Following Channing Tatum’s appearance as Gambit inDeadpool & Wolverine, it’s possible that many other canceled Marvel movie characters could finally make their live-action debuts in theMCU. Channing Tatum first auditioned to play Remy LeBeau’s Gambit for 2006’sX-Men: The Last Stand, but the role was cut, and he was replaced inX-Men Origins: Wolverine. AlthoughTatum’s much anticipated soloGambitmovienever came to fruition, Marvel Studios gave him a chance to play the Cajun hero inDeadpool & Wolverine, and other canceled Marvel characters could get the same treatment.
Over the years, many movies based on characters from Marvel Comics have been planned, but not all of them have managed to get out of the planning stages. There have been a huge number ofunproduced Marvel movies, some of which would have starred high-profile actors as some iconic heroes and villains.Marvel Studios' exploration of the multiverse creates the opportunity for some of these characters to finally make their first live-action appearances, following in the footsteps ofChanning Tatum’s Gambit.
10 Marvel Movies That Should Have Happened But Never Did
Several fantastic Marvel movies have never come to fruition, even though they may have been planned, part-developed, or simply logical next steps.
10Bo Derek’s Dazzler
Bo Derek Almost Played Dazzler In The 1980s
Screenwriter Gary Goddard was commissioned to write a movie focused on theMarvel Comics mutant Dazzlerin the mid-1980s.This movie would have starred then-rising star Bo Derek in the titular role, bringing the singing X-Men member into live-action only a few years after her first appearance in Marvel Comics. Derek had become a mainstream celebrity and sex icon following appearances in10andBolero, and was the subject of controversy surrounding her affair with filmmaker John Derek, who was in his late forties and married when he met 16-year-old Bo.
It was Bo Derek’s relationship with John Derek that damaged the planned Dazzler-centric movie.John Derek was hired as the movie’s director, but his temperamental nature caused several investors to back out, leaving the movie to be abandoned. Bo Derek has had little success in the years since, so it would be great to see her finally live her Dazzler dreams, particularly after recent speculation of the hero’s appearance in the MCU.Halston Sage played Dazzler in 2019’sDark Phoenix, but Derek could portray a more seasoned and experienced version of the hero.
9Ray Park’s Iron Fist
Ray Park is perhaps best known for portraying Darth Maul in theStar Warsfranchise and the mutant villainToad in 2000’sX-Men. Following both of these iconic roles, Park was attached to another Marvel movie, which would have seen his star as Iron Fist. This Iron Fist-centric movie went through various writers and directors, each time having its filming start date pushed back.Initially expected to begin filming in 2001, the movie was initially pushed back to 2003 and a 2006 release date was scheduled, but the movie was eventually shelved.
A version of Toad appeared in the Void inDeadpool & Wolverine, but this variant wasn’t played by Ray Park. Instead, Daniel Medina Ramos played the mutant - a member of Cassandra Nova’s group of rag-tag villains.
Iron Fist was among the first slate of characters Marvel Studios wanted to include in the MCU, but Finn Jones didn’t portray the martial artist until 2017’sIron Fistseason 1 on Netflix, produced by Marvel Television.Ray Park demonstrated his action skills inStar Wars, X-MenandHeroes, as well as a number of other notable projects, so it would be great to see him rejoin Marvel to portray a variant of Iron Fist. Iron Fist has recently been confirmed to be coming back to the MCU in theanimatedEyes of Wakandaseries.
8Brigitte Nielsen’s She-Hulk
Brigitte Nielsen Almost Played She-Hulk In The 1990s
Best known for his science fiction horror movies of the 1970s and ’80s, Larry Cohen would have directed an unusual and perhaps terrifying movie focused onJennifer Walters' She-Hulk in the 1990s. This movie was slated to star Brigitte Nielsen, who had become known for roles inRocky IV,CobraandBeverly Hills Cop II, the two former of which she starred in with her then-husband, Sylvester Stallone.Nielsen even got so far as posing in photos as both Jennifer Walters and her superhero alter ego, She-Hulk, but the movie simply never happened.
Tatiana Maslany debuted as the MCU’sJennifer Walters in 2022’sShe-Hulk: Attorney at Lawseries on Disney+, and while her future hasn’t yet been confirmed, She-Hulk is expected to be a key part of the MCU. Since She-Hulk is speculated to be a member of the new Avengers team, it’s possible Marvel Studios could bring her face-to-face with her multiversal variants in the team’s upcoming adventures.This creates the perfect opportunity for Nielsen, who recently reprised herRocky IVrole in 2018’sCreed II, to finally debut as She-Hulk in live-action.
