There’s one thing that all successful superhero movies have in common. Perfect casting. The right actor in the right role can be the difference between Iron Man and Ghost Rider. If Robert Downey Jr. wasn’t the first hero we met, would fans be as obsessed with the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Probably not. When new comic book movies are announced, every casting rumor is scrutinized. After awhile it becomes clear that the same names come up time and again.

Obviously studios want big names that will bring in box office. They also want someone who will look the part of a superhero. Throw in a star who they can build a franchise around and that completes the recipe. Very few actors and actresses are going to fit that specific mold, so that explains why we constantly see certain names on everyone’s list. How many times did we hear about Ryan Reynolds before he did Green Lantern and Deadpool? There’s also the idea that studios want to strike while the iron is hot, so if someone is on a roll or has momentum behind them, that is when they will be the most attractive for a big superhero project. That leads us to the actors Hollywood keeps trying to cast as superheroes.

15 NICOLAS CAGE

Nicolas Cage is a die hard comic book fan. Prior to making Ghost Rider he was interested in several comic book projects. It may be hard for some moviegoers to remember now, but there was a time when the eccentric actor was a huge box office star. Beginning with his Oscar winning role in Leaving Las Vegas, he had a string of hits that included Con Air, The Rock and Face/Off. He was on every producers’ must cast list.

His involvement in Superman Lives has been well documented, however he was reportedly attached to a version of Iron Man back in 1996, which was right at the height of his popularity. Cage did finally get his shot with Ghost Rider, but it was so poorly received, he’s in superhero movie jail now.

14 CHARLIE HUNNAM

Charlie Hunnam

Since his star-making turn in the motorcycle club series Sons of Anarchy, Charlie Hunnam has been in the running for every superhero role in the universe. He was on the shortlist for Thor, but lately fans have been throwing out his name as a possibility for the DCEU’s Hal Jordan or Oliver Queen.

For his part, Hunnam seemed uninterested in playing the Green Arrow, but then suddenly changed his tune. Perhaps someone reminded him of comic book movie’s box office numbers. His name has also come up surrounding the Ben Affleck replacement rumors. Hunnam’s recent stint as the title role in King Arthur doesn’t bode well for his superhero future, but that was more Guy Ritchie’s fault than his. Another flop though, and he may have to wait awhile for his superhero moment to return.

13 ARMIE HAMMER

Remember when we talked about looking the hero part? Armie Hammer looks like he stepped out of a comic book. Apparently Warner Bros. thought he had the right stuff when they cast him as Bruce Wayne/Batman in the ill-fated Justice League: Mortal. Probably for the best, as he seems like more of a Superman than Batman. That project didn’t work out, with the closest he came to another hero role The Lone Ranger.

With fans in a fervor over a possible Green Lantern Corps film, Hammer’s name has been widely suggested for Hal Jordan. He also has momentum on his side, as he’s received a lot of acclaim for his performance in the Academy Award nominated Call Me By Your Name. If Hammer is finally going to become a full-fledged superhero, now is his time.

12 COMMON

Much like Patrick Stewart in X-Men, Common seems destined to play Green Lantern John Stewart, because he looks just like the character. He was finally cast as the hero in George Miller’s Justice League: Mortal. That movie never got made, but audiences are still interested in seeing his portrayal. When Marvel announced it was bringing the Black Panther to the MCU, his was one of the first names that hit the rumor circuit.

His work in Wanted, John Wick: Chapter 2 and Run All Night has shown how good he is in the action genre. He’s in the position where, because there aren’t a lot of black heroes in the movies, his name comes up for every part. With the DCEU possibly adding a Green Lantern Corps movie, it could be time to see him in the superhero world.

11 JESSICA BIEL

Jessica Biel’s filmography ranges from action to comedy, so it makes sense that she would be producers’ choice for a strong heroine role. She was among the names considered for Black Widow and was in talks to play Viper in The Wolverine. A part eventually portrayed by Russian actress Svetlana Khodchenkova. She has also been one of the several actresses mentioned for the various Wonder Woman projects over the years.

While there are no shortage of female superheroes, it seems that Hollywood is only focused on a select few, so Biel will have a lot of competition for any upcoming superhero movies. Biel has said in interviews that she wants to play her own superhero, which might be her best bet to enter the genre.

10 CHANNING TATUM

From the moment he hit the big screen in Step Up, moviegoers have liked Channing Tatum. It explains how he got G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra made. The success of Magic Mike and the 21 Jump Street films have made him a box office commodity. It’s no wonder he’s been in the running for Captain America and Thor. He obviously has the look of a superhero. Plus, he’s good at action and comedy.

With all these qualities, it’s no surprise that he eventually got the role of X-Men’s Gambit. Yes, his Gambit movie has struggled on its path to production. And, if we’re being honest won’t ever see the light of day. However, with his charm and likability, Tatum will become a superhero sooner rather than later.

9 EWAN MCGREGOR

Just so it’s clear, playing Obi-Wan Kenobi is absolutely the same thing as playing a superhero. That being said, Ewan McGregor has yet to play what most would consider a traditional comic book superhero. He has come close, being considered for both Ant-Man and Doctor Strange. While Benedict Cumberbatch is great, McGregor as the Sorcerer Supreme is something that would have been fun to see.

At this point, it would also be more likely to see him as Alfred than Batman. We’ve already seen how good he is as the wise mentor guiding an unpredictable protege. As rumors have swirled about a standalone Obi-Wan movie, McGregor may end up returning to the Star Wars universe before he has a chance to put on a cape of any kind.

