Casting Marvel's Cosmic Heavy Hitters in the Wake of the Disney/Fox Merger

Like an issue of What If...? the Marvel Cinematic Universe can now be what we fanatics have always envisioned it would be. The thin, legal force field that has prevented the X-Men from interacting with the Avengers and so many of our favorite Marvel characters appearