10 Actors Who Played Different Characters In The Same Superhero Multiverse

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James Gunn’s DCU is getting off to an exciting start with the Superman trailer flirting with record viewership on YouTube and Creature Commandos receiving positive reviews. It’s also become clear that Gunn won’t be avoiding the DCEU like the plague with Season 2 of Peacemaker set in the DCU as well as numerous role reprisals such as Viola Davis as Amanda Waller. On the flip side, one of the DCEU’s biggest stars, Jason Momoa, will be making his return, but not as Aquaman.

Momoa is set to portray Lobo in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. While Momoa is a natural fit for Lobo, it does bring up the awkwardness of an actor playing multiple roles under the same DC or Marvel banner. Especially given that multiverses are in full effect in both cinematic universes, leading to the potential of paths being crossed. However, this is far from anything new. Momoa joins a long list of notable actors to return to DC or Marvel as another character entirely.

10

Jason Momoa Hopes To Bring His Aquaman Success To Lobo

Aquaman (DCEU) & Lobo (DCU)

Starting with Momoa, Aquaman was one of the biggest success stories of the DCEU. The first Aquaman film was the only DCEU film to eclipse one billion dollars at the box office. While it didn’t perform as well, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom did perform better than any other DCEU film after the original Aquaman. Momoa’s portrayal as the more imposing and rugged Aquaman has also shifted the wider audience’s perception of the often-joked-about superhero. While his Aquaman was starkly different from previous depictions across media, his take on the hero will very likely be the comparison point for the DCU’s Aquaman.

Momoa’s casting as Lobo is a dream come true for the actor, stating in the past that Lobo has always been a favorite of his. The intergalactic bounty hunter bears a design much closer to Momoa than Aquaman traditionally has, leading many fans to praise the casting choice. Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, which is set to be the DCU’s second film, will be just the second live-action depiction of Lobo. Lobo was previously portrayed by Emmett J. Scanlan in the Syfy network series Krypton, which only ran for two seasons.

9

Nathan Fillion Has Been A Mainstay In Gunn’s Superhero Works

The Detachable Kid (DCEU) & Guy Gardner (DCU)

Between Gunn’s Marvel and DC works, there are a lot of acting crossovers. One notable actor that Gunn has relied on is Nathan Fillion. Fillion only appeared in just one DCEU film, The Suicide Squad. Fillion played Cody Pitzner, or The Detachable Kid (T.D.K.). T.D.K. can detach his limbs and control them, which was good enough for Task Force X to use as a member of the decoy unit in Corto Maltese. Fillion is also no stranger to superhero roles as he portrayed Captain Hammer in Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, although it has no association with DC Comics.

Fillion is set to join the DCU in Superman as Green Lantern Guy Gardner. Gardner’s only other live-action depiction was in the unsuccessful TV film/pilot Justice League of America where he was portrayed by Matthew Settle. Fillion has had previous experience in a Green Lantern role, having voiced Hal Jordan in numerous DC Animated works, most recently in 2019’s Reign of Superman. Fillion will reprise his role as Gardner in the Lanterns series, which is planned for a debut in 2026.

8

Lynda Carter Returned To DC In A Wonder Woman Post-Credit Scene

Wonder Woman (1975-79 TV Series) & Asteria (DCEU)

Lynda Carter’s role as Wonder Woman is iconic. Even today, her portrayal as the Amazon princess is the first most think of when the subject of live-action Wonder Woman comes up. Carter’s Wonder Woman, much like Momoa’s Aquaman, has become incredibly influential for future depictions of the character. Carter was close to a cameo reprisal in both the Arrowverse’s “Crisis on Infinite Earths” and DCEU’s The Flash, but neither came to fruition.

Carter did make a cameo in Wonder Woman 1984, but not as Wonder Woman. Carter appeared in a post-credit scene as Asteria, a legendary Amazoness warrior. Known as The Golden Warrior, Asteria protected and defended the Amazons from mankind. The annual Amazon Games are held in her honor and include a large statue at the Amazonian Colisseum. Asteria’s golden armor aided Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman in her fight against Max Lord and Cheetah. Carter’s role never extended beyond this cameo, due to the decline of the DCEU and the cancellation of Wonder Woman 3, but it was a fun cameo nonetheless.

Human Torch (First Fox Fantastic Four) & Captain America (MCU)

The Fantastic Four has not had the best run of live-action films. The Fantastic Four: First Steps has its work cut out for it when it releases later in Summer 2025. The first iteration of the Fantastic Four on the big screen is notable for Chris Evans’ role as Johnny Storm, also known as the Human Torch. It was one of the early breakout roles for the actor, and it’s clear Marvel took notice considering who he was later cast as. MCU wasn’t the end for Evans’ Human Torch, as he was among numerous surprising cameos and reprisals in Deadpool & Wolverine.

Of course, Evans is much better known now as MCU’s Steve Rogers. Roger’s Captain America was far and away one of the most popular characters in the MCU alongside Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark. Interestingly enough, both are set to return to the MCU with RDJ portraying Doctor Doom and Evans speculated to be portraying HYDRA Supreme.

6

Michael B. Jordan Also Got His Marvel Start With The Human Torch

Human Torch (Second Fox Fantastic Four) & KIllmonger (MCU)

Human Torch appears to be a solid stepping stone in the superhero genre, which bodes well for Stranger Things’ Joseph Quinn, who is set to star as Johnny Storm in First Steps. The second official live-action Human Torch was Michael B. Jordan in 2015’s Fantastic Four. The casting of Jordan, a Black actor, as the traditionally white Johnny Storm led to Director Josh Trank receiving an onslaught of death threats to the point where he slept with a gun on his nightstand during production. This Fantastic Four reboot ultimately performed significantly worse than the Tim Story duology, leading to a canceled sequel.

Jordan returned as the MCU’s Erik Killmonger in Black Panther. Killmonger, born N’Jadaka, was the son of Wakandan prince N’Jobu. Prince N’Jobu was killed by his uncle and Wakandan king T’Chaka due to revealing Wakanda’s existence to arm’s dealer Ulysses Klaue. After discovering his Wakandan heritage, Killmonger returned to his home to usurp the throne he felt was rightfully his. Many MCU fans sympathized with Killmonger’s motives, leading many to consider him one of the best MCU antagonists. For his role, Jordan received numerous supporting actor award nominations and wins as well.

5

Evan Peters Made A Fun Cameo In WandaVision

Quicksilver (Fox’s X-Men) & Ralph Bohner (MCU)

Evan Peters probably has the most fun dual Marvel roles to date. Peters, also known for his roles in Kick-Ass and the American Horror Story franchise, played the beloved Peter Maximoff in Fox’s X-Men series. Maximoff, or Quicksilver, appeared in Fox’s X-Men prequel films while also appearing in Deadpool 2. Quicksilver’s remarkable speed led to fantastic slow-motion sequences, particularly when saving a group of students, which has continued to be emulated and praised years later.

In the MCU, Quicksilver, or Pietro Maximoff, was portrayed by Aaron Taylor-Johnson and debuted alongside Wanda Maximoff in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Quicksilver’s subsequent demise lingered in the mind of the Scarlet Witch. In WandaVision, Agatha Harkness took advantage of this by having Westview resident Ralph Bohner pose as Quicksilver. Naturally, Bohner was played by Peters, creating a hilarious cameo and marking one of the first direct allusions to Fox’s X-Men series after Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox. Peters briefly reprised his role as Bohner in Agatha All Along as well.

Thanos (MCU) & Cable (Fox’s Deadpool)

Josh Brolin played double duty in the late 2010s. Brolin is definitely best known in the Marvel multiverse for his role as Thanos, the big bad of the Infinity Saga. Thanos initially appeared in the first The Avengers film, but was portrayed by Damion Poitier who later had a minor role in Captain America: Civil War. From Guardians of the Galaxy onward, Brolin would play the warlord and would go on to win numerous awards for his portrayal including a Saturn Award for “Best Supporting Actor.” Brolin continued to reprise his role as Thanos through the What If…? series.

All the while, Brolin also joined the Fox branch of the Marvel multiverse, starring in Deadpool 2 as Cable. The time-traveling soldier travels to Deadpool’s time to kill Russell Collins before the young mutant can grow up and kill Cable’s family. Cable’s Time-Travel Device was later used by Deadpool to travel the multiverse in Deadpool & Wolverine in hopes of retroactively becoming a member of the Avengers as well as preventing Ryan Reynolds from making a devasting superhero movie decision.

3

Peter Dinklage Portrayed Two Major Creators

Dr. Bolivar Trask (Fox’s X-Men) & Eitri (MCU)

Peter Dinklage’s stardom sharply rose as his portrayal of Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones received universal acclaim. Director Bryan Singer, a fan of Game of Thrones, was drawn to Dinklage and cast him in Dr. Bolivar Trask in X-Men: Days of Future Past. A military scientist, Trask developed the mutant-hunting Sentinels and serves as the film’s antagonist. Days of Future Past is widely considered one of the best X-Men films with Dinklage’s performance one of many reasons why.

Over in the MCU, Dinklage portrays Eitri in Avengers: Infinity War as well as a deleted scene on Thor: Love & Thunder. Eitri is a massive and imposing dwarf who formally reigned over his fellow dwarves as king. Renowned for his smithing abilities, Thanos forced Eitri to forge the Infinity Gauntlet. Thanos repaid Eitri by slaughtering Eitri’s people and smelting Eitri’s hands to prevent him from smithing another gauntlet. Eitri assisted Thor in the forging of Stormbreaker, which served as Thor’s replacement for the destroyed Mjølnir.

2

Idris Elba Made Two Marvel Debuts In 2011

Heimdall (MCU) & Moreau (Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance)

Both of Idris Elba’s Marvel characters debuted in 2011. Early in 2011, Elba starred in Thor as Heimdall, the omnipotent gatekeeper of Asgard and guardian of the Bifrost. Anyone who goes in and out of Asgard needed to go through Heimdall. Heimdall was ultimately killed by Thanos on the Statesman during Avengers: Infinity War to retrieve the Tesseract from Loki, who was also killed in the process. Heimdall’s soul now resides in Valhalla, where he greeted Jane Foster after her cancer-succumbing sacrifice in the fight against Gorr.

Later in 2011, Elba starred as Moreau in Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. Moreau doesn’t exist in any Marvel comic and was a creation of the film. Moreau is a member of a religious organization who enlists the help of Johnny Blaze to find Danny Ketch, a child who, in the comics at least, becomes the third Ghost Rider. Spirit of Vengeance was the last Ghost Rider film starring Nicolas Cage. The Robbie Reyes Ghost Rider did appear in the fourth season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

1

Oscar Isaac Went From Villain To Hero

Apocalypse (Fox’s X-Men) & Moon Knight/Mr. Knight (MCU)

Oscar Isaac may have had one of the biggest Marvel roles before making the jump to the MCU. In X-Men: Apocalypse, Isaac played, well, Apocalypse or En Sabah Nur. Apocalypse is one of the most powerful mutants and is arguably the X-Men’s strongest adversary. He’s one of Marvel’s most notable and well-written villains in general. Sadly, this didn’t translate to success for X-Men: Apocalypse as it remains one of the lowest-rated films in Fox’s X-Men series only really saved by the aforementioned Quicksilver scene.

Isaac returned to Marvel through the Disney+ series Moon Knight. Isaac portrays Marc Spector who has dissociative identity disorder (DID), which developed through family tragedy and abuse. Spector’s subconscious formed an alternate identity in Steven Grant, an unassuming museum gift shop employee who is oblivious to Spector and his past. After Spector is shot and left to die, he is saved by the mysterious deity Khonshu who now uses Spector as his Avatar for the vigilante Moon Knight. Throughout the Disney+ series, Grant learns of Spector’s existence, as well as Moon Knight in general, leading to a fascinating one-man dynamic across multiple different identities and alter egos.

“}]] Jason Momoa is set to live-action DC films, but not as Aquaman. Momoa’s jump from Aquaman to Lobo is nothing new for either DC or Marvel.  Read More