7James Franco’s Multiple Man
James Franco Almost Played Multiple Man In 2017
Screenwriter and Marvel Comics writer Allan Heinberg was hired in 2017 to pen the script to a movie focused on Jamie Madrox, a.k.a. Multiple Man, which would have starred James Franco in the titular role.This movie would have been part of 20th Century Fox’sX-Menfranchise, reinventing Multiple Man after Eric Dane’s portrayal of the self-duplicating character in 2006’sX-Men: The Last Stand. This wouldn’t have been Franco’s first foray into the world of Marvel, as he starred asHarry Osborn - later the second Green Goblin- in Sam Raimi’sSpider-Mantrilogy.
While Heinberg’s attachment to the movie and Franco’s casting as Jamie Madrox raised excitement, nothing ever materialized forFox’s Multiple Man movie. James Franco is one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation, so it would have been fantastic to see him portray Multiple Man, and the opportunity is now there for this to come to fruition in the MCU.In some reality across the multiverse, Franco did debut as Jamie Madrox at the height of Fox’sX-Menfranchise, so this could be imagined for a version of the X-Men in the Multiverse Saga.
6Jason Statham’s Daredevil
Jason Statham Almost Played Daredevil In A Reboot After Ben Affleck, But Before Charlie Cox
After making himself known as an action star with roles inThe Transporter, The Italian Job, ChaosandWar, among others, Jason Statham expressed interest in portraying the Man Without Fear, Matt Murdock’s Daredevil, in 2008. This was after the disappointing performances of2003’sDaredevilmovie, starring Ben Affleck, and its 2005 sequel, Elektra.Statham would have rebooted the character in a project that could have been directed by David Slade, but nothing ever came of this movie.
Daredevil’s Complete MCU Timeline Explained
Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock has now made several appearances as Daredevil in the MCU, and his previous exploits on Netflix may also be MCU canon.
Instead, 20th Century Fox seemed confused about what to do with Daredevil for many years until the rights reverted to Marvel Studios and Disney in 2013.This allowed Charlie Cox to debut as Matt Murdock in Netflix’sDaredevil, and his version has become incredibly popular, but this may not stop Marvel Studios from allowing Jason Statham to realize his Daredevil dreams.2025’sDaredevil: Born Againseriesis expected to make the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen one of the most pivotal MCU heroes, so it would be great to see him come face-to-face with Statham’s variant down the line.
5Robert Downey Jr.’s Deathlok
Robert Downey Jr. Was Imagined As Deathlok In The 2000s
Paramount Pictures bought the film rights to Marvel Comics' Deathlok in 2001, and set to work on bringing the strange character to life on-screen. In 2004,The Acid HouseandGangster No. 1director Paul McGuigan was rumored to be attached to direct this Deathlok-centric movie, which he confirmed toGizmodoin 2009, and revealed that he imagined Robert Downey Jr. in the titular role. This may have killedDowney Jr.’s career as Tony Stark’s Iron Manbefore it began, meaning the trajectory of his entire life would have been drastically different.
I was really into it, but Marvel changed their mind. In a way it felt likeKnight Rider, where you have the machine talking to him. The script was really good. David Self is no slouch, he’s a great screenwriter. And the whole idea of nanotechnology was fascinating. It would have been a good movie. Maybe they’ll still make it with somebody else.
Deathlok was later integrated into the story of Marvel Television’sAgents of SHIELD,portrayed by J. August Richards.Agents of SHIELDisn’t considered canon to the MCU, but the magic of the multiverse means characters from the Marvel Television series could appear in the MCU.If Richards' Mike Peterson, a.k.a. Deathlok, exists in the multiverse, then so could Robert Downey Jr.’s iteration of the character, so he could return to the MCU to portray not only the new Doctor Doom, but also Deathlok.
4Angela Bassett’s Storm
Angela Bassett Almost Played Storm In 1989
Angela Bassett has recently received huge acclaim for her performance of Queen Ramonda in the MCU’sBlack Pantherfranchise, even earning anAcademy Award nomination for 2022’sBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever. However, back in 1989, Bassett was attached to another Marvel movie, which would have seen her portray the goddess-like mutant Storm opposite Bob Hoskins' Wolverine.With James Cameron producing, Kathryn Bigelow directing and Gary Goldman writing,Wolverine and the X-Menwould surely have been a strong debut for Angela Bassett’s Storm.
