10 Canceled Marvel Movie Characters We Want To See In The MCU After Deadpool & Wolverine’s Gambit

After Channing Tatum’s appearance as Gambit in Deadpool & WolverineIt’s possible that many other canceled Marvel movie characters could finally make their live action debut in the MCU. Channing Tatum first auditioned to play Remy LeBeau’s Gambit for 2006’s X-Men: The Last StandBut the role was cut, and he was replaced in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Although Tatum’s much anticipated solo Gambit The movie never came to fruition, Marvel Studios gave him a chance to play the Cajun hero Deadpool & WolverineAnd other canceled Marvel characters could get the same treatment.

Over the years, many movies based on characters from Marvel comics were planned, but not all of them managed to get out of the planning stages. There were a huge number of unproduced Marvel movies, some of which would have starred high-profile actors as some of the iconic heroes and villains. Marvel Studios’ exploration of the multiverse creates the opportunity for some of the characters to finally make their first live-action appearancesFollowed in the footsteps of Channing Tatum’s Gambit.

10

Bo Derek’s Dazzler

Bo Derek almost played Dazzler in the 1980s

Screenwriter Gary Goddard was commissioned to write a movie focused on the Marvel Comics mutant Dazzler in the mid-1980s. The movie would have starred then-rising star Bo Derek in the titular role, bringing the singing X-Men member into live-action just a few years after her first appearance in Marvel Comics. Derek became a mainstream celebrity and sex icon after appearances in 10 And BoleroAnd 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 director of the movie, but his temperamental nature caused some 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 living her Dazzler dreams, especially after the recent speculation of the hero’s appearance in the MCU. Halston Sage played Dazzler in 2019 Dark PhoenixBut Derek can portray a more seasoned and experienced version of the hero.

9

Ray Park’s Iron Fist

Ray Park almost played Iron Fist in the 2000s, after his appearance as Toad in X-Men

Ray Park is perhaps best known for portraying Darth Maul in the Star Wars franchise and the mutant villain Toad in the 2000s X-Men. After both these iconic roles, Park was attached to another Marvel movie, which would have seen him star as Iron Fist. The Iron Fist-centric movie went through various writers and directors, each time with 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.

Iron Fist was among the first slate of characters that Marvel Studios wanted to include in the MCU, but Finn Jones didn’t portray the martial artist until 2017. Iron fist Season 1 on Netflix, produced by Marvel Television. Ray Park demonstrated his fighting skills in Star Wars, X-Men And HeroesAs 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 was recently confirmed to be coming back to the MCU in the animated Eyes of Wakanda Series.

8

Brigitte Nielsen’s She-Hulk

Brigitte Nielsen almost played She-Hulk in the 1990s

Larry Cohen, best known for his science fiction horror movies of the 1970s and 80s, would have directed an unusual and perhaps terrifying movie focused on Jennifer Walters’ She-Hulk in the 1990s. The movie was scheduled to star Brigitte Nielsen, who became known for roles in Rocky IV, Cobra And Beverly Hills Cop IIThe first two of which she starred with her then husband, Sylvester Stallone. Nielsen even went as far as posing in photos as Jennifer Walters and her superhero alter ego, She-Hulk, but the movie simply never happened.

Tatiana Maslany debuted as the MCU’s Jennifer Walters in 2022 She-Hulk: Lawyer series on Disney+, and although her future has not 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 is possible that 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 repaid her Rocky IV role in 2018 Creed IITo finally debut as She-Hulk in live-action.

7

James Franco’s Multiple Man

James Franco almost played multiple people in 2017

Screenwriter and Marvel Comics writer Allan Heinberg was hired in 2017 to write the script for a movie focused on Jamie Madrox, aka Multiple Man, which would have starred James Franco in the titular role. The movie would have been part of 20th Century Fox’s X-Men franchise, reinventing Multiple Man after Eric Dane’s portrayal of the self-duplicating character in 2006 X-Men: The Last Stand. This would not be Franco’s first foray into the world of Marvel, as he starred as Harry Osborn – later the second Green Goblin – in Sam Raimi’s. Spider-Man Trilogy.

While Heinberg’s attachment to the movie and Franco’s casting as Jamie Madrox sparked excitement, nothing materialized for Fox’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 that to come to fruition in the MCU. In some reality across the multiverse, Franco debuted as Jamie Madrox in The Heights of Fox X-Men FranchiseSo this could be imagined for a version of ​​the X-Men in the Multiverse Saga.

6

Jason 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 in The transporter, the Italian job, chaos And WarAmong others, Jason Statham expressed interest in portraying The Man Without Fear, Matt Murdock’s Daredevil, in 2008. This was after the disappointing performances of 2003 Daredevil movie, starring Ben Affleck, and its 2005 sequelElectra. Statham would have rebooted the character in a project that could be directed by David Slade, but nothing came of the movie.

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 on Netflix DaredevilAnd his version became incredibly popularBut that didn’t stop Marvel Studios from allowing Jason Statham to realize his Daredevil dreams. 2025s Daredevil: Born Again series is expected to make the Devil from 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 on the line.

5

Deathlok by Robert Downey Jr

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 quirky character to life on screen. in 2004, The Sour House And Gangster No. 1 Director Paul McGuigan was rumored to be attached to direct the deathlock-centric moviewhich he confirmed Gizmodo In 2009, and revealed that he imagined Robert Downey Jr. in the titular role. This could have killed Downey Jr.’s career as Tony Stark’s Iron Man before 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 like Knight RiderWhere you have the car talking to him. The script was really good. David Self is no slouch, he is a great screenwriter. And the whole idea of ​​nanotechnology was fascinating. Maybe they will still make it with someone else

Deathlok was later integrated into the Marvel Television storyline agents of shield, Portrayed by J. August Richards. Agents of Shield is not considered canon for the MCU, but the magic of the multiverse means that characters from the Marvel Television series could appear in the MCU. If Richards’ Mike Peterson, aka Deathlok, exists in the multiverse, so does Robert Downey Jr. s iteration of the characterSo he could return to the MCU to portray not only the new Doctor Doom, but also Deathlok.

4

Angela 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 Black Panther franchise, even earning an Academy Award nomination for 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. However, back in 1989, Bassett was attached to another Marvel movie, which would have seen her portray the goddess-like mutant Rage against Bob Hoskins’ Wolverine. With James Cameron producing, Kathryn Bigelow directing and Gary Goldman writing, Wolverine and the X-Men Would certainly have been a strong debut for Angela Bassett’s Storm.

The movie never came to fruition, because Cameron’s interest was piqued on a new one Spider-Man Movie and Carolco Pictures, which funded the project, became defunct. Angela Bassett has long persisted as a favorite choice for Storm, however, despite her previous role in the MCU. Perhaps Ramonda’s death in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Creates the opportunity for Bassett to appear as rage, 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.

3

Luke Cage by Laurence Fishburne

Laurence Fishburne almost played Luke Cage in a Quentin Tarantino-directed movie in the 1990s

Laurence Fishburne was only briefly linked to a possible Luke Cage-centric movie in the 1990s, but the 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 design for Laurence Fishburne, who was known for roles at the time Apocalypse Now, The Color Purple, School Daze And Boys and the HoodAmong others, being Luke Cage was met with rejection from the director’s friendswho threw a spanner in the works.

Tarantino’s friends wanted future Blade Starring Wesley Snipes to be Luke Cage, Tarantino couldn’t decide between Snipes and Fishburne, so eventually gave up and decided to focus on directing Pulp fiction Instead. Fishburne has continued success with the likes of The Matrix, John Wick and DCEU franchise, and even appeared in the MCU as Bill Foster in Ant-Man and the Wasp. Even so, it would be incredible to see him debut as Luke Cage, perhaps after Mike Colter reprises his role from Netflix Luke Cage Series.

2

Mads Mikkelson’s Doctor Doom

Mads Mikkelsen wanted to play Doctor Doom in a solo movie in the late 2010s

Danish actor Mads Mikkelson originally auditioned for the role of Doctor Doom in 2015 Fantastic practice reboot, which certainly would have added some star power to the reveled Fox movie. The role finally went to Toby Kebbell, but a solo one Doctor Doom The movie went into production in 2017, separate from the 2015 movie, which reignited Mikkelsen’s desire to play the title role. Mikkelsen starred as the villain Kaecilius in 2016 Doctor StrangeHowever He would bring a toughness, sinister charm and magnetism to Doctor Doom that would have made him a terrifying villain..

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 bring Doctor Doom to life Avengers: Doomsday And secret warsBut the door is open for Doom’s own variants to appear, and one of those could be played by Mads Mikkelson. There’s no doubt Mikkelsen would excel as Doctor Doom, and there are even theories that he could be the MCU’s real doom after Downey Jr.’s defeat.But only time will tell.

1

Tom 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 that Tom Cruise expressed interest in starring in.. In 2023, it was revealed that Cruise wanted more money than possible for the studio to pay in time to portray Iron Man (via. (MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios)So this never came to pass.

now however, It seems very possible that whatever price Tom Cruise is asking for, Marvel Studios should be able to cover. There has been speculation that Tom Cruise could appear as the Tony Stark of Earth-838 in 2022 Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of MadnessPerhaps like the superior Iron Man, but that didn’t happen. The door is open for Cruise to finally debut as Iron Man after almost three decades, following in the footsteps of Channing Tatum. Deadpool & WolverineWhich would be fantastic to see before the Multiverse Saga comes to an end.