Watching Loki, I was stunned by how many top tier actors have been scooped up by the Marvel Universe. Whether it be veteran stars like Owen Wilson or up-and-coming performers like Lovecraft Country's Wunmi Mosaku. Even the recent Black Widow is stuffed with Oscar nominees and winners like Rachel Weisz and Florence Pugh.
The behemoth franchise has revitalized the careers of actors like Robert Downey, Jr., codified the stardom of actors like Michael B. Jordan and cast some stars in a whole new light (I'm thinking Kathryn Hahn's scene stealing turn in WandaVision)
And yet, there are still more actors who are like low hanging fruit for this cinematic universe who I think it'd be a mistake for the Marvel folks to overlook ...
Cecily Strong - I have long thought she is the most under-appreciated star on SNL. She's incredibly versatile -- as evidenced by her wonderful work on the new Apple TV series Schmigadoon, and in the same way that's been refreshing to see Julia Louis-Dreyfuss start to show up in movies like these, there has been a real lack of humor in the women's roles in Marvel movies. She could easily upend that.
Bob Odenkirk - His brilliant work in Better Call Saul has completely re-shaped his image in the minds of audiences but nothing prepared me for how badass he would be in the movie Nobody, a slam bang, John Wick-esque action epic. I see him as being either a really good villain or an unconventional hero, either way, he would step the game up of any of his co-stars.
Issa Rae - She certainly has the look of a superhero -- and women of color have by and large been woefully underrepresented in Marvel. Sure there's Zoe Saldana (covered by green make-up) in the Guardians films, Tessa Thompson popped up in Thor Ragnarok and, of course, Black Panther has an embarrassment of riches but hell, it's still not enough.
Trevante Rhodes - Speaking of looking like a superhero, this guy is like central casting. After I saw him in Moonlight, I assumed this ripped, stunning specimen would be all over the big screen but he has yet to have another breakout role and hasn't worked as consistently as I expected. It's as if Hollywood is like biased or something? Anyways it's a crime that he hasn't turned up as a big screen Luke Cage or something!
Beanie Feldstein & Kaitlyn Dever - The two lovable stars of one of the most underrated comedies of the past decade, Booksmart, would be a welcome and unconventional star presence in a Marvel movie in any capacity. It'd be cool if they were a duo since they have such phenomenal chemistry but whatever works, just get these ladies more screen-time Marvel!
Jennifer Lopez - Hustlers proved that Jennifer Lopez has a lot in the tank as actress, and it's kind of crazy that she never has been in a superhero franchise. It just seems like a massive oversight given her movie star persona and impressive work ethic. Again, I have no idea who she should play but it doesn't matter, just get her in one of these movies (and away from Ben Affleck),
Jason Segal - After making a big splash with big comedies like Forgetting Sarah Marshall, The Muppets and I Love You Man, Segal went more of the indie route and hasn't been quite as ubiquitous as some of the other Apatow boys over the years. He certainly doesn't fit the profile of a superhero type (even though he's an enormous guy) but I could see him getting a makeover Paul Rudd/Chris Pratt style.
Javier Bardem - He's always unpredictable and riveting in almost everything he does, and he proved in Skyfall that he can really deliver a knockout performance in a big budget franchise picture, and of course, his work in No Country for Old Men is peerless. He doesn't show up in enough movies.
Julianne Moore - With the exception of The Big Lebowski, this veteran actress rarely gets to play 'fun' roles and it would be interesting to get to see her do something a little more silly and goofy for a change. She's easily one of our greatest living actresses and she's earned the right to do some scenery chewing. Just don't cast her as someone's mom like you did with Rene Russo.
Denzel Washington - He's spent a career avoiding these kinds of movies (he's only made one sequel ever) which is precisely why if he showed up in say, Black Panther 2 (fingers crossed), it would be such a big deal. I don't know if he would ever do it, he's well into his 60s now and he may not want to go full Liam Neeson, but I think he'd be fun as a bad guy in this universe.
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