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This movie never came to fruition, as Cameron’s interest was piqued on a newSpider-Manmovie and Carolco Pictures, who had been funding the project, became defunct. Angela Bassett has long-persisted as a fan-favorite choice for Storm, however, despite her previous role in the MCU. PerhapsRamonda’s death inBlack Panther: Wakanda Forevercreates the opportunity for Bassett to appear as Storm, instead.Her screen presence, acting talent, power, dedication and theatricality would benefit Storm massively after some questionable past portrayals of the hero in live-action.
3Laurence Fishburne’s Luke Cage
Laurence Fishburne Almost Played Luke Cage In A Quentin Tarantino-Directed Movie In The 1990s
Laurence Fishburne was only briefly connected to a possibleLuke Cage-centric movie in the 1990s, but this project could have been one of Marvel’s biggest movies ever, as Quentin Tarantino was attached to direct. Tarantino was a lifelong comic reader, and an avid fan of heroes such as Shang-Chi and Luke Cage.Tarantino’s plan for Laurence Fishburne, who had, at the time, been known for roles inApocalypse Now, The Color Purple, School DazeandBoys n the Hood, among others, to be Luke Cage was met with rebuttal from the director’s friends, which threw a spanner in the works.
As well as Laurence Fishburne, actors including Jamie Foxx, Tyrese Gibson, Dwayne Johnson, Isaiah Mustafa and Idris Elba were considered for the role of Luke Cage, but Mike Colter debuted as the hero after the rights reverted to Marvel Studios and Disney in 2013.
Tarantino’s friends wanted futureBladestar Wesley Snipes to be Luke Cage, and Tarantino couldn’t decide between Snipes and Fishburne, so eventually gave up and decided to focus on directingPulp Fictioninstead.Fishburne went on to continued success with the likes ofThe Matrix, John Wickand DCEU franchises, and even appeared in the MCU as Bill Foster inAnt-Man and the Wasp. Even so, it would be incredible to see him debut as Luke Cage, perhaps after Mike Colter reprises his role fromNetflix’sLuke Cageseries.
2Mads Mikkelsen’s Doctor Doom
Mads Mikkelsen Wanted To Play Doctor Doom In A Solo Movie In The Late 2010s
Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen originally auditioned for the role of Doctor Doom in 2015’sFantastic Fourreboot, which certainly would have added some star power to the reviled Fox movie. This role ultimately went to Toby Kebbell, but asoloDoctor Doommoviewent into production in 2017, separate to the 2015 movie, which reignited Mikkelsen’s desire to play the titular role. Mikkelsen had starred as the villain Kaecilius in 2016’sDoctor Strange, buthe would have brought a sternness, sinister charm and magnetism to Doctor Doom that would have made him a terrifying villain.
Every Actor Who Has Played Doctor Doom In Live-Action
Robert Downey Jr. has been confirmed to be bringing Doctor Doom to the MCU, joining a select club of actors who’ve played the villain in live-action.
Amid speculation that Doctor Doom would be joining the MCU, Mads Mikkelsen was a popular fan-cast for the role of the iconic Marvel Comics villain. MCU veteran Robert Downey Jr. was then revealed to be bringingDoctor Doom to life inAvengers: DoomsdayandSecret Wars, but the door is open for Doom’s own variants to appear, and one of these could be played by Mads Mikkelsen.There’s no doubt Mikkelsen would excel as Doctor Doom, and there are even theories that he could be the MCU’s actual Doom following Downey Jr.’s version’s defeat, but only time will tell.
1Tom Cruise’s Iron Man
Tom Cruise Expressed Interest In Playing Tony Stark’s Iron Man In 1998
Universal Studios bought the film rights to Tony Stark’s Iron Man in 1990, and since then, many different Iron Man-centric movies were planned before Marvel Studios decided to start from scratch in 2005.20th Century Fox acquired the rights in 1996, and began production on a movie which Tom Cruise expressed interest in starring in. In 2023, it was revealed thatCruise wanted more money than was possiblefor the studio to pay at the time to portray Iron Man (viaMCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios), so this never came to pass.
Now, however,it seems very possible that whatever price Tom Cruise asks for, Marvel Studios should be able to cover. There was speculation that Tom Cruise might have appeared as theTony Stark of Earth-838 in 2022’sDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, perhaps as the Superior Iron Man, but this didn’t happen. The door is open for Cruise to finally debut as Iron Man after almost three decades, following in Channing Tatum’s footsteps afterDeadpool & Wolverine, which would be fantastic to see before the Multiverse Saga comes to an end.
Deadpool & Wolverine
Cast
A follow-up to the highly successful Deadpool and Deadpool 2 films starring Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with a Mouth. The third film will be the first in the franchise to be developed under the Marvel Studios banner following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
