With the recent news that Oscar Isaac will be playing Moon Knight in the upcoming Disney+ series, a major actor from Star Wars has crossed over into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is actually Isaac's second Marvel role; he played Apocalypse in X-Men: Apocalypse as well. And Samuel L. Jackson, who played Jedi Master Mace Windu, is also getting his own Disney+ series as Nick Fury. A precedent has definitely been set for actors to successfully straddle the two worlds.
A galaxy of roles exist within the MCU for Star Wars actors to play, but it's not quite that simple. Finding a good actor is more than just finding someone who looks the part— they also need to be able to play the role and do bring something unique to it.
10 Star-Lord (Pedro Pascal)
Star-Lord is a roguish smuggler played with a goofy kind of charm by Chris Pratt. Harrison Ford might seem like a natural fit for the role in a hypothetical recast of the MCU, but there's another Star Wars actor who might be better.
Pedro Pascal has all the qualities that the handsome Peter Quill does. Though fans hardly get to see him at all on The Mandalorian— a show influenced in some ways by the MCU— underneath he's got the charisma necessary for the part.
9 Hawkeye (Harrison Ford)
Harrison Ford would be ideal for another major member of the Avengers. Clint Barton is just a regular guy who happens to be part of the world's greatest team of superheroes. In many ways, that fits Han Solo to a T. Ford could bring that same sense of working-class charm— and charisma— to the role of Hawkeye.
Ford's easy-going but nonetheless magnetic presence helped the original Star Wars movies and their considerable worldbuilding go down easier for audiences back in the day. He could arguably do the same in this part.
8 Vision (Domnhall Gleeson)
The Vision is about to get a major showcase in Wandavision, some of which seems to be based on his most important comic stories. Paul Bettany is an accomplished actor perfect for the role in just about every way. He's brought grace and humanity to the iconic android in several films now.
Domnhall Gleeson played the villainous General Hux in the Star Wars sequels, but he's a fantastic actor of depth and range, shown in his recent turn on HBO's Run.
7 Scarlet Witch (Daisy Ridley)
Elizabeth Olsen is ostensibly the centerpiece of Wandavision, and for good reason. She's an amazing dramatic actress who has been nominated for numerous awards. Imagining a Star Wars actor in the role is hard, but not impossible. The best actress for the job would be Daisy Ridley.
Daisy Ridley became a star in the Star Wars sequels playing Rey, whose arc in the trilogy is somewhat similar to the Scarlet Witch. Rey discovers her powers and grows into them, with sometimes dangerous consequences for those she cares about.
6 Captain Marvel (Emilia Clarke)
Captain Marvel quickly become one of the most important members of the MCU with her first feature film. The Avenger is likely to play an even bigger role going forward. Brie Larson is perfect for the part— and someone who could easily play a role in Star Wars.
However, a number of actresses tried out for Carol Danvers. A Star Wars alum who would be great for the role is Emila Clarke. Clarke played Qi'ra in Solo: A Star Wars Story. As she proved in Game of Thrones, Clarke can play heroic, vulnerable, and uncontrollably powerful— all things Captain Marvel has been.
5 Hulk (Donald Glover)
Though Mark Ruffalo is the third actor to play a live-action movie Hulk— and the second for the MCU— it's still hard to picture anyone else as Bruce Banner. But if there had to be someone else to play the nerdy charm of Dr. Bruce Banner, a Star Wars actor who could play him is Donald Glover. Glover possesses the charisma, talent, and action-star quality to make for a good if not great Banner and Hulk. Glover has a little experience in the MCU already, playing a small role in Spider-Man: Homecoming.
4 Black Widow (Carrie Fisher)
People underestimated Princess Leia to their detriment. Carrie Fisher was small in stature but a giant in terms of her fearlessness and passion. Those qualities would make her an ideal Black Widow. Natasha Romanov is a character who disguises her tremendous skills as a fighter.
Scarlett Johansson has played the role with a lot of complexity— and will get a long-overdue showcase in the Black Widow feature film, once it finally comes out. Carrie Fisher could have easily done the same.
3 Iron Man (Mark Hamill)
People tend to think of Mark Hamill as the quintessential Everyman in a young Luke Skywalker. Mark Hamill is much more of a chameleon as an actor than that role let on. He's played the Joker in various Batman animated series and movies, being considered one of the best Jokers ever. Tony Stark is one MCU role Hamill could play with his own brand of energy.
Iron Man is virtually synonymous with Robert Downey Jr. and for good reason. Downey brought his signature brand of wit and charm to the part. Hamill might bring a different feel to Tony Stark, but it would be no less fascinating.
2 Thor (Ewan McGregor)
Chris Hemsworth had the difficult task of turning Thor into a character that could carry big-budget superhero movies, and he absolutely nailed it, guiding the Asgardian through a real evolution from an arrogant young warrior to a wizened old king.
Ewan McGregor guided Obi-Wan Kenobi on a similar journey in the Star Wars prequels and will continue to in the upcoming Disney+ series based on the classic Jedi Master. McGregor has always had a brash charm, only tempered with age. A fantastic actor with experience in drama, comedy, and action films, he'd be an ideal if unconventional Thor.
1 Captain America (John Boyega)
At the moment, Captain America is Sam Wilson, though that seems to be a subject of debate in the forthcoming Falcon And The Winter Soldier Disney+ series. Anthony Mackie has been fantastic as Falcon and now the new Captain America.
A great Star Wars actor for the role would be John Boyega. Boyega more than proved his action star bona fides in the sequel trilogy as Finn, the former First Order Stormtrooper and hero of the Resistance. Funny, charismatic, and perfect for the role, he would be an ideal Captain America.