10 Actors We Can’t Believe Haven’t Joined the MCU

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has featured a plethora of talented and major actors during its tenure as a franchise, but many major A-listers and popular performers have yet to appear. In fact, some of these actors are so popular that many are surprised they haven’t yet been part of a Marvel movie. Some stars are so big and/or integrated into the superhero genre that it’s baffling they haven’t shown up in the biggest franchise on the planet just yet.

Some actors have fan bases that are practically begging them to step into the MCU. These actors feel like no-brainers when it comes to casting in the Marvel Studios franchise, so much so that they typically find their way into most fan casts when a new project is announced. With so many projects and characters making their way to the franchise, there are plenty of opportunities to bring these players into the fold.

10

Jessica Chastain

Known for: ‘Interstellar’ (2014)

While she may have appeared in a superhero film already as the main antagonist in X-Men: Dark Phoenix, that universe is long gone, which means Jessica Chastain is totally free to jump into the MCU. The redhead is one of the most talented actresses in the game at the moment. With an Oscar win and numerous other wins over her career, she more than deserves a chance in this cinematic universe.

There’s a plethora of characters that Chastain could portray in this franchise, both heroes and villains, which means the possibilities are pretty much endless. Her range as a performer is incredibly vast, proving it in intense dramas like A Most Violent Year and more traditional biopics like The Eyes of Tammy Faye. Her talent is profound, meaning she would truly make her mark in this cinematic world.

9

Dylan O’Brien

Known for: ‘The Maze Runner’ (2014)

If there’s anyone who’s been at the top of superhero fan casting lists for over a decade now, it’s Dylan O’Brien. He’s been the top pick for Nightwing, Spider-Man, Nova, Flash—the list goes on. O’Brien is the epitome of the young, responsible and heroic energy of a superhero, laced with some comedy. This youthful enthusiasm is why people went to die on the hill of O’Brien as Spider-Man.

Whether he made dreams come true and played Nova or another upcoming hero Marvel Studios has up their sleeves, this actor is a beloved fan favorite. As long as it’s at least a little fitting, people would clamor to the theaters to see Dylan in an MCU movie. He’s well aware of his reputation in the superhero space, too, making one question why exactly he hasn’t popped into an MCU film.

8

Jung Ho-yeon

Known for: ‘Squid Game’ (2021)

Ever since she made a gigantic impression on the world in 2021’s Squid Game, pretty much everyone has fallen in love with Jung Ho-yeon. Her character on the show, Kang Sae-byeok, may very well have been the fan-favorite among the 330 million viewers that have so far watched the first season. That’s some serious attention and even more serious love.

With her co-star, Lee Jung-jae, making his way to the Star Wars universe, it’s more than Jung Ho-yeon’s time to jump into a franchise like the MCU. With the groundbreaking performance she gave in the first season of Squid Game, people definitely would love to see her play anyone. In fact, her popularity is such that it’s a wonder why Marvel Studios hasn’t attempted to get her on board yet.

7

Taron Egerton

Known for: ‘Carry-On’ (2024)

While he may be a common pick for the potential next Wolverine, Taron Egerton could perfectly play far more characters than just Logan. He definitely shouldn’t be whittled down to just the Wolverine archetype, as he’s played numerous other characters unlike that and did a great job with pretty much all of them.

Egerton is no stranger to action films, either. With his work in Kingsman: The Secret Service and Carry-On, the Golden Globe-winning actor knows his way around the space. He’s got the look to pull off most typical superhero roles, from Cyclops to even Captain Britain. Given how much Egerton’s name is thrown around the fan base, one would think that Marvel would’ve snagged him already.

6

Eiza González

Known for: ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’ (2024)

Marvel had better be quick if they’d like to get in touch with Eiza González for an MCU project because she’s been floating around the fan casting circles for James Gunn‘s DCU. When it comes to modern action leading ladies, Eiza González is one of the best there is. She’s incredibly underrated despite quietly amassing a great action film resume filled with great ongoing franchises and solo projects.

