At a time when film stars have become more recognizable than ever, it’s no wonder the same faces have cropped up time and time again when it comes to fan casting. In the current era of cinema, Hollywood increasingly relies on recognizable intellectual property to sell tickets, with adaptations, surprisingly good remakes, reboots and long-awaited sequels being the most common type of box office success. As such, audiences often anticipate new versions of familiar characters, with a short roster of recognizable stars often favored by fans.
The most frequently used names in fan casting tend to have a few things in common besides being A-list celebrity stars. They are often known for their roles in huge, recognizable franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe films, or have appeared at some point in another major comic book film series. They also tend to be versatile actors, known for a wide variety of different roles, or to have a basic personality applied to each character they play. Whatever the case, a select few names perhaps come up too often when it comes to fan casting for upcoming films.
10
Chris Hemsworth
An Australian film star from humble beginnings
Interestingly, many of the biggest names in Hollywood today are not legacy stars with a long lineage of film experience. Chris Hemsworth was a relatively unknown soap opera star in his home country of Australia before he rose to fame as Thor in the MCU, catapulting his name to cinematic stardom. Since then, Hemsworth has been able to flex his acting chops as much as his impressive physique in downright weird roles, like the villain Dementus in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.
Because of his popularity as Thor, Chris Hemsworth found himself cast in a wide variety of different roles. He was suggested for typical square-jawed action heroes like GI Joe, the DCU’s take on Aquaman, or the dashing John Smith in a live-action version of the Disney film. Pochahontas. With a brilliant vocal performance as Orion Pax, who later becomes Optimus Prime, in Transformers One, Hemsworth is also likely to become a commonly sought-after actor in animated roles.
9
Jenna Ortega
A goth girl who loves movies and TV
A highly experienced child actress, Jenna Ortega got her start on broadcast TV, appearing in series such as Joan, the Virgin and Disney Channel classics like Stuck in the middle at a young age. Exploding into popularity for the first time with her outstanding performance in the dramatic film The consequencesThe role that really put Ortega on the map was Wednesday Adams in the Netflix series Wednesday. Since then, Jenna Ortega has been typecast in scary or scream queen roles in films like Scream VI, X, and Beetle juice Beetle juice.
Because of her ubiquity as a quirky and eccentric goth performer, Jenna Ortega has become a go-to name for certain types of characters in highly anticipated live-action films. She has appeared in fan-led casting calls for characters such as Raven of Teen Titans fame, but occasionally has her sunny side championed as a candidate for a live-action Isabella in a Phineas and Ferb adaptation. Defended for her aesthetics and talent for eccentric characters, Jenna Ortega’s name comes up very often in viewers’ minds.
8
Tom Holland
Hollywood’s Youngest Action Hero
Chris Hemsworth is far from the only unknown name to be launched into stardom by the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Enter Tom Holland, a charming protagonist defined by his role as Spider-Man. Although the British actor was fantastic in lesser-known films like In the heart of the seaIt’s his career as one of the most beloved live-action Spider-Men that kept him relevant for years to come. Since Spider-Man: Homecoming, Holland got opportunity after opportunity from other big franchises like Unknown film adaptation for controversial, more grounded dramas like Cherry.
It’s no surprise that Tom Holland’s name is often on the minds of eager fans, making it an easy movie star reference for those without the most extensive actor database. The popular roles in which Tom Holland is cast by fans often take advantage of his shorter stature and boyish charisma, such as a live-action version of the beloved cartoon hero, Ben Tennyson from Well 10. He’s also the unbearably common choice for live-action interpretations of Disney characters, like young Hercules, Peter Pan, or even Treasure Planet’s Jim Hawkins.
7
Anya Taylor-Joy
It’s hard to escape Hollywood blockbusters
One actress that real casting directors seem to like as much as fans is Anya Taylor-Joy. First gaining critical acclaim as Thomasin in Roger Eggers’ brilliant horror film The Witch, Anya Taylor-Joy’s acting skill has been noticed in almost many different projects. In addition to other collaborations with Eggers, Taylor-Joy has appeared in roles as vast and varied as Furiosa in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga for Princess Peach in The Super Mario Bros. movie
Becoming more and more well-known, fans began frequently requesting Anya Taylor-Joy for many popular roles. Her trademark cat-like eyes and platinum blonde hair make her an often winning choice for Black Cat in a Spider-Man film, while others interpret her typically melancholic characters as a great fit for the Greek goddess Persephone. Because of The Super Mario Bros. movie, she also expanded her hypothetical resume to cartoon vocal performances.
6
Henry Cavill
A passionate artist who never got the chance to shine
Henry Cavill has an interesting case as a beloved actor who can’t seem to stop. His time as Superman in the DCEU was fraught with poor writing decisions, but even the series’ most vocal critical detractors were eager to defend his performance as the Man of Steel. Cavill also lived out his nerd dreams in the Passion project. The wizard before controversially leaving as Geralt due to creative differences. Armed with a unique combination of conventional good looks, acting prowess, jaw-dropping musculature, and burning passion for geek franchises, Henry Cavill is a fan-caster’s dream.
