17 Famous People Who Wouldn't Be Caught Dead In A Marvel Movie, And Their Reasons Why
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Ahhhh, The Marvel Cinematic Universe!! Not only have there been countless movies and TV shows within the MCU to date, the multimillion-dollar shared universe has also featured more than its fair share of epic talent over the years.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / FilmMagic / Via Getty Images
1. Ewan McGregor
McGregor has had a super eclectic career, but it sounds like he's not in a hurry to add a Marvel movie to his filmography. During a panel held at Fan Expo Boston, the actor shared that he loves "doing all different kinds of work", and given his prominent role in the Star Wars saga, he didn't feel the "need" to do another similar franchise.
McGregor did add, however, that though he wasn't "looking for it particularly", he felt like he shouldn't say he ~wouldn't ever~ do it: "in two years time you'll be like, 'You said you were never going to do this!'" he joked with the audience.
Phillip Faraone / FilmMagic / Via Getty Images
2. Simon Pegg
The Star Trek actor, also known for his comedy work, has said he's "not in any rush to join the MCU." Despite being a fan of sci-fi and superheroes, Pegg cited the lengthy multiple movie contracts and his ambition to do "more sort of grown up stuff in the future" as his reasons for not wanting to suit up.
Gabriel Olsen / FilmMagic / Via Getty Images
3. John Boyega
Another Star Wars alum, Boyega has had a lot to say about Marvel and superhero films in general. "Being in a big franchise, it's kind of like luxury jail", he told Cinema Blend. "You're working on one character for many years, which can starve your other muscles."
So would he join the MCU? Well, in another interview with Men's Health, Boyega revealed that he wanted to work on "original indie films" going forward, and that an MCU movie was "not in the vision for him now", adding that it's "real hard to top Iron Man in that universe."
David M. Benett / WireImage / Via Getty Images
It's also worth noting that Boyega was disappointed with how his character Finn was portrayed in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. In an interview with British GQ, he addressed Disney directly by saying, "do not bring out a Black character, market them to be much more important in the franchise than they are and then have them pushed to the side. It’s not good".
Boyega later praised how Disney handled Anthony Mackie's character in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, during an appearance on NPR's Fresh Air With Terry Gross. However, he clarified that he still would not joining the MCU any time soon.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / FilmMagic / Via Getty Images
4. Jennifer Aniston
Back in 2019, Aniston appeared to drag the MCU and it ended up becoming a whole thing. In a profile for Variety, the actor said that returning to TV had been a positive experience, and that the movie world was "diminishing" for her. "It's big Marvel movies... Or things that I'm not just asked to do or really that interested in living in a green screen," Aniston told the publication.
Many thought Aniston was dissing Marvel for "diminishing" cinema, but others felt her comments seem to indicate more that Marvel roles just weren't for her. Either way, we've yet to see Aniston join the MCU, and I don't think we will in the future!
Monica Schipper / WireImage / Via Getty Images
5. Paul Mescal
From Normal People to Aftersun, Mescal is probably best known for starring in indie smash hits, and he doesn't see that changing any time soon. "This will be something that I regret saying", he told GQ, "I feel kind of like ridiculous saying no when it hasn't been asked, but it's not something that I am pining to do. I don't know if I would have the patience required."
Mescal also commented that he didn't want to stop doing indie dramas to focus on Marvel-like blockbusters, citing Robert Downey Jr. as an example of an actor who has dedicated over a decade of his career to the MCU and very little else. "I think sometimes you have to make a decision to let [other projects] go for five, 10, 15 years and that would be really sad", he shared.
Samir Hussein / WireImage / Via Getty Images
6. Seth Rogen
The comedy actor recently spoke about Marvel movies being "kind of geared toward kids", as opposed to comic books fans. "I'll watch one of these things, as an adult with no kids, and be like, 'Oh, this is just not for me'", he said in a profile with Total Film magazine. He does acknowledge that without the MCU, his show The Boys wouldn't exist, but don't expect to see Rogen in a Marvel movie anytime soon.
Jason LaVeris / FilmMagic / Via Getty Images
7. Stephen Dorff
In perhaps one of the most scathing attacks on the MCU, Blade actor Dorff told The Daily Beast that he was unlikely to revisit the superhero genre. "If comic-book movies were more like when I started when we made Blade... when they were interesting", he begins. "[All] this other garbage is just embarrassing, you know what I mean? I mean, God bless them, they're making a bunch of money, but their movies suck... And nobody's going to remember them."
Dorff previously went viral in 2021 after telling The Independent that he was "embarrassed" for Scarlett Johansson in Black Widow. He continued his recent diatribe against Marvel by saying, "How's that PG Blade movie going for you, that can't get a director? ... anybody who goes there is going to be laughed at by everyone, because we already did it and made it the best."
Jon Kopaloff / Via Getty Images
8. Reese Witherspoon
In a 2010 interview with Entertainment Weekly, the actor shared that she wasn't bothered by "giant robot" movies or superhero movies. "That doesn’t interest me too much", she shared with the outlet, "and there's not a part for a 34-year-old woman in a robot movie." She did, however, have a lot of time for Brie Larson's foray into the MCU, so maybe her position has changed since then!
