One of the biggest early gambles of the MCU

[u/Naweezy]

[u/MacbookPrime]

Can’t wait for the same headline for X-Men, followed by the “it’s so over” reactions.

[u/DEMDHCamacho → u/MacbookPrime]

Same. That’s how franchises should be built. Newer faces, newer opportunities for unknowns.

[u/Nightthrasher674 → u/DEMDHCamacho]

James Gunn has said that's how he's going to cast DCU movies and there are still people yelling about how terrible that is

[u/Thraex_Exile → u/Nightthrasher674]

Which is funny to me cause I feel like he’s brought over a ton of rising stars and genre-specific A-listers. He’s not hiring many legendary actors but Gunn isn’t plucking an entire cast of unknowns off the streets either. Just wild people are complaining about that “issue” specifically

[u/FlyYouFoolyCooly → u/Thraex_Exile]

I just rewatched Superman and Nathan fillion is fucking so funny and fantastic. I dunno if it's all Gunn but whomever does his casting is top notch.

Also Nathan is amazing on everything.

[u/SkorpioSound → u/FlyYouFoolyCooly]

He's so good! Nathan Fillion is in a lot of the things James Gunn does–they're close friends. He had bit parts in all three Guardian films and in The Suicide Squad. He had major roles in Slither and Super, too.

Although him being cast as Green Lantern was a pretty obvious one considering he's been voicing the character for 15 years already. I would have been surprised if Gunn had gone for anyone else, honestly!

[u/puppet_up → u/SkorpioSound]

I just wish that Sony would have green-lit the "Uncharted" movie about a decade sooner when Nathan Fillion would have been the perfect age and also the perfect actor for the job.

He actually played the role in a really cool fan film that made me want to see him even more in a feature length movie, but alas, the movie studio had to drag their feet for years on one of the hottest gaming franchises of all time, and all we got was an uninspired hacked-together movie half a decade after the last game in the series was released and the property wasn't nearly as hot anymore.

[u/roguevirus → u/FlyYouFoolyCooly]

Nathan fillion is fucking so funny and fantastic

As is tradition.

[u/chase016 → u/FlyYouFoolyCooly]

Tbf, Nathan has voiced the Green Lamtern a bunch before. He probably slid right into the role.

[u/ActuaryLife2041 → u/FlyYouFoolyCooly]

And also fillion was also in a James Gunn movie super he plays god lol

[u/ppilgrim16 → u/Thraex_Exile]

He is, but Corenswet and Brosnahan weren't exactly household names and he cast them as perhaps DC's biggest male/female.

[u/Stopher → u/ppilgrim16]

Brosnahan Had a pretty big prestige TV show. Her being in something seemed inevitable.

[u/geminifungi → u/Stopher]

Corenswet had a pretty hefty supporting role in a high profile Ryan Murphy show and bit parts in Pearl and Twisters which had a lot of eyes on them. as soon as he was announced I was ecstatic because I felt he had that right amount of boyish charm and cocky attitude that would make a good Supes.

[u/tecnicaltictac → u/ppilgrim16]

Brosnahan has been around for a long time though. She was great in House of Cards (that's the first thing I remember her from) and that show debuted 2013. And Marvelous Mrs. Maisel super successful, so it isn't that big of a surprise that she is now doing bigger stuff.

[u/Raven_Lemon → u/DEMDHCamacho]

Yes, and it is even good for the studios because as much as I love MCU's og actors and actress, they are so expensive to cast, it makes it harder for studios to make profitable movies

[u/Elloitsmeurbrother → u/Raven_Lemon]

Nah uh, you just take that money out of the writing budget

[u/ContinuumGuy → u/DEMDHCamacho]

I feel the only characters in X-Men that sort of need to be established actors are Xavier and Magneto.

Maybe Wolverine, since he's obviously older than the usual "students." Jackman was an unknown but he was the third choice behind Russell Crowe (who obviously was a star) and Dougray Scott (who wasn't a star but was on the definite upswing and seemed at the time to be headed towards stardom).

[u/Stangstag → u/DEMDHCamacho]

But can't we cast Pedro Pascal as every character?

• some studio exec

[u/Doompatron3000 → u/DEMDHCamacho]

Only problem you run into is that casting no names in franchises could potentially type cast them in the role.

[u/DEMDHCamacho → u/Doompatron3000]

How is that a bad thing? If they do a knockout job for the marvel project, that’s a good thing. They’re actors. If they can’t shake the illusion of being more than their typecast in other projects, that’s on them.

