Comic book adaptations are the biggest thing in Hollywood and have been pulling in huge numbers for around 20 years by this point. From the household name franchises to ultra-obscure cult books, these days it's a challenge finding a new movie to check out that isn't based on a comic.
Naturally, with so many comic-based movie scripts doing the rounds, it just makes sense that certain actors have happened to find themselves in a variety of adaptations over the years. Some of these will be obvious to many movie fans, while some castings may surprise even the die-hards.
10 James McAvoy Does A Lot More In Comic Book Films Than Lead The X-Men
James McAvoy has had a fantastic career as of late, with numerous strong and varied performances to his name. Along with dramas, action, and adventure, McAvoy also likes to dabble in the world of comic adaptations and started off with 2008's Wanted, based on the series of the same name by Mark Millar and J.G. Jones.
Not long after, McAvoy took on what may be his signature role, that of a young Professor Charles Xavier in 2011's X-Men: First Class. The film was a huge hit and sparked off a new timeline of movies for fans to enjoy. Between that series' third and fourth entries was 2017's Atomic Blonde, based on the graphic novel The Coldest City.
9 Scarlett Johansson's First Comic Movie Came Years Before The MCU
Scarlett Johansson is well-known today for her impressive run in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, starting her tenure in 2010's Iron Man 2 and lasting nine films to date. She started her comic movie experience back in 2001, however, with a much smaller project called Ghost World.
The 2001 adaptation of the comic of the same name also starred Thora Birch and Steve Buscemi, with a strong fanbase even 20 years later. In 2008, she joined future-fellow MCU actor Samuel L. Jackson in The Spirit as Silken Floss, an accomplice to Jackson's main villain.
8 Samuel L. Jackson Has His Eye On Comic Book Films
Legendary actor Samuel L. Jackson has been delivering memorable performances since 1972 and doesn't seem interested in slowing down. Jackson has of course made his mark on the MCU as Nick Fury, first appearing in 2008's Iron Man in a cameo, and then a further ten entries in the massive franchise (so far).
Also in 2008, he played the villain The Octopus in The Spirit, directed by Sin City creator Frank Miller. Lastly, he joined another Mark Millar series in Kingsman: The Secret Service, bringing to life the character of Richmond Valentine. He also appears in the 2013 American version of Oldboy, based both on the Korean film adaptation as well as the original graphic novel.
7 Idris Elba Is No Stranger To Comic Book Movies
The Losers hit screens in 2010 and was based on the Vertigo comic series of the same name. The film doesn't have a huge following but does have its defenders and is generally regarded as a fun ride, one that featured actor Idris Elba. The next year, Elba joined the MCU as Heimdall in Thor and continued the role in three further films.
More recently, the actor joined James Gunn's The Suicide Squad in 2021, a soft-reboot of the 2016 film with an almost identical title. Despite not performing well financially, the film was a big hit with audiences and critics and was seen as a huge improvement over the previous entry.
6 Jeffrey Dean Morgan Likes To Play Comic Book Tough Guys
Talented actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan joined the ensemble cast of Watchmen in 2009, a project that had long been considered "unfilmable" by fans of the original comic. He portrayed the violent and unhinged antihero The Comedian, whose own gruesome end kickstarted the plot.
In 2010 he joined Idris Elba in The Losers as the heroic foil to Elba's character. Later, he would reteam with Watchmen director Zack Snyder for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and play a brief role as Bruce Wayne's father, Thomas.
5 Sylvester Stallone Has Been In More Comic Movies Than You May Realize
Sylvester Stallone was utterly huge in the '90s, but that decade also marked the end of his initial hot streak with a few questionable movie choices. One film that is often cited as one of his worst (and Stallone would agree) is 1995's Judge Dredd, based on the popular 2000 AD comic.
22 years later and the star would appear in a small role in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 directed by James Gunn. He would then reteam with Gunn for a voice role as King Shark in 2021's The Suicide Squad alongside Idris Elba. Thanks to archival footage, he even pops up in the 1997 hit Men in Black based on the Malibu (and later Marvel) comics series, technically making for a fourth comic franchise he appears in.
4 Tommy Lee Jones Is Great At Being Grumpy In Comic Book Movies
Speaking of Men in Black, one of the headlining stars of that movie was none other than veteran grump Tommy Lee Jones. Thanks to his stern performance opposite the joyful Will Smith, Men in Black became a huge sensation and kicked off a franchise that has lasted over 20 years across three additional films, an animated series, and more.
Even before that film, however, Jones joined the hugely successful Batman series as Harvey Dent/Two-Face. Batman Forever had a mixed reception but was a box-office success regardless. In 2011, he jumped ship from DC to Marvel for Captain America: The First Avenger and stole every scene he was in.
3 Ryan Reynolds Finally Found Comic Book Movie Stardom After A Few False Starts
Ryan Reynolds dabbled in the world of comics with 2004's Blade: Trinity as the character Hannibal King. The film wasn't very well received but wasn't a disaster by any means. The same can't quite be said for 2006's X-Men Origins: Wolverine and its treatment of the popular mercenary Deadpool, played by Reynolds.
While Reynolds was clearly perfectly cast in the role, the film essentially butchered the character, and fans hated it. In 2011, he joined DC and headlined Green Lantern, which was the intended launching point for the DC Extended Universe. It too tanked with fans and critics, as did 2013's R.I.P.D. based on that comic. Thankfully, Reynolds got his second chance at the merc with a mouth in Deadpool in 2016 and made comic book movie history.
2 Chris Evans Can Do Comic Book Movies All Day
Chris Evans kicked off his hot streak of comic roles with 2005's Fantastic Four, playing the Human Torch and being instantly regarded as one of the best aspects of an otherwise underwhelming project. He returned to the role with its 2007 sequel and then in 2010, would be yet another part of The Losers' impressive cast.
He also popped up briefly in a memorable scene in 2010's Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, and then the following year introduced him to his most famous role. He became Steve Rogers, the iconic Marvel hero in Captain America: The First Avenger alongside Tommy Lee Jones. He appeared as Steve in a further ten films until 2019, but during that time would also appear in Snowpiercer, a 2013 film based on a French graphic novel.
1 Josh Brolin Can Be The Comic Book Hero (Or Villain) You Need
Jonah Hex, based on the DC gunslinging hero, was a tremendous dud on arrival in 2010. It didn't take long, however, for star Josh Brolin to rejoin the adaptation trend in 2012 and take on the role of a younger Agent K in Men in Black 3, a role previously filled by Tommy Lee Jones. 2013 also saw him tackle the aforementioned remake of Oldboy.
2014 was a big step in his career when he was revealed as ultimate Marvel villain Thanos in Guardians of the Galaxy, a role he would bring to life three more times, concluding with the record-shattering Avengers: Endgame. 2015 brought him into the noir world of Sin City: A Dame to Kill For and 2018 allowed him to portray fan-favorite X-Men character Cable in Deadpool 2.