Many are hopeful that Henry Cavill will finally find a home in a franchise that appreciates and makes good use of his obvious talents. Some are hopeful that the British actor can replace Daniel Craig as the next James Bond, while others would be pleased to see Cavill step into his heartthrob era as a Disney Prince in a live-action remake of a classic musical. Henry Cavill’s ubiquity as a popular fan cast for different characters is so famous that he was even mocked in Deadpool and Wolverine, which gave a glimpse of what he would be like as the wild mutant.
5
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
An incredibly overrepresented action star
An action star as overrepresented in real films as he is in hypothetical roll calls, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson managed to turn his wrestling career into a lucrative movie empire. Although his most beloved series is Fast and Furious franchise, Johnson has a dizzying list of credits under his belt, from the new Jumanji series for the failed DCEU pillar Black Adam. Essentially, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson plays the same character in almost every film he appears in; a realistic and impeccable man of action who cannot lose as a clause in his acting contracts.
Thanks to his dominance as a proven star and his ethnic ambiguity, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has found his way onto a wide variety of fan wish lists for different franchises, no matter how wrong they may be. Some DC fans would like him to give the world of superheroes another try as Cyborg from Teen Titans, while others see his potential as a comedian in a live-action version of Kronk from The Emperor’s New Groove. With rippling muscles and the confidence to show them off, Johnson has no end of shooters willing to overlook his lack of depth in favor of raw star power.
4
Timothée Chalamet
A young alternative movie star with a powerful rise to popularity
Timothée Chalamet has always had an impressive list of accolades, holding his own in everything from tender coming-of-age dramas like Ladybird and Call me by your name for space opera epics like Interstellar. But it was only with his recent rise to power as Paul Atreides in Denis Villenueve’s film Dune films, will soon take on the Herculean task of adapting Messiah Dune, that Chalamet has truly become a household name. Although he is a taciturn tyrant in Dune duology, his role as Willy Wonka in Wonka proved that Chalamet still has a whimsical side.
This interesting mix of possible character traits has led Timothée Chalamet to all sorts of different roles. Those who have known him since Dune are eager to cast him in a bold superhero role, with Nightwing and Harry Osborn being the frontrunners. Meanwhile, those in tune with his quirkier side see him more as a Black Regulus in the Harry Potter prequel The Marauders, or even as Edward Scissorhands or Johnny Depp himself in a biopic of his celebrity lookalike.
3
Idris Elba
A classic of prestige action cinema
English actor, singer, rapper and stage artist, Idris Elba is a complete star, with an impressive filmography of prominent roles. Elba rose to fame as Stringer Bell in the acclaimed HBO film The thread, only to propel that success onto bigger and bigger characters like Nelson Mandela in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and Beasts without a nation. Elba has had at least one minor role in almost every major film franchise since Fast and Furious to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and even Sonic the Hedgehog.
Because of his impressive history, it’s no wonder that Idris Elba is an incredibly common name in fan casting ideas for all sorts of different projects. Comic book lovers long for his return to superherodom as Martian Manhunter in the DCU or Spawn, while others think he would be perfect for Ganondorf in the upcoming live-action film. THE Legend of Zelda film adaptation. Idris Elba is also a popular choice for the next James Bond and could make history as the first black actor to inherit the 007 title.
2
Scarlett Johansson
An often-fawned protagonist
One of the highest-grossing stars of all time, Scarlett Johansson is on the A-list of actresses. Once a child artist, Johansson rose to stardom thanks to her performances in films such as Lost in translation and Girl with pearl earring, soon gaining prominence as a modern bombshell and competent actress. Now, Johansson is known for Black Widowmeditative science fiction films like Her and Under the skinand until recently dabbled in voice acting as Elita-One in Transformers One.
Scarlett Johansson appears whenever there is a need for a traditionally attractive but capable female character. Many have suggested her as the spiritual successor to movie star Marilyn Monroe, making Johansson the only real choice to portray her in any kind of biopic, while others see her as the literal Greek goddess of beauty, Aphrodite. A more character-focused cast of Johansson fans is as Sadie Adler in a film version of the hit video game Red Dead Redemption 2.
1
Margot Robbie
A highly sought after cast thanks to some important appearances in films
Margot Robbie has been a prominent actress for some time, but her recent cinematic successes have catapulted her to a new level of fame that is reflected in her frequent casting calls from fans. Getting Your First Big Break The Wolf of Wall Street, Margot Robbie proved her talent as a franchise leader as Harley Quinn, one of the DCEU’s most well-received live-action casts. Most significant of all, her starring role as Barbie in the phenomenally successful film of the same name ensured that there weren’t many audiences who didn’t know her name.
In a similar position to Scarlett Johansson, Margot Robbie has been typecast for many of the same roles by fans, including Aphrodite, Marilyn Monroe, and even Sadie Adler. However, Robbie’s advantage in being typecast in more feminine roles like Barbie has put her in the conversation for characters not as often attributed to Johansson, like Amy Rose from Sonic the Hedgehog fame. It’s safe to say that Margot Robbie’s name is perhaps invoked too much when it comes to popular hypothetical fan casting. films.