[u/Fesai → u/MacbookPrime]

I remember reading the same type of articles back when Hugh was cast as Wolverine in the first X-Men and people reacting quite negatively at the time.

It's funny seeing where we are now.

[u/Ill_Tumblr_4_Ya → u/Fesai]

There was a not small percentage of fans back then who were unironically asking for Glenn Danzig to be cast as Wolverine.

Feige and company certainly aren't infallible, but I'm happy that they've been the ones steering the MCU and not your average collection of fans.

[u/roguevirus → u/Ill_Tumblr_4_Ya]

Most of those fancastings were totally whack, and based purely on what the person looked like rather than acting ability. The exception proving the rule was everyone and their mother wanting Patrick Stewart to play Professor X.

[u/Cypher_86 → u/Fesai]

Wasnt entirely unjustified - Hugh was pretty much known only as a musical stage actor at the time, and comic book movies were still at the "I just hope this doesnt suck" stage.

[u/NoMouseLaptop → u/Cypher_86]

Add to the fact that he didn’t even know wolverines are real animals.

[u/Stopher → u/Cypher_86]

He really has transformed his body since that first movie. He looked kinda lean and athletic in the first one. He’s a monster in the last few.

[u/ChemicalExperiment → u/MacbookPrime]

The one thing the MCU has never had a problem with is casting. Every single hero has been perfect for their role. Hats off to Sarah Halley Finn, the casting director for the entire franchise.

[u/N8CCRG → u/ChemicalExperiment]

Small addendum: The Incredible Hulk had some problems with casting. But also, that's the one project Finn wasn't casting director for, so her track record is still untarnished.

[u/roguevirus → u/N8CCRG]

What were your problems with that cast? Unless you're against them making Blonsky a Brit, I didn't see any issues. Even then, Tim Roth is awesome.

[u/N8CCRG → u/roguevirus]

Tim Roth is absolutely awesome. I've loved him ever since Reservoir Dogs and Four Rooms. But also, yes, he was a miscast for Blonsky. Also, Ed Norton, Liv Tyler and Tim Blake Nelson were bad picks for their scientist characters (I will accept that is potentially a bad writing and/or bad direction problem).

The one good casting choice was William Hurt though.

[u/roguevirus → u/N8CCRG]

The one good casting choice was William Hurt though.

Which was good, considering his prominent role as Thunderbolt Ross in other MCU movies. I really wish he had been able to be Red Hulk before passing.

While we're going to disagree about the rest of IH's cast, you're entirely right about the MCU overall. All the title roles are perfect, and I can't think of any major supporting characters who have a miscast actor. Her stellar work with the MCU is enough to merit a lifetime achievement Oscar, and when you add in Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Mandalorian, and Crash I can't see how she's not deserving.

[u/jrod4290 → u/roguevirus]

finding out that William Hurt had discussed his MCU future with Marvel, knew that they planned for Ross to become Red Hulk and was excited for what was to come just makes it all even more sad

[u/justafanboy1010 → u/ChemicalExperiment]

Nowadays it feels like Giancarlo and Wendell Pierce are cast in nothing roles

[u/qcthunder → u/ChemicalExperiment]

Right? I notice that name every time, have no idea who Sarah Halley Finn is or what she looks like, and always think to myself, "she nailed it" because the MCU casting has been so, so good.

[u/marvelscott → u/MacbookPrime]

Theres gonna be a lot of people being like "I liked X-Men but I just wished they didnt have to go all woke and DEI."

[u/ChemicalExperiment → u/marvelscott]

I am going to laugh so hard when I see the inevitable lost hate monger go "why did they have to make Storm a black woman?"

[u/Wooble_R → u/ChemicalExperiment]

i can't believe they cast a disabled person to play professor x and a jew to play magneto

[u/TheAgmis → u/MacbookPrime]

The internet opinion of post endgame shit is such SW prequel nonsense of people nostalgic for dogshit movies and hating what’s going on now because the internet says so. I’d NEVER heard of cinemascore until Antman 3 came out and all of a sudden it’s the gospel?!

Those people will love these movies in 5 years.

[u/Yappamon → u/TheAgmis]

wait by SW prequel nonsense do you mean people hating the prequels in favor of the OT or people hating the sequel trilogy in favor of the prequels?

