10 Great Marvel Characters to Convince You to Break Your Comic Book Movie Trend

Hollywood legend Tom Hanks suggested he might be open to the possibility of joining the MCU, and there are plenty of brilliant Marvel Comics characters he’d be perfect to play in live-action. Tom Hanks’ nearly five-decade career has seen him play some of the most iconic figures in film history, including Forrest Gump, Sheriff Woody and Walt Disney himself. The actor has yet to appear in a superhero franchise, but he recently noted that that could soon change..

Speaking in November Happy, Sad, Confused podcast, Tom Hanks has stated that although his “the combined plate is quite full” he is “not against” joining a superhero franchise like the MCU. This opens the door for Tom Hanks to possibly take on a role at Marvel Studios in the near future or in the next phase of the MCU, and there are several iconic Marvel Comics characters he would be great at. They range from cosmic entities, matching the power of Death or Eternity from the MCU, to major X-Men villains who could appear in upcoming films.

10

Living Court

The Living Tribunal debuted in Marvel Comics in Strange Tales #157, 1967

One of the most powerful Marvel Comics characters that Tom Hanks would be incredible at portraying in live-action is the Living Tribunal. This formidable cosmic entity first appeared in 1967 and was introduced as a being that oversees and maintains the balance of realities in the Marvel multiverse.. This role means it would make a lot of sense for the Living Tribunal to officially debut in the Multiverse Saga, and in fact, the entity has already been teased in projects like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Thor: Love and Thunder.

Casting the Living Tribunal is certainly a difficult task for Marvel Studios, but the company will likely be looking for a high-profile actor to play the powerful being. Tom Hanks fits the bill perfectly. At 68, it’s unlikely Hanks wants a long-term role in the MCUbut he would need to portray someone of great power, so the multiverse-focused Living Tribunal would be the perfect candidate. The Living Tribunal could play an important role in upcoming Marvel Studios films Avengers: Secret Wars.

9

Senator Robert Kelly

Senator Robert Kelly debuted in Marvel Comics in 1980, The Uncanny X-Men #135

Marvel Studios has already confirmed the development of the MCU’s X-Men reboot, then there are sure to be a huge number of iconic X-Men villains about to appear in the MCU. Senator Robert Kelly is one of the X-Men’s and mutantkind’s most powerful, influential, and persistent human antagonists.so this would be a great role for Tom Hanks. This is especially true because Hanks has the age and experience necessary to perfectly play a dedicated United States Senator, and this could be a very complex and complex role for Hanks.

Senator Kelly began his career at Marvel as a government employee who built his reputation on an anti-mutant platform. However, over the years, his views on mutants have changed, with him becoming a staunch supporter of mutant rights. 2000s X-Men couldn’t accurately demonstrate this transition, as Kelly was killed almost as soon as he was introduced, but the MCU can do better. Tom Hanks would be great at displaying the severity and ferocity of a senator while also displaying some of Kelly’s more vulnerable and human characteristics..

8

Matt Hawk’s Two-Gun Kid

Matt Hawk debuted in Marvel Comics in Two-Gun Kid #60, 1962

While there’s been no word on when or if the Wild West’s Two-Gun Kid will appear in the MCU, a shift toward genre experimentation and exploring unseen areas of MCU history may call for this hero’s debut. Tom Hanks stood out as Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd in the 2020 Western film, World newsso it wouldn’t be a huge leap to imagine Hanks as Matt Hawk in the MCU. Two-Gun Kid was brought to the present day through time travel, emulating Captain America’s own storyline.

This would be a fun storyline to explore in the current MCU landscape, especially after projects like Eternals and Agatha all the time explored some of the history of the MCU. Tom Hanks would be brilliant in demonstrating the personality of a man out of time and proved his ability to play a Western heroso Hanks’ Two-Gun Kid would be a fun addition to the MCU. This could form the perfect storyline for a possible Marvel Spotlight series following the success of Echo and the growing expectation for Wonder Man.

7

Reverend William Stryker

Reverend William Styker debuted in Marvel Comics in 1982’s X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills

Although Senator Robert Kelly would be a great X-Men villain for Tom Hanks in the MCU, Reverend William Stryker might be an even better option. Hanks would have the chance to completely reinvent this X-Men villain, as his previous live-action adaptations failed to capture what made him so menacing and influential in Marvel Comics. The sinister reverend was transformed into a two-dimensional major and colonel in the 20th Century Fox film. X-Men franchise, which stripped it of everything that made it so scary to begin with.

Tom Hanks’ sometimes stoic and stern approach to his roles would work perfectly for William Stryker. The Reverend could become one of the MCU’s scariest human antagonists, especially if his groups of followers, the Crusade and the Purifiers, are introduced alongside him.. Stryker is also pivotal to the Weapon X program and Wolverine’s transformation, so his introduction would be crucial if Marvel Studios decides to retell Wolverine’s origin story in the MCU. Where Brian Cox and Josh Helman faltered, Tom Hanks would stand out.

6

The stranger

The Stranger debuted in Marvel Comics in 1965’s The Uncanny X-Men #11

The Stranger is, oddly enough, one of Marvel’s strangest characters. A cosmic entity with the power of gods who is also an adept scientist and researcher of worlds, the Stranger first visited Earth out of curiosity in the 1960s. The Stranger took a great interest in Earth’s mutants, which could lead him to debut alongside the MCU’s upcoming X-Men team. Tom Hanks has the perfect look for this striking and unusual cosmic beingand this could also see him crossover with some of the MCU’s most well-established characters, including the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy.