8 ALEXANDER SKARSGARD

As Eric on True Blood, Alexander Skarsgard became an instant sex symbol. His charismatic performance helped cement his crossover to the big screen. It’s no surprise that his long blond hair and good looks put him in the running for Thor and Captain America. He didn’t get those roles, but he did eventually make his hero debut as Tarzan. Of all the problems with The Legend of Tarzan, Skarsgard wasn’t one of them.

His recent success in Big Little Lies has led to a lot of awards and his name making the rounds as a possible candidate to join the DCEU as either Green Lantern or Green Arrow. He wasn’t happy with the intense training required to play Tarzan, so it seems unlikely that he would want to go through that again to play a superhero.

7 JENSEN ACKLES

When an actor spends 13 seasons playing the same role, they can very easily become typecast. For Jensen Ackles, it’s been the other way around. The longer he spends on Supernatural, the more comic book roles he gets offered. It makes sense, as Dean Winchester allows him to play comedy, drama and action at the same time.

The actor came very close to getting cast as Captain America, but ultimately lost out to Chris Evans. He was reportedly offered the role of Hawkeye, but passed because of scheduling conflicts with Supernatural. He was also one of the many actors considered for Peter Quill. With that many near misses, it’s only a matter of time before he finally finds the right superhero role. Of course, Supernatural will need to end before that happens, and the series shows no signs of winding down.

6 JOAQUIN PHOENIX

As one of the most unpredictable actors in Hollywood, Joaquin Phoenix has a very interesting resume. He’s known for not being in blockbusters and taking the road less traveled. He fancies himself more of a character actor than a leading man. Despite this reputation, his talent drives studios to continue to place him on the shortlist for various superhero roles.

Over the years, he has been in the running for Bruce Banner/The Hulk in The Avengers and was very close to playing the lead in Doctor Strange. He’s also been rumored to be on the shortlist for different Batman projects. Recently, there’s been speculation that he will become the latest incarnation of The Joker, so it seems that it’s just up to Phoenix when he wants to join the comic book movie world.

5 ANGELINA JOLIE

It’s no secret that Hollywood has spent years avoiding female superhero movies. There have been a few throughout the years, but not nearly as many as they have made for male heroes. One of the most successful big screen heroines is Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, which featured a star making turn from Angelina Jolie.

Following this film, Jolie was the biggest actress in Hollywood for awhile, so it makes sense that her name was on everyone’s list anytime a comic book heroine role was available. She has been in the running for Wonder Woman, Black Widow and even very early versions of Harley Quinn. She’s segued into directing, so her superhero moment may have passed, but it would be a huge comeback for her to show up as a veteran crime fighter in any franchise.

4 TOM CRUISE

Tom Cruise has been the biggest actor in Hollywood forever. He’s still extremely popular around the world and his movies are almost always hits. Obviously he knows how to make a big budget action movie and support a huge franchise. His star power led to him reportedly being attached to an early version of Iron Man in 1998, when comic book movies weren’t the guaranteed success they are now. The way Cruise is hands on with stunts, he may have actually built an Iron Man suit to fly in.

Lately, there have been rumors that he could be an older, war weary Hal Jordan in Green Lantern Corps. Frankly, at this point in his career, becoming a superhero might be a step down for the actor. Plus, he does everything they do in superhero movies in the Mission: Impossible films, just without the costume.

3 IDRIS ELBA

Idris Elba is up for literally every role, not just superheroes. Despite his enjoyable performances as Heimdall, he’s long been at the top of the list for the next James Bond. He’s been very open about his desire to play a more high-profile hero in the MCU. Now fans are wanting him to branch out from Marvel and possibly join the DCEU. There’s been a lot of rumors swirling about him as a new Batman.

Though we’ll have to wait to see Avengers: Infinity War, it seems like Heimdall’s story may be done, so the door is open for him to become a new hero. While there is bound to be some boycotts and complaints if this ever happened, no one can deny that Elba would make a fascinating Batman.

2 LEONARDO DICAPRIO

In 1997 Titanic made Leonardo DiCaprio a household name and studios have been trying to make him a superhero ever since. He met with Joel Schumacher and made the smart choice to pass on Robin in Batman Forever. He was originally offered Spider-Man, but turned it down and the part went to his good friend Tobey Maguire. He was one of the many actors on the list for Captain America, but if we’re being honest that was not the hero for him.

His name came up again for another Batman film when it was announced that his frequent director Martin Scorsese was producing a Joker movie and everyone assumed DiCaprio would play the lead. If he ever does end up in a comic book film, it will most likely be as the villain, not the hero.

1 JAKE GYLLENHAAL

At this point, what superhero has Jake Gyllenhaal not been considered for? Anytime there’s a new comic book movie announced, he’s the first name on the list. He almost replaced Tobey Maguire in Spider-Man 2, when Maguire was injured. He then was beat out for Bruce Wayne by Christian Bale in Batman Begins.

Speaking of Batman, Gyllenhaal’s name has been everywhere as the possible replacement for Ben Affleck in the DCEU. In perhaps the most interesting casting news, he was also on the shortlist for Doctor Strange. We can only imagine what crazy training he will put himself through to prepare. Knowing the actor, he might actually learn to fly. Look, it’s really just a matter of time before Jake Gyllenhaal suits up in a major franchise.