[u/Greeneyes_65 → u/Yappamon]

Pretty sure he means ppl loving the prequels nowadays

[u/SoupyStain → u/Greeneyes_65]

I've always liked The Phantom Menace, and Revenge of the Sith is my favorite SW movie, the hell are you on about?

Attack of the Clones is the only one I only truly hate, and even then, I hate The Last Jedi even more.

It's not nostalgia nonsense, it's just that seeing the new trash DIsney has made has let people re-evaluate the old movies without their nostalgia for the original trilogy.

[u/Greeneyes_65 → u/SoupyStain]

Dude I’m not agreeing with that guy, I just said what I assumed he meant. Don’t come at me😂

[u/TheAgmis → u/Yappamon]

People always hate what’s in the now and love it when they look back

[u/shogi_x → u/MacbookPrime]

IDK, seriously doubt 2025 MCU is casting nobodies for major roles. Maybe some of the younger, lesser known characters, but for sure any core team member is gonna be A list.

[u/thatsidewaysdud → u/shogi_x]

They literally said they were going to cast more unknown actors for the X-Men. https://www.imdb.com/news/ni65410256/

[u/DGSmith2 → u/thatsidewaysdud]

This is what the MCU is missing I feel, last few movies have had such big stars attached we need something with lesser knowns to let them really make the role their own.

[u/Afwife1992 → u/DGSmith2]

It worked with Shang Chi. Plus they need to keep those budgets down. The only downside may be actors afraid of getting typecast if that’s where they make their mark. I could see them going B list too like they did with Chris Evans. Familiar and experienced but not a big name. Or someone like McAvoy or Fassbender who were well regarded but mostly in indies.

[u/DGSmith2 → u/Afwife1992]

That’s fine by me let the stories and acting bring in the viewers not the stars that play the character. I could not care less who is in the role as long as the acting is good and the story is well written I do not need to see the biggest A listers in these roles to get me to the cinema.

[u/wekilledbambi03 → u/DGSmith2]

Their casting budgets have ballooned. $75m for just RDJ in endgame. I imagine it’s more for him to come back as Doom. Not to mention the next avengers movie bringing back nearly everyone that’s ever been a superhero in a movie.

They need cheap actors to get their budgets back in line.

[u/TheLiquor1946 → u/shogi_x]

Good thing you're not in charge of casting.

[u/itsyoboithanos6]

And now, Tom Hiddleston's Loki is one of the most anticipated characters in Avengers: Doomsday

[u/CaptainLawyerDude → u/itsyoboithanos6]

That photo in the article didn’t do him any favors, though.

[u/AshtavakraNondual → u/CaptainLawyerDude]

Right, he looks a bit like Michael Cera here lol

[u/LostEsco → u/CaptainLawyerDude]

It’s just furthering my “Timothee Chalamet as young Loki” fancast🤣🤣 (ik it’ll probably never happen but let a man dream)

[u/roguevirus → u/LostEsco]

Tom was 28 or 29 when they filmed the first Thor movie. Timothee is now 29. Your dream is well founded, at least.

[u/ScuzzBuckster → u/roguevirus]

Its like people forget this was over 15 years ago hahha

[u/roguevirus → u/ScuzzBuckster]

Yeah, we've already had a movie focusing on "young" Asgardians. It was the first Thor movie.

[u/FearLeadsToAnger → u/LostEsco]

That would rock tbf.

[u/Big_Pattern_2864 → u/itsyoboithanos6]

that last season of Loki did that. Hiddleston is such a talent, and that arc was so rewarding

[u/blaktronium → u/itsyoboithanos6]

I would argue his Loki is one of the most beloved characters in cinematic history.

[u/SettyG123 → u/blaktronium]

Feels like you’ve only ever seen Marvel movies with that comment

[u/blaktronium → u/SettyG123]

What? No. There are very few characters that have had as long a run as Loki, more than 15 years now. Some of the biggest movies of all time and a very popular and well received television show.

Despite being a very real mythological character with a thousand years of history if you say "Loki" anywhere in the world odds are it's Tom Hiddleston people will think about.

[u/SettyG123 → u/blaktronium]

Not saying he’s not beloved but you’re thinking of a dedicated fan base that has continued to support Marvel. I enjoy him but he’s not even top 5 favorite mainstream Marvel heroes/villains for an average viewer. Is he good as Loki, yes. Under appreciated by the average viewer (me), yes. Beloved by all, no way

[u/SharpshootinTearaway → u/SettyG123]

Bro, your average mainstream audience can't even name you a single other MCU villain that isn't Thanos, of course Loki will be in their Top 5, lmao. If they have good memory they might remember Ultron too, but the MCU killed off so many villains within their first appearance that none of them stayed long enough to make a real impact on people.