Baby Driver, Ambulance, Godzilla vs. Kong, Bloodshot, and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw are just a few of the hit movies the Mexican actress has been a part of since her breakthrough in 2017. González has so much under her belt that Marvel Studios would be a fool if they didn’t hire such a talented and accomplished actress. She was born to be an action star, and it’s quite clear.

5

Timothée Chalamet

Known for: ‘Dune: Part Two’ (2024)

The jokes about Timothée Chalamet being cast in everything have some truth behind them. The two-time Oscar nominee (and possibly future Oscar winner) is one of the most talented actors of the modern generation, which explains why he’s getting jobs pretty much everywhere. He’s snagged 29 acting gigs in the last 10 years, and the proof is in the pudding.

When there’s a male superhero on the horizon, expect Timothée Chalamet’s name to be near the top of the list. The possibility really caught fire when it was revealed that he was in talks to be the MCU’s Spider-Man when Marvel Studios was casting for Captain America: Civil War. If he’s auditioned once before, why wouldn’t Marvel have him back?

4

Ryan Gosling

Known for: ‘Barbie’ (2023)

If there’s anything that Ryan Gosling has proven over his career, it’s that he’s a wildly multi-faceted actor who will do any type of film and own it. From the perfect romance film that is The Notebook to the astounding musical La La Land to the action-packed Drive, he’s got experience in all of it.

Ryan Gosling loves making movies, and it’s obvious. He’s passionate about telling stories, no matter the kind of story that’s being told. Marvel Studios loves to take a dive into different genres with every new project. Captain America: The Winter Soldier was a political thriller, and Guardians of the Galaxy was a space opera, which is proof that they’re willing to jump into any genre if it serves the story. Gosling clearly has the same mentality and that should be proof enough to Marvel that they need to get their hands on him.

3

Alan Ritchson

Known for: ‘Reacher’ (2021-Present)

It doesn’t take much dissection or investigation to see why it’d totally make sense for Alan Ritchson to get a call for an MCU project. He’s biologically built exactly how comic artists draw these iconic superheroes in the source material. His physical build is that of a Greek god and would easily make for a perfect superhero.

Ritchson also has the perfect attitude for a leading man. The way he steers the ship in his hit Prime Video series, Reacher, shows that he can carry pretty much any story on those big ‘ol shoulders. The power in each super-soldier’s punch would look like lightwork to the kind of stuff Ritchson can make it look like he’s doing with his posture.

2

Sabrina Carpenter

Known for her music career

She may be the music industry’s biggest pop sensation at the moment, but Sabrina Carpenter has been in the acting game far longer than she’s been singing tunes. Carpenter began her fame as a child actor, most notably known in her youth for her work on Disney Channel‘s Girl Meets World. And while she’s finding so much success in music right now, she still dabbles in acting, most recently acting in Tall Girl 2 in 2022.

The world would lose its minds over the idea of Sabrina Carpenter taking part in the world’s biggest cinematic franchise. The young artist is an obvious choice to play whatever new superhero comes next, including Gwen Stacy or one of the X-Men. Who knows? Only one thing can be known: it’s wild she hasn’t made her way into the Marvel world yet.

1

Keanu Reeves

Known for: ‘John Wick’ (2014)

He’s started franchises and completely taken over them. At this point, the legendary Keanu Reeves is an all-around superstar. He most recently took the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise into a chokehold, and everyone knows that he would do the exact same to the Marvel Cinematic Universe Fans especially want to see him as Ghost Rider.

There are a multitude of reasons that they need to get Reeves. For starters, every movie lover knows that every franchise, superhero or not, could always use some good Reeves flare. The actor genuinely cares about everything he appears in and puts his everything into his projects. If Reeves got any role in the MCU, he would make it one of the best in the entire franchise and quickly become a fan favorite.

NEXT: The 10 Most Important Movies in the MCU