Writers
Steve Kloves , James Vanderbilt , Alvin Sargent

Runtime
136 minutes

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7 Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)


Although it remains true that Garfield is one of the most memorable aspects of the slightly forgettable The Amazing Spider-Man and The Amazing Spider-Man 2, he would not have gotten far without Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy. The many Spider-Man stories that have been told across all mediums have included iconic relationships. Despite the pressure of surpassing these relationships and making Spider-Man’s latest love interest a good character in her own right, Emma Stone managed both easily.

While she did not appear in the film, Emma Stone’s casting as Gwen Stacy was so good that her legacy and connection to Garfield’s Spider-Man was one of the strongest aspects of No Way Home.

Stone’s performance as Stacy is brilliant, and she is widely regarded as the strongest love interest for Spider-Man ever put to screen. This is primarily because she works as a singular character with her own dreams, ambitions, and arcs separate from Peter Parker. Even still, Stone’s chemistry with Garfield is electrifying in both movies. The duo is possibly the best on-screen couple in Marvel movie history, and the emotional investment in their relationship aids The Amazing Spider-Man and especially The Amazing Spider-Man 2 to overcome a forgettable story by being utterly heartbreaking.


The Amazing Spider-Man 2 poster

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

In The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Andrew Garfield returns to the role of Peter Parker/Spider-Man, dealing with balancing his life as a high school student and his responsibilities as a hero. After reconnecting with his old friend, Harry Osborn, Peter learns details regarding his late father’s mysterious past and begins to connect the dots that his father’s disappearance, the emergence of new supervillains, and other dark dealings in his city are all connected to Oscorp. 

Director
Marc Webb

Release Date
May 2, 2014

Writers
Jeff Pinkner , James Vanderbilt , Alex Kurtzman , Roberto Orci

Runtime
142 minutes

6 James Spader as Ultron

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

While Avengers: Age of Ultron is great fun in its own right, there are several elements that make it the most forgettable of the four Avengers movies. For one, it spends a lot of time setting up future Phase 3 MCU films, meaning that the more memorable elements of the story actually tie to other projects. The film itself therefore has less memorable moments than The Avengers, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. However, the most memorable parts of Avengers: Age of Ultron surround the titular villain, played by James Spader.


Spader’s voice work for Ultron is incredible. Not only does he switch from menacing and threatening to sarcastic and witty with ease, but it never feels out of character. Ultron’s physical presence is easily matched by Spader’s voiceover, allowing the villain to remain memorable in a film that has several forgettable aspects.

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5 Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock/Venom

Venom (2018)

Sony’s Spider-Man Universe has been admittedly rocky. Only the Venom movies have had any kind of commercial success and the critical reception to each installment has been severely lacking. While Venom and Venom: Let There Be Carnage are the most enjoyable movies the SSU has to offer, they are still highly forgettable, especially the former.

The final Venom movie, Venom: The Last Dance, will be released in October 2024.


Despite that, Tom Hardy’s casting as Eddie Brock/Venom is the most memorable part of both films. Hardy is borderline unhinged in the SSU, imbuing Brock and Venom with the split personalities that make his scenes in each entry engaging. Hardy’s commitment to such a taxing role is impressive, especially considering the stories that house them never quite warrant such a strong performance. In a series full of forgettable villains, thinly written scripts, and mind-numbing action, Hardy constantly stands tall as Eddie Brock and his symbiotic friend.

Venom 2018 Movie Poster

Venom

Venom is an action sci-fi movie that stars Tom Hardy as the titular Marvel anti-hero. When the Life Foundation begins experimenting on alien lifeforms they find on a comet that landed nearby, Investigative Journalist Eddie Brock begins to investigate them. When an infiltration goes wrong, Eddie finds that one of the aliens has bonded to him, forcing him to learn to live with his new uninvited host. Giving him superhuman powers, the two begin to work together to stop the rest of the symbiote’s invasive species.

Director
Ruben Fleischer

Release Date
October 5, 2018

Writers
Scott Rosenberg , Jeff Pinkner

Cast
Woody Harrelson , Jenny Slate , Michelle Williams , Scott Haze , Tom Hardy , Riz Ahmed

Runtime
112 Minutes

4 Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury

Captain Marvel (2019)


Interestingly, Samuel L. Jackson was not cast in the MCU for Captain Marvel. In fact, Captain Marvel was Jackson’s ninth story in the MCU, helping make him the actor with the most franchise appearances. Regardless of his previous success, Marvel Studios’ decision to cast him in the prequel film elevated it massively. Captain Marvel is fine if formulaic, with mostly uninteresting characters and a forgettable story. Nonetheless, Jackson improves every scene in which he is involved.

Samuel L. Jackson’s MCU Appearances

Title

Release Date

Iron Man

May 2, 2008

Iron Man 2

May 7, 2010

Thor

May 6, 2011

Captain America: The First Avenger

July 22, 2011

The Avengers

May 4, 2012

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

April 4, 2014

Avengers: Age of Ultron

May 1, 2015

Avengers: Infinity War

April 27, 2018

Captain Marvel

March 8, 2019

Avengers: Endgame

April 26, 2019

Spider-Man: Far From Home

July 2, 2019

The Marvels

November 10, 2023


What makes Jackson’s memorability even more impressive is the de-aging CGI used to make Nick Fury look 20 years younger. Captain Marvel‘s prequel nature allows Jackson to tap into a more carefree, fun side of Nick Fury for the first time in the MCU, making him a refreshing aspect of a somber character and more serious film. Not only did Jackson improve Captain Marvel as a whole, but his chemistry with Brie Larson allowed the titular character to have welcome moments of levity and overcome a forgettable character arc.