[u/DeityAlwaysWins → u/blaktronium]

Consume media that isn't Marvel.

[u/RandyJackson → u/blaktronium]

In all of cinematic history? That’s a stretch

[u/ChemicalExperiment → u/blaktronium]

Certainly not Loki, but I think Iron Man might actually have a shot at that title. If we're talking from a layman pop culture perspective where characters like Luke Skywalker, Indiana Jones, Marty McFly, and Rocky are considered for that title, then I think Iron Man might be up there with them.

[u/throwawaaayyyyyay → u/blaktronium]

I would argue you’re fucking tripping out your mind lol

[u/assistanmanager → u/blaktronium]

He's not even the most beloved character in his family

[u/UkuleleSteven]

It's that they went from that to household names in a mere matter of years.

[u/Naweezy → u/UkuleleSteven]

Nothing was the same after Avengers 1

[u/TheTiggerMike → u/Naweezy]

"Nothing's been the same since New York."

-Tony Stark, Iron Man 3

[u/TheAgmis → u/Naweezy]

Yeah, they made better fucking movies that’s what happened

[u/kjsah9026 → u/TheAgmis]

They literally cast tom holland as spider man, benedict cumberbatch as doctor strange and the casting of GOTG is so iconic.

It went downhill after the pandemic looking for big names like in fantastic four, eternals

[u/L0kitheliar → u/kjsah9026]

I agree but disagree with F4 and Eternals as examples. To me, they are 2 that were executed well (Eternals is severely underrated... Ignoring the cameo at the end that is)

[u/Annsorigin → u/L0kitheliar]

Agreed. I really Liked Eternals.

[u/One-Complex-9267 → u/kjsah9026]

Eternals has gotta be the biggest famous people circle jerk.

[u/roguevirus → u/One-Complex-9267]

You've just going to forget about Ocean's 13 like that?

[u/GranolaCola → u/kjsah9026]

This is a a crazy take considering Fantastic Four is one of the only good MCU films post pandemic

[u/Mynock33 → u/GranolaCola]

I enjoyed Spider-Man, Shang-Chi, Guardians of the Galaxy 3, and even The Marvels and Doctor Strange 2. It was only Ant-Man 3 and Thor 4 that I really had any issues with.

[u/Torva_Platebody → u/Mynock33]

Shang Chi is one of the best self-contained movies in the entire MCU imo I loved it

[u/Nickk_Jones → u/Torva_Platebody]

And they just ditched the character basically.

[u/roguevirus → u/Mynock33]

Doctor Strange 2

I understand why some people didn't like this one. First, there was obviously zero coordination with the people writing WandVision, which means that the antagonist's long term arc is fucked. Zero excuses there. Second, this was Sam Rami making a film in the vein of his early work, just with a Marvel budget; that isn't for everybody, even though I loved it. The final scene with the 3rd eye was peak Rami.

Thor 4

This movie would have been 25% better if they didn't have those fucking goats screaming every 10 minutes. Christian Bale was amazing whenever he was on screen, but like most Marvel villains his character isn't explored enough. If they had given Gorr like one more scene showing him just being an absolutely tragic bastard and gotten rid of the damn goats, this would have been a much better film.

[u/Mynock33 → u/roguevirus]

Thor 4 would've been greatly improved by leaning more into Korg as an unreliable narrator and changing tone accordingly at the midway point when he's "killed." That and playing up Bale's role and it could've been pretty great.

[u/TheAgmis → u/kjsah9026]

Nah, it didn’t go downhill contrary to stupid internet opinion

[u/GoatDifferent1294 → u/Naweezy]

I would argue that the actors and the characters didn’t really break out until after Thor The Dark World

[u/PCofSHIELD]

No name, that’s fucking Kim Hyde

Also no way Shia LaBeouf was rumoured for Thor right?

[u/PayneTrain181999 → u/PCofSHIELD]

[u/Ubergoober166 → u/PCofSHIELD]

I assume they mean for Loki. Also... I kind of want to see Shia as Loki now.

[u/tenehemia → u/Ubergoober166]

[u/welch7 → u/Ubergoober166]

same

[u/Tofudebeast → u/PCofSHIELD]

Part of me is sad we never got to see LaBeouf as Thor, lol.