Marvel Studios has recently put more focus on some of the MCU’s most formidable cosmic beings, including the likes of Eternity, the Grandmaster, and Death himself. This means that even more will likely be developed in upcoming MCU projects, which would create the perfect opportunity for the Stranger to make his unexpected debut. This would be a relatively brief role for Tom Hanks, which would perhaps work out better for the actor given his recent commentsbut would see him leave his mark on the MCU.

5

Henry Pedro Gyrich

Henry Peter Gyrich debuted in Marvel Comics in 1977’s The Avengers #165

As Marvel Studios has been paying more attention to government stories in the MCU, Henry Peter Gyrich would be the perfect villain to introduce alongside the X-Men in Phase 7. Tom Hanks would be a brilliant choice for this US government liaison. , like he’s charismatic and personable, but Hanks can also deliver the more seedy, unattractive, and sinister qualities of an enduring villain like Gyrich. He’s one of the X-Men’s most notable villains, so it would be fantastic to see him brought to life by Tom Hanks in the MCU.

Henry Peter Gyrich was briefly adapted into live-action in the 2000s X-Menbut Matthew Sharp’s iteration of the villain was wasted in Fox’s Marvel franchise. Gyrich has fared better in animation, including in 2024 X-Men ’97 revival, creating the perfect opportunity for him to also be reinvented in the upcoming MCU X-Men projects. Gyrich is an extremely influential figure, and Tom Hanks has proven his abilities at portraying official, hard-hitting characters time and time again.making him perfect for this role.

4

King of Shadows

The Shadow King debuted in Marvel Comics in 1979’s The Uncanny X-Men #117

The Shadow King, aka Amahl Farouk, would be an unconventional character for Tom Hanks to play in the MCU. However, The Shadow King is an incredibly unconventional villain, so it would be brilliant to see new sides to the character explored by Hanks. The Shadow King was previously portrayed expertly by Aubrey Plaza and Navid Negahban in Legionbut with the former now playing Death in the MCU, it would be great to see Tom Hanks bring to life more sophisticated and sinister sides of the character.

The Shadow King could be introduced to develop the origin story of iconic X-Men member Storm in the MCU, as he plays a key role in her development and recruitment into the X-Men. He is also one of Professor X’s most powerful and frightening enemies, so Tom Hanks could bring gravitas and notoriety to the role opposite whoever is cast as Charles Xavier. Marvel Studios has a huge opportunity to completely reinvent the Shadow King, and Hanks would be an unexpected but inspired casting choice.

3

Sebastian Shaw

Sebastian Shaw debuted in Marvel Comics in 1980’s The Uncanny X-Men #129

Sebastian Shaw’s status as a fan-favorite X-Men villain means it’s practically inevitable that he’ll be reinvented for the MCU. Shaw was previously played by Kevin Bacon in 2011 X-Men: First Classand while he did an excellent job delivering this iconic villain, he didn’t get much development in the Fox franchise. Marvel Studios has a better chance of paying more attention to Sebastian Shaw, especially after the character returns. X-Men ’97and with the X-Men on the way. Tom Hanks would be perfect to play the leader of the terrifying and formidable Hellfire Club.

Sebastian Shaw’s power to absorb various energies in Marvel Comics helps keep him young, which could work against Tom Hanks’ casting. However, Hanks would be excellent at delivering Shaw’s smoothness as well as the villain’s sophistication and appropriateness.. With speculation surrounding the possible debut of the Sentinel program in the MCU, the fact that Shaw financed this operation means that his introduction into Marvel Studios could be just around the corner. This is the perfect opportunity for Tom Hanks’ Sebastian Shaw to join the MCU.

2

Nathaniel Richards

Nathaniel Richards debuted in Marvel Comics in 1984’s The Fantastic Four #272

With the stories of Kang the Conqueror and the Fantastic Four developing and expanding in the MCU, it’s very possible that Reed Richards’ own father, Nathaniel Richards, could debut in the MCU. Nathaniel Richards was a notable time traveler in Marvel Comics whose descendant became the multiversal antagonist Kang and his variants. It’s unclear what the future holds for Kang in the MCU, or whether his relationship with Mister Fantastic will be established, but exploring Reed Richards’ story means that Tom Hanks would be an incredible casting for his father.

Pedro Pascal is 49 years old, which makes Tom Hanks a great age to play his father in the MCU. 2025 The Fantastic Four: Getting Started Could Explore Reed Richards’ Origin Story More Than Any Live-Action Fantastic Four film. Tom Hanks would be great at delivering the distant father figure who would rather go on adventures and explorations than stay in contact with his son. This would flesh out the MCU massively, explaining both Mister Fantastic and Kang as the franchise heads into the explosive Phase 6. Avengers​​​​​​​ movies.

1

The Beyond

The Beyonder debuted in Marvel Comics in 1984’s Secret Wars #1

There has been a lot of speculation about the Beyonder’s debut in the MCU, given the multiversal villain’s prominence in Marvel Comics. Secret Wars plot in 1984. It seems very likely that the Beyonder or a similar character will appear in Marvel Studios films. Avengers: Secret Warsas he is an important cosmic entity who comes from a species known as Beyonders. It is the power of the Beyonders that Doctor Doom steals in 2015 Secret Wars event, then this could happen in the MCU, and Tom Hanks would excel in this role.

The Beyonder is among Marvel’s most powerful cosmic beings, so it’s certainly a role fit for Tom Hanks. Hanks is legendary, so he would bring a lot of gravitas to the role of the Beyonder. Seeing Tom Hanks star opposite Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom would be amazing to see, and this is perhaps the best fan casting for this significant role. Others included Keanu Reeves, Henry Cavill or Bryan Cranston, but Tom Hanks has all the attributes and experience to do the best job of bringing this important MCU character to life.