Captain Marvel

Set in 1995, Captain Marvel follows Carol Danvers, a former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, as she turns into one of the galaxy’s mightiest heroes and joins Starforce, an elite Kree military team, before returning home with new questions about her past and identity when the Earth is caught in the center of an intergalactic conflict between two alien worlds.

Director
Ryan Fleck , Anna Boden

Release Date
March 8, 2019

Writers
Carly Mensch , Ryan Fleck , Meg LeFauve , Geneva Robertson-Dworet , Liz Flahive , Nicole Perlman , Anna Boden

Cast
Lee Pace , Brie Larson , Rune Temte , Clark Gregg , Ben Mendelsohn , Algenis Perez Soto , Samuel L. Jackson , Jude Law , Djimon Hounsou , Gemma Chan , Lashana Lynch , Mckenna Grace

Runtime
124 minutes

3 Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova

Black Widow (2021)


Black Widow‘s forgetability comes from the film being made too late. A film centering around Scarlett Johannson’s Black Widow would have been best included before Avengers: Endgame, with the character’s death in the latter making 2021’s Black Widow feel simply unnecessary. As such, this feeling made the majority of the film unmemorable, save for Florence Pugh’s performance as Natasha’s sister, Yelena Belova.

Given how big a role Yelena has had in the MCU since Black Widow‘s release, it is not difficult to see why she was the film’s most compelling character. Yelena had the strongest arc in Black Widow, and Pugh delivered an expectedly great performance. Looking back on Black Widow brings to mind Yelena’s scenes, her relationship with Natasha, and how she was set up for future stories, proving Pugh to be a casting decision that saved the movie from being entirely unnecessary.


Black Widow

Black Widow is a film about Natasha Romanoff in her quests between the films Civil War and Infinity War. This is the 24th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the first solo film for Black Widow, one of the original six Avengers. The character previously appeared in seven MCU films, including all four Avengers movies. Black Widow was originally scheduled for May 2020 but was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Director
Cate Shortland

Release Date
July 9, 2021

Writers
Ned Benson , Don Heck , Stan Lee , Don Rico , Jac Schaeffer

Runtime
134 minutes

2 Christian Bale as Gorr the God Butcher

Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

Thor: Love and Thunder is a film that consists of endless sequences of immature jokes and mostly flat humor. Due to the film’s sheer unseriousness, Thor: Love and Thunder rarely has any emotional impact, making it one of the most forgettable installments in the entire MCU. The few sequences that do have any thematic, emotional, or storytelling weight, however, involve Christian Bale as Gorr the God Butcher.


Gorr is emotionally compelling in a way few other characters are in the movie. The connection Gorr has with his daughter and how Bale translates it make the flashback sequences from the beginning of the film stand out in memory. Other standout moments from the film all revolve around Bale’s scenes, such as his unhinged performance as a more villainous Gorr, the black-and-white action sequence on Gorr’s planet, and the finale in which the God Butcher meets Eternity. Without Bale, Thor: Love and Thunder would have little redeeming or memorable value.

Thor Love and Thunder Poster depicting the primary cast over a waterfall

Thor: Love and Thunder

Thor: Love & Thunder is the fourth Thor film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and director Taika Waititi’s second outing with the character. The movie finds Thor (Chris Hemsworth) on a journey to find inner piece. But when Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale) goes on a killing rampage against the gods, Thor is thrown back into the action. Tessa Thompson returns as Valkyrie, as does Waititi’s Korg. Natalie Portman also returns to the franchise for the first time in nine years as Jane Foster, who transforms into the Mighty Thor to wield Mjolnir.

Release Date
July 8, 2022

Runtime
118 minutes


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1 Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel

The Marvels (2023)

The best superhero casting choices often include Heath Ledger as the Joker, Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America, and so on. Up there with each of those is Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel, who has been an immensely shining light of her few MCU projects thus far. This was evident more clearly than any other in The Marvels, which would have been forgettable without Vellani’s endearing presence as Kamala Khan.

Iman Vellani’s next MCU performance will likely be in the planned Young Avengers movie.


The Marvels does not deserve the criticism or vitriol it received, but that still does not make it one of the MCU’s best movies. That said, The Marvels was at its best when the titular trio was on-screen together, with Vellani acting as a much-needed glue between the three leads. In spite of The Marvels‘ terrible MCU villain and messy plot as a result, Vellani’s Ms. Marvel stands out and solidifies the fact that the MCU‘s future should be built around her.

The Marvels Movie Poster

The Marvels

The Marvels sees the long-awaited team-up of Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) as the trio work together to find out how their powers have become inextricably linked. Acting as a sequel to both Captain Marvel (2019) and the Ms. Marvel television show, The Marvels is the 33rd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Director
Nia DaCosta

Release Date
November 10, 2023

Runtime
105 Minutes

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