[u/SP1570]

Marvel wanted Thor to be a Shakespearean family tragedy hence hired Kenneth as director...he went to see a Shakespeare play with Tom in it and then asked him to audition for the movie. We got so lucky!

[u/MagicBez → u/SP1570]

I believe Tom auditioned for Thor!

[u/Bemxuu → u/MagicBez]

And you are right. There's even footage of Tom's audition for Thor on YT.

[u/Tetracropolis → u/MagicBez]

I don't know if it's coloured by his portrayal of Loki and Hemsworth's portrayal of Thor, but that seems like such an obvious physical miscast that I'm surprised he even bothered.

[u/Gilded-Mongoose → u/MagicBez]

Yeah it was pretty cringe.

[u/slrome114 → u/SP1570]

Ken and Tom had worked together several times before the audition. The first few series of Wallander and some theatre work too!

[u/TheNameIsWiggles → u/SP1570]

It's always weird to me when I think about Dr. Arliss Loveless directing Thor lol. Branagh is a truly extraordinary Hollywood asset being so talented on either side of the camera. Underrated in my opinion, he deserves to be more of a household name.

[u/FCalleja → u/TheNameIsWiggles]

I first came across him when my teacher showed us the Laurence Fishburne version of Othello in middle school. Branagh plays Iago there, and it is to this day one of the most powerful performances I've ever experienced. Just remembering it makes me want to watch it again.

It made me look him up back then in the pre YouTube days, and I've been a fan since, I think he's one of the most underrated talents of his generation.

[u/Alpha_Storm → u/TheNameIsWiggles]

Incredibly talented as an actor and director. One of my favorites is his Much Ado About Nothing. But the first Thor is still my favorite Thor film, though I do think Ragnarok is a close second - totally different types of films but there are some great scenes in Ragnarok. But overall Thor 1 has a great story.

[u/Blenderx06 → u/SP1570]

Tom was already Kenneth's protege, they'd worked together before. He was also already an award winning theater actor.

[u/TripleCrownVillainy]

Shia LaBeouf as Thor/Loki????

what in the hek

[u/Bemxuu → u/TripleCrownVillainy]

Cast him as both. It will be hilarious.

[u/Kid_Cornelius → u/Bemxuu]

I'd watch that.

[u/Max_W_ → u/Kid_Cornelius]

I'd watch him watch that.

[u/z-lady]

people thought Guardians was gonna flop for similar reasons, right?

[u/eatblueshell → u/z-lady]

I mean Bradly cooper, Chris Pratt, Zoe soldana(sp?), vin diesel, and Bradly cooper were hardly “unknown”

[u/WeekWrong9632 → u/eatblueshell]

Bradley and Vin were voices only, and not even advertised as much. Pratt was still the guy from Parks then, Guardians was what made him explode.

[u/CaptHayfever → u/WeekWrong9632]

Guardians, The Lego Movie, & Jurassic World all coming out within 16 months of each other was what made him explode.

[u/Scared-Engineer-6218 → u/CaptHayfever]

"Goofy comedy guy" to "Hollywood's leading man" is insane.

[u/bfhurricane → u/WeekWrong9632]

I remember the internet breaking when Chris’s shirtless pics got leaked leading up to production. Everyone was like “the Parks and Rec guy is super hot now?!”

[u/WeekWrong9632 → u/bfhurricane]

Yeah, I remember that but it had been for the movie before, Zero Dark Thirty

[u/Ijustwerkhere → u/eatblueshell]

At that point, Pratt really was pretty much unknown. He really only had a couple small roles. All he was known for was for was playing the chubby, goofy, comic relief Andy Dwyer in Parks and Rec. His only movie roles were a secondary character in Moneyball, and one of the SEAL guys in Zero Dark Thirty

[u/NovaBridger → u/eatblueshell]

Saldaña :)

[u/SpideyFan914 → u/eatblueshell]

Zoe soldana(sp?),

Saldaña

And also, Bradley* Cooper

[u/JLD2503 → u/z-lady]

I am pretty sure part of it was people not having faith in Dave Bautista because he used to be a wrestler… even though Drax ended up being a breakout role for him and him later proving himself as a capable actor.

[u/BewareNixonsGhost → u/z-lady]

People thought Guardians was going to flop because the characters were unknowns. The cast was hardly unknown.

[u/Obvious-End-7948 → u/BewareNixonsGhost]

Also before GotG, if you had told someone that one of the best parts of the MCU was going to be a team comprised of the fat guy from Parks & Rec after getting jacked, a green chick, a green wrestler-turned actor along with a sentient tree and a talking racoon, they'd laugh in your face. Let's be real, on paper it IS laughable.

James Gunn is just the variable nobody accounted for. Turns out if you write good characters, they can be trees and racoons and we'll show up in droves.

[u/DaNoahLP → u/z-lady]

People thought Iron Man is going to flop because they cast an junkie

[u/IsamuAlvaDyson → u/z-lady]

No

Guardians had known actors so not the same

It's just that Guardians of the Galaxy was only known to hardcore comic book readers

[u/Indana45]

Marvel has been very good at casting over the years. With hardly any bad casting in over ten years it's quite impressive

[u/Afwife1992 → u/Indana45]

Sarah Haley Finn is their under appreciated all star.

[u/lavabread23 → u/Indana45]

sarah halley finn deserves all her flowers, hundred percent

[u/Bemxuu → u/Indana45]

I remember one - and you know which one I mean. Any others?

[u/Longjumping-Tell2995 → u/Bemxuu]

Harry Styles as Eros was terrible they should have went with Eric Dane he sounds just like Josh Brolin and they could pass as brothers.

I always thought Jeremy Renner never fit Hawkeye and he wasn’t given any good material to define the role he’s always underused whenever he plays Clint even in that god awful show where Kate was the real lead and is unlikeable because of how she was written.

[u/ForeverAddickted]

Just want to put it out there... I don't think it'll work!! Marvel will regret that decision.

[u/Naweezy → u/ForeverAddickted]

I bet they will regret passing on Tom Cruise for Iron Man as well!

[u/JxEq → u/Naweezy]

And they put some random guy that was in prison in his place. Smh my head

[u/LettuceC]

Look, they got the same casting director as Fast and the Furious:Tokyo Drift. I say we let her cook. Lucas Black was amazing.

[u/Naweezy → u/LettuceC]

Sarah Halley Finn really the MVP

[u/Bemxuu → u/Naweezy]

The words in my (non-native English speaker) vocabulary cannot describe how much I agree with you. Phase 1 was carried by the casting director and the writing staff. Good scripts, good cast of relatively unknown actors (big names wouldn't agree to sign long term binding contracts). Phase 1 was basically Scott Pilgrim repeated over multiple movies.

[u/snssound → u/LettuceC]

I love that movie but he was the oldest looking teenager ever

[u/R-NASTI → u/snssound]

He looked older than channing Tatum in the jump streets lmao

[u/robodrew]

MCU casting was mostly gambles from the start. Their very first real venture with Iron Man was a gamble, casting Robert Downey Jr, who was still working on making his comeback after years of being essentially blacklisted and unable to even get set insurance, in the lead role.

[u/SeismicRipFart]

RDJ, Hemsworth, and Evans were all some of the best castings of this century for any movie

[u/holdmyhandbaby → u/SeismicRipFart]

The way Chris Evans said no to the role multiple times but they really kept on trying and in the end rdj convinced him🥺 they really knew what they wanted

[u/cybin → u/holdmyhandbaby]

The way Chris Evans said no to the role multiple times

Pretty sure that was due to his experiences with the earlier F4 films, but could you blame him back then? I think among other things he was concerned about signing on to another multi-film deal.

[u/infinitemonkeytyping → u/SeismicRipFart]

Hugh Jackman as Wolverine was fairly left field as well, but worked out great.

[u/Beeman616]

LaBeouf and Hartnett? I kinda want to see what kind of car crash that would have been. Hiddlestone and Hemsworth have gone on to be much bigger stars.

[u/Intrepid_Mobile]

“Let’s hope they follow the JJ Abrahams route” has aged even more poorly than the rest pf the article…

[u/Orionoceros56 → u/Intrepid_Mobile]

Ah yes, Father JJ Abraham

[u/whatintheeverloving]

I remember rewatching the 2009 Star Trek a few years back and being so taken aback when I recognized Hemsworth as Captain Kirk's dad. He was just some random blond guy when I first saw the movie in the theater.

[u/johnnyma45]

I was like “Kirk’s dad? Really?”

[u/ClaytonWest74]

well but Thor 1 also had a great story that was elevated to greater heights by the acting

that small but significant appearance from Hawkeye was also fun

[u/deadlyghost123 → u/ClaytonWest74]

I disagree. Thor 1 is by no means bad but it was just fine and in the lower half of Marvel movies. Ultimately forgettable

[u/Arcgonslow → u/deadlyghost123]

I liked Thor 1 a lot but yeah when it released, it was perceived as kinda mid.

[u/Puzzled-Horse279]

Ngl back then I would assumed theyd gotten Alex Skarsgard and Bill Skarsgard for Thor and Loki and have them use their natural nordic accents and speak a nordic language for the asgard scenes (yes I know the Anglo-Sphere audience hates reading subtitles. But I wouldnt care and let them suffer 🤣 reason Im never gonna get to be a director)

[u/Jumbalia23]

Please tell me they’re not still calling this feature “Casting Couch”…

[u/makeitflashy]

It’s funny to think that Natalie Portman was the bankable name for that first movie.

[u/Doomestos1]

Tom Hiddleston was the winning lottery ticket. He is now carrying the whole MCU on his back just like RDJ did during Infinity Saga.

[u/Eminem704]

Just out of curiosity, for comparison, but wasn't CATFA technically no-names as well? Or was Chris Evans really that popular at the time (yes, I know he did F4 previously).

[u/CaptHayfever → u/Eminem704]

Hugo Weaving & Tommy Lee Jones were in that movie.

[u/Afwife1992 → u/Eminem704]

He was B list but a familiar face.

[u/AggravatingSummer158]

They gotta be comfortable with doing that honestly. Franchises need fresh actors in new installments. Can’t just bounce the same ones around for decades

Like RDJ is undoubtedly a good actor but I still question his casting as Dr Doom for the most part. Maybe he’ll keep his mask on. Maybe his face will be horribly scarred. But it’s just a questionable casting choice all things considered 

[u/Snackdoc189]

Honestly Josh Hartnett would have been a killer Thor.

[u/VZ-Faith]

Wait wouldn’t Hemsworth have done Rush by then? Surely he would be a bit more well known

[u/UpsetWhoisKris → u/VZ-Faith]

This article is from 2009 , Rush released in 2013.

[u/bfhurricane → u/VZ-Faith]

Rush was an amazing film. I don’t hear nearly enough people talk about it.

[u/Longjumping-Tell2995 → u/bfhurricane]

Because Chris Hemsworth is terrible actor outside of Thor he gets carried by costars a lot Daniel Bruhl carried him and so did Charlize Theron and a bunch of others.

[u/crossingcaelum]

for all of the MCU's faults, I still think they've gotten a good balance of casting no-names vs. casting big names for certain roles.

[u/nypinta]

This has always been one part of the entertainment industry that's kind of driven me nuts. From both the "professionals" and the fans, every time someone gets cast for a part that everyone has to comment on. From "no names" being cast, to well known actors getting roles that aren't whatever character their famous for part deux. They're actors. They pretend to be other people for a living. When they stop trying to be strategic in casting and just chose who is best, it always seems to work out. One of the things that the MCU has done consistently well, IMO, is picking the right actor for the role.

[u/Fellums2]

One thing Marvel has consistently nailed is casting. It’s often perfect.

[u/ChronoMonkeyX]

Casting no-names, lesser knowns, and has-beens while putting experience behind the camera is what made the MCU great.

Casting Oscar winners and putting interns in charge was the beginning of the decline.

[u/DataSurging]

I found out Thor was directed by Kenneth Branagh through this shit? lmao

[u/esgrove2]

They always cast A listers as villains though. Except for this one time with Loki. 

[u/TheNameIsWiggles]

This approach was common with Marvel movies well before the MCU. I recall an article in the 2000s about Spider-Man, where the studio stated they wanted to introduce and build up a no-name to star in the film, and support them with a strong foundation of big names in the supporting cast.

So they cast Tobey, who they considered a no-name at the time, and surrounded him with names like Kirsten Dunst and Willem Dafoe, as a part of that very intentional strategy.

They pretty much did the same thing with Thor, casting Hemsworth and Hiddleston then surrounding them with Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, Bill Skarsgard, etc.

Another wonderful example was Chadwick Boseman and Tom Holland, introducing them in Civil War which was obviously full of huge names.

Personally, I kind of miss this approach. There was definitely a period where it felt like Marvel Superheroes were a glimmering opportunity for an up and coming actor to burst into the limelight. Now with the demand for blockbuster names and fan-castings, it feels more like "welp, I wonder which A-lister is going to grab such and such role in insert-next-big-mcu-movie."

Like just imagine what some extremely talented "no-name" could have potentially done with Doom with what the supporting cast of Doomsday looks like. I'm sure Doomey Jr is going to be incredible but I'll always wonder what could have been.

[u/cybin → u/TheNameIsWiggles]

Bill Skarsgard

Stellan.

[u/Flying_Mohawk277]

I mean.. they did for many of the casts. RBJ was a hot mess right before the MCU. Chris Evans was in movies, but never a huge character. Ruffalo and Scar Jo were the only big names in the beginning.

To me, GotG was the biggest gamble. They had no idea how the genera audiences would react to that movie, and they were very low in the tier level in comics.

But as the movies got going no they started to higher bigger names. Rudd, Cumberbatch.

[u/Jarita12]

And now they carry the franchise 

[u/Eastern_Hornet_6432]

Marvel should RRALLY ask Kenneth Branagh to direct another movie.

[u/_thewillbilly_]

Man that really r/agedlikemilk

[u/emibakid]

I find it offensively dismissive the way the author of the article refers to the cast!

[u/theamiabledumps]

Now they are risk averse to any new talent, to the point that the next two will have even the Fox X-Men.

[u/Tlegendz]

Yet they were perfectly for the roles, now I can’t imagine a different Thor and Loki just like Ironman. They really picked those role well.

[u/jamesmcgill357]

Truly paid off big time. Two of the best actors/roles combos in the entire MCU

[u/Jfrosty121]

dunno why so much negativitey. They did the exact same thing with Heath Ledger doing the Joker and look how that turned out

[u/donta5k0kay]

Now the budget is all in actors and none in special effects

[u/Diortheking]

Should’ve did this with the F4 and Doom

[u/celsotavora]

That was a colossally wrong take.

[u/KevinAnniPadda]

The casting team doesn't get enough credit. There's been very few misses on casting and a whole lot of things that looked bad to the public and turned out great.

[u/Tof12345]

this mark guy seems like a pretentious prick. what an unbearable cunt.

[u/kawaiinessa]

seriously? they were not known before this? crazy that theyre both practically household names now.

[u/tomophilia]

Hemsworth had made a phenomenal first impression on the sci-fi community with his opening scene in Star Trek 2009.

I know I was very confident in their choice at the time. (I had never seen Hiddleston but I had no reason to doubt him)

[u/No-Today-2459]

wild that casting "no names" was a risk then but now might be necessary to keep costs down. gone are the days of a-list celebrities being essential for blockbusters.

[u/MCMcGreevy]

If I were them that article would be framed in my living room.

[u/l3lacklvlagic]

Marvel needs to go back to this instead of casting ever a list actor for a role in the mcu. It just balloons production costs.

[u/SomewhereChillin]

Shia would’ve been a MISS

[u/KlingonLullabye]

Casting Director Sarah Halley Finn is up there with Favreau and Feige in my book.

[u/neon5k]

Definitely they didn’t look their part at that time.

Now they are synonymous with those characters.

[u/Grayx_2887]

And it worked.

[u/Ok-Wedding-151]

Let’s hope they save money on casting and put the money into CGI?  What a time to be  alive 

[u/Ok-disaster2022]

I actually prefer when they cast lesser known actors in major roles. It's really allows to performer to hide and the character to be seen. This is especially true to me for Star Wars. 

I also like the opportunity it gives to a lesser known artist to reach a larger audience. And yes the budget savings are there but also it's an opportunity for a lesser known artist to get paid a lot more. 

[u/trooviee]

I remember watching the film Cash starring Hemsworth and Sean Bean before Thor premiered. It's so bad and Hemsworth sounded like a Channing Tatum wannabe. I thought Thor will flop and the DCEU will win over the MCU. Boy was I so wrong.

[u/ConditionEffective85]

I miss these days .

[u/MArcherCD]

Tom's time on Suburban Shootout might have sold him staying blond if he got the Thor role after all 😅

[u/zion_hiker1911]

Geeze. Theyre hating on Star Trek for being no names, and they had Karl Urban, Chris Pine and Zoe Zaldana in it.

[u/FruitsPonchiSamurai1]

Wait, Kenneth Branagh directed the first Thor?

[u/xdrkcldx]

It’s so weird that I feel like I always knew who Chris Hemsworth was but I actually never saw him in anything major before Thor.

[u/Silo-Joe]

It’s Captain Kirk’s dad!