Jerod Harris / FilmMagic / Via Getty Images
9. Quentin Tarantino
When asked by The LA Times if he'd ever make a Marvel or DC Comics film, the infamous director said "You have to be a hired hand to do those things... I'm not a hired hand. I’m not looking for a job." He even went on to allege that he and some of his contemporaries "can’t wait for the day" that superhero movies fall out of favour.
Of course, Tarantino is not the first director to shade Marvel/DC movies. Moonfalldirector Roland Emmerich has called the genre "formulaic", and the great Martin Scorsese was quoted saying Marvel films are more like "theme parks" than "cinema" – a stance he later reiterated in The New York Times.
Emma McIntyre / Via Getty Images
10. John Cho
Cho has cited the "indentured-servitude contracts" that come with Marvel movies as one of his reasons for not signing up for the MCU if offered. "The problem now is whenever you do a movie they sign you to like, a three-picture deal", he told Vulture. The Star Trek actor also takes issue with the preparation required: "I don’t particularly want to diet. Or work out like crazy. That doesn’t sound fun."
Samir Hussein / WireImage / Via Getty Images
11. Timothée Chalamet
I think most people would agree that Chalamet has taken on a wide range of roles since appearing on most people's radars in Call Me By Your Name. However, the actor is disinclined to become a superhero after receiving some sage words of advice early on in his career from none other than Leonardo DiCaprio: "No hard drugs and no superhero movies". For now, DiCaprio seems to have gotten through to him; outside of things like Dune and the upcoming movie Wonka, Chalamet has indeed steered clear of the superhero genre at large.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / FilmMagic / Via Getty Images
12. Amanda Seyfried
Seyfried actually once turned down a part in the MCU – Gamora in The Guardians franchise. Her reason? She "didn't want to be green for six months out of every year". Seyfried discussed her reluctance to do Marvel movies and perform stunts before in an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers. The Mamma Mia! actor said, "we all have to do [action films] for business purposes... They're so highly enjoyable, I love being an audience member, I just don't want to put on the suit."
Samir Hussein / WireImage / Via Getty Images
13. Jon Hamm
Radio Times seemed to touch a nerve when they questioned Hamm back in 2014 about the idea of him being in a Marvel vehicle: "The deals that they make you do are so draconian", he told the outlet. Hamm also seemed to think his age was an issue, claiming that the "younger generation don't care about you if your last name's not Hemsworth or you are not in One Direction or you don't wear a cape".
Apparently the actor has been "in contention for" Marvel films before, but was glad he'd said no or else he'd be stuck on same project for a long time: "It's a lot of work at one thing which is not necessarily the reason I got into the business which is to do many things. If you want to spend all day pressing the same key that… seems an odd choice." He did, however, provide the voice of Iron Man in Marvel's M.O.D.O.K.
Pascal Le Segretain / Via Getty Images
14. Jodie Foster
Foster has gone on record in Radio Times saying that "200 million dollar movies about superheroes" are like "fracking – you get the best return right now but you wreck the earth". The actor continued by echoing controversial comments made by Martin Scorsese that superhero movies are like "theme parks", and that they are "ruining the viewing habits of the American population and then ultimately the rest of the world." Safe to say we won't see a Super-Jodie any time soon!
Frazer Harrison / Via Getty Images
15. Jason Statham
While he's well known for his action roles, Statham has been pretty insistent that he has "no ambition" to join the MCU. "Anybody can do it", he told the YouTube channel I 400 Calci during the press junket for Spy. "They're relying on stunt doubles, green screen, $200 million dollar budgets... it's not authentic."
Interestingly, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige also confirmed once to Den of Geek that Statham was almost IN a Marvel movie, but it didn't work out because of scheduling conflicts. According to Feige, Statham graciously declined and said he hoped it worked out next time.
Jason LaVeris / FilmMagic / Via Getty Images
16. Josh Hartnett
Amazingly, Hartnett once told Details that he turned down THREE superhero roles – Batman, Superman and Spider-Man! "I somehow knew those roles had potential to define me, and I didn't want that", he said in an interview with the outlet. "I was maybe 22, but I saw the danger."
He also cited an uncomfortableness with fame as a contributing factor to turning down Marvel, Sony, and DC: "I was on the cover of every magazine. I couldn't really go anywhere. I didn't feel comfortable in my own skin. I was alone. I didn't trust anyone", he shared.
Michael Tran / FilmMagic / Via Getty Images
17. Emily Blunt
As many people may already know, Blunt was actually offered the role of Black Widow in the MCU, but she had to pass on it because she was contracted to do the movie Gulliver's Travels. Even though she was disappointed that she couldn't work with Robert Downey Jr., Blunt's views on the superhero genre seem to have shifted since then. "We are inundated", she said of the genre in an interview of Howard Stern. "It's not only all the movies, it's the endless TV shows as well."
Blunt did add that she wasn't *completely* against playing a superhero character, but that Marvel type of movies were not up her alley, and that she doesn't like them.