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Summary
Several actor who have previously auditioned for superhero roles inMarvelandDCfranchises have cease up playing some of the most iconic and endanger supervillains instead . Stories from Marvel and DC Comics have been adjust into bouncy - natural process for decennary , institute 100 of wide-ranging and exciting character to living on the big and small screen . Some legendary actors have been cast in these function , bringing such superheroes such as Iron Man , Captain America , Batman , Spider - Man , and Superman to life in vivid detail , but no good superhero film can unfold without apowerful and terrific supervillain , though not all villain actors originally want to limn their villainous roles .
Some of the most iconic resilient - action supervillains inMarvel and DC movie franchiseshave been portray by actor who were originally considered for the role of a superhero . Among them , Superman , Batman , and Spider - Man have been heatedly contested , having been three of the longest - lasting superheroes in live - action at law . The MCU ’s Iron Man , Thor , and Star - Lord have also been contend for , as well as Kick - Ass in the self - title 2010 moving picture found on the self - contain Marvel Comics part . fortuitously , many of these actors helped to make these supervillains some of the most fabled and memorable role in movie house history , and this is go under to continue inMarvel and DC ’s futures .
10Nicholas Hoult Auditioned For Superman
Who He Will Play: Lex Luthor
DC Studios co - CEO James Gunn announced the development ofSuperman : Legacyin the DC Universe ’s rebootin 2023 , take up the subspecies for who would take over from Henry Cavill as Clark Kent , a.k.a . Superman . Nicholas Hoult , star ofSkins , Renfield , X - man : First Class , andThe Great , was reportedly one of the top option to play the Man of Steel , but was outperformed byHollywood’sDavid Corenswet . alternatively , it was reported byDeadlineon November 20 thatNicholas Hoult has been wander as Lex Luthor inSuperman : Legacy , Clark Kent ’s most persistent enemy . Hoult is set to make his entry appearance as Lex Luthor inSuperman : Legacyon July 11 , 2025 .
Nicholas Hoult was one of the frontrunners to portray Clark Kent inSuperman : Legacy , along with David Corenswet and Tom Brittney . Corenswet was formally draw as Superman in June 2023 .
9Tom Hiddleston Auditioned For Thor
Who He Played: Loki
Since 2011’sThor , Tom Hiddleston has become a household name thanks to his portrayal of Asgardian God of Mischief Loki . This has culminated in him moderate Marvel Studios’Lokion Disney+ , and becoming an incredibly powerful god in the MCU . However , English actorTom Hiddleston originally auditioned for the role of Thor , which was afterward taken by Chris Hemsworth . reckon back , it would have been very unusual to see Hiddleston as Thor instead of Hemsworth , particularly since the chemical science and dynamic between the pair was fantastic to see evolve over their lengthy MCU careers .
8Joe Mangianello Auditioned For Spider-Man
Who He Played: Flash Thompson
The office ofFlash Thompson in Sam Raimi’sSpider - Mankicked off Joe Manganiello ’s professional playing career in 2002 . Flash is the high - school bully who routinely picks on Peter Parker , but idolizes Spider - Man , Parker ’s superhero alter ego . While Manganiello perfectly portrayed Flash Thompson , he originally audition for the role of Parker himself , though was beat by Tobey Maguire for the role . Manganiello reprised the function of Flash for several year throughout 2004’sSpider - valet de chambre 2and 2007’sSpider - Man 3.Manganiello afterwards cover - tested for the use of Superman in 2013’sMan of Steel , but would go on to portray the DCEU ’s Deathstroke rather , as scheduling conflict made hisMan of Steelrole impossible .
Eugene " Flash " Thompson was originally portray by Joe Manganiello in Sam Raimi’sSpider - Mantrilogy , though Chris Zylka would take up the function in 2012’sThe Amazing Spider - Man , and Tony Revolori present the character in the MCU’sSpider - Man : Homecoming , Far From Home , andNo Way Home .
7Clancy Brown Auditioned For Superman
Who He Played: Lex Luthor
Between 1996 and 2000 , Clancy Brown vocalise iconic DC villain Lex Luthor inSuperman : The Animated Series , a role which he would later reprise in legion animated DC projects including 2001’sJustice Leagueseries and 2009’sSuperman / Batman : Public Enemies . loony toons : The Animated Serieswas developed by Bruce Timm , and whileClancy Brown originally auditioned for the role of Clark Kent ’s Superman , Timm feel his recognizable voice was well suit to the nefarious Lex Luthor . Tim Daly voice Supermaninstead , while Brown ’s voice turned Luthor into a scoundrel with a combination of threaten bruteness and wizardly handling .
6Cillian Murphy Auditioned For Batman
Who He Played: Scarecrow
When developing his 2005Batman Beginsreboot , Christopher Nolan approached Irish actor Cillian Murphyto audition for the independent part of Bruce Wayne , a.k.a . Batman . Murphy noted that he did n’t conceive of himself having the physique of a superhero , but auditioned nonetheless to tie in with Nolan , an admired filmmaker . While the lead role instead went to Christian Bale , Murphy was cast as the recurring baddie Jonathan Crane , a.k.a . Scarecrow . Murphy fully embody this sinister role , making Scarecrow one of the most persistent thorns in the side of Batman , as he return in 2008’sThe Dark Knightand 2012’sThe Dark Knight Rises .
5Christopher Mintz-Plasse Auditioned For Kick-Ass
Who He Played: Red Mist
Although not directly tie to any expansive Marvel franchise such as the MCU or SSU , 2010’sKick - Asswas based onMarvel Comics’Kick - Ass : The Dave Lizewski Years , which ran between 2008 and 2014 . The titular role of Dave Lizewski , a.k.a . Kick - Ass , cease up go to Aaron Taylor - Johnson , but Christopher Mintz - Plasse in reality auditioned for the lead part before being cast as the cinema ’s scoundrel , Chris D’Amico , a.k.a . Red Mist , who became the Mother F*cker in the 2013 subsequence . Mintz - Plasse ab initio doubt his role as a villain in theKick - Assfranchise , but his portrayal of the awkward and egotistical younger D’Amico was brilliant .
4Heath Ledger Was Approached For Batman
Who He Played: The Joker
Heath Ledger ’s enactment ofThe Dark Knight’sJokeris wide regarded as one of the potent iteration of the character in picture palace history . Ledger surrender a sinister , menacing , and captivating operation as the Joker , gain him a issue of posthumous awards , including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor . While it ’s hard to ideate Ledger in any other function , he was originally approached by Christopher Nolan to try out for the use of Bruce Wayne back during the development ofBatman Begins . Ledger was reluctant to unite a superhero enfranchisement , but after watchingBatman Beginsand seeing its achiever , he lobbied severely for the role of the Joker in the sequel .
The Joker has been portrayed in springy - action mechanism by a number of gamey - profile actors over the years . These let in Cesar Romero in the 1960sBatmanseries and 1966’sBatman , Jack Nicholson in 1989’sBatman , Roger Stoneburner in 2002’sBirds of Preyseries , Heath Ledger in 2008’sThe Dark Knight , Jared Leto in the DCEU , Nathan Dashwood in 2019’sBatwoman , Joaquin Phoenix in 2019’sJokerand its coming sequelJoker : Folie á Deux , and Barry Keoghan in 2022’sThe Batman .
3Lee Pace Auditioned For Star-Lord
Who He Played: Ronan The Accuser
Prior to portrayingPower - Stone - empowered Kree Ronanin 2014’sGuardians of the Galaxy , Lee Pace ofThe Hobbit , Pushing Daisies , andFoundationfame really auditioned for the role of Peter Quill , a.k.a . Star - Lord . James Gunn and Marvel Studios casting managing director were so impressed with Pace ’s audition that they spew him as the Guardians of the Galaxy ’s hefty baddie , withParks and Recreation’sChris Pratt call for the role of Star - Lord rather . Pace recapitulate the part of Ronan the Accuser in the 1995 - setCaptain Marvel , revealing a little more about the theatrical role ’s backstory , though it ’s indecipherable whether Pace will return as Ronan in any future MCU project .
2James Franco Auditioned For Spider-Man
Who He Played: Harry Osborn
During the development of Sam Raimi’sSpider - Man , which relinquish in 2002 and saw Tobey Maguire present the first mainstream version of Peter Parker in unrecorded - natural action , James Franco screen - tested for the titular wall - crawler before being cast as nonaged opposer Harry Osborn . InSpider - Man , Osborn was Parker ’s best friend and contender for the attention of Mary Jane Watson , but after his father ’s death , Osborn was started on a nefarious path inSpider - Man’stwo sequels . wanderer - Man 2saw Harry become Oscorp ’s CEO , whileSpider - military man 3completed his translation into the New Goblin , though he would meet his demise at the terminal of the 2007 film .
1Sam Rockwell Auditioned For Iron Man
Who He Played: Justin Hammer
Despite only having appeared in one MCU project so far , Sam Rockwell ’s Justin Hammer sure enough made his Deutsche Mark , becoming one of the most memorable villains to face up Robert Downey Jr. ’s Tony Stark , a.k.a . Iron Man . Rockwell had been on the shortlist of actors for Tony Stark in the MCU ’s first labor , 2008’sIron Man , but was instead cast as Justin Hammer , Stark ’s business sector challenger who use Ivan Vanko in 2010’sIron Man 2to try and bring down Tony Stark . There is speculation that Rockwell could bring back asJustin Hammer in the MCU ’s future , set him up to be one of the longest - pass scoundrel in anyMarvelorDCfranchise .
