Who Zac Efron Could Play in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

The following contains spoilers for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, now playing in theaters.

Zac Efron first established himself as a Disney darling and teen heartthrob, starring in popular young adult films like High School Musical and 17 Again. But in recent years, he's proven he's got the staying power of a bonafide movie star. With films like Neighbors and Dirty Grandpa solidifying his comedic chops, and blockbusters like The Greatest Showman and Baywatch under his belt, Efron continues to turn out solid performances as a leading man, securing his popularity among moviegoers regardless of what genre of film he appears in.

Recently, Efron expressed interest in joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Though it isn't surprising to hear an actor voicing their desire to join cinema's biggest powerhouse -- Marvel continues to pump out large-scale, big-budget productions for both film and television -- it is exciting to consider the possibilities of an actor with a fanbase like Efron's joining the already-stacked MCU. With a loaded resume, it's clear Efron would be a welcome addition to the MCU. Here's who he could play in the future.

Zac Efron Could Bring a Few Mutants to the MCU

With Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness officially introducing a variant of Professor Charles Xavier to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it seems the X-Men franchise is on the horizon for the MCU. The Fox-owned X-Men franchise, while a generally successful take on the series, is not technically MCU canon, so the introduction of Xavier can only mean other mutants are on their way. Efron could potentially play the MCU's Gambit, whose only live-action appearance was in the poorly-received X-Men Origins: Wolverine when he was played by Taylor Kitsch. Plans for a Gambit solo movie were in the works, with Channing Tatum reportedly in talks for the role, but they were ultimately scrapped, leaving Gambit's live-action future uncertain.

It would be interesting to see if Efron could pull off Gambit's signature Cajun accent, but considering that Gambit is one of the most popular characters in the X-Men comics, the possibility that he may make his way to the MCU is worth noting. However, if a different actor were to end up playing the smooth-talking, card-throwing mutant, Efron could also potentially play the MCU's Archangel, also from the X-Men comics. Archangel has been played by several actors in different variations throughout the X-Men film franchises, so it wouldn't be out of the question to see Efron playing a version of him in the MCU. Plus, it would also be in line with Marvel's recent foray into variations of characters played by different actors.

Could Zac Efron Bring Ghost Rider to Life in the MCU?

With Moon Knight's wild success on Disney+ and Blade coming up in Phase Five, it seems that Marvel is gearing up to introduce the Midnight Sons to the MCU in some form or fashion. With Kevin Feige confirming Endgame would be the last Avengers film, it's only fitting that the MCU start introducing new super-teams to the big screen. In Marvel Comics, the Midnight Sons are a team of supernaturally-powered individuals, including Moon Knight, Blade, Ghost Rider and Doctor Strange. Considering the route Stephen Strange takes at the end of Multiverse of Madness, embracing his darker side after being corrupted by the Darkhold, this could be a feasible direction to lean into for the MCU, and Zac Efron could make a fiery addition as Johnny Blaze -- especially following his turn in Universal Pictures' upcoming Firestarter.

Zac Efron Could Bring Another Fantastic Four Member to the MCU

Arguably the most exciting cameo of Multiverse of Madness was that of John Krasinski in the role of Reed Richards. While fans suspected that a member of the Fantastic Four would be holding a seat on the Illuminati, many fans were baffled to discover that -- to the delight of many a fan-casting everywhere -- Krasinski was filling that seat. With a Fantastic Four reboot on its way for the MCU, it could be interesting to see Efron in the role of hot-headed Johnny Storm/Human Torch. In the original Fantastic Four franchise, the role was played by the MCU's Captain America, Chris Evans, and later by Michael B. Jordan in the ill-fated reboot, who would go on to play the ruthless Erik Killmonger in Black Panther. Though it would be nice to see a cameo from Evans or Jordan in some shape or form in the upcoming (second) reboot, Efron could perfectly encapsulate Storm's narcissistic tendencies and playboy attitude, which could make this a viable candidate for his entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is playing in theaters.