When you think of who has played multiple live-action Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) characters, you probably think of Stan Lee. The showman of Marvel comics appeared in over 20 cameo roles. However, beyond Stan Lee, many performers appeared in the MCU more than once. I’m not talking about background extras (which is still something we can only dream of), but speaking lines with names in the credits.
So, which superstars have graced us with more than one role?
Before joining Team Awesome Aunties of the MCU (which sounds like an awesome Hollywood Roundtable) as Ying Nan in Shang-Chi and the Legends of the Ten Rings, Michelle Yeoh played Aleta Ogord in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. In Captain America: The First Avenger, Kenneth Choi played Howling Commando Jim Morita and his descendent, Principal Morita, in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Paul Bethany took a similar route playing J.A.R.V.I.S., Ultron, and Vision. After Enver Leif Gjokaj played Officer Saunders in The Avengers, he appeared as Daniel Sousa in both Agent Carter and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Many are harder to spot because they were a different color or CGI within the story. For example, before starring as Sersi in the Eternals, Gemma Chan played (blue) Kree sniper Minn-Erva in Captain Marvel. While many white performers have appeared in multiple spaces within the MCU, there seems to be a trend of women of color decorating the background of a story (lucky if we’re sidekicks). When we do get a story, it’s often as barely recognizable aliens. Black Panther (whose first movie is centered on two men) can’t be the end all, be all for representation. This issue is more prevalent in movies rather than T.V., but the Phase 4 plan looks to change this, at least on the surface level.
Accounting for Netflix, Sony, and more
In addition to the MCU official movies, many performers also played a role in a Sony or Netflix superhero story. With the weird illusions and multiverses in WandaVision and Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, sometimes we see superhero characters from when Disney didn’t own Fox. However, because nothing long-lasting has come from that (so far), we’ll forgo the inclusions of anyone from Fox properties like the Fantastic Four, X-Men, Deadpool, etc.
Regarding Netflix and Sony, Mahershala Ali played Cornell Bertram Stokes (a.k.a. Cottonmouth) in Luke Cage and voiced Blade in the Eternals. Of course, Blade is coming in late 2023, but if we count voice cameos, he’s already there! Alfre Woodard played Miriam Sharpe in Captain America: Civil War and Mariah Dillard/Black Mariah in Luke Cage. Additionally, Tony Curran played Finn Cooley on Daredevil and Bor in Thor: The Dark World.
Who have you seen in the MCU that you’d like to see in a more significant role?
(featured image: Marvel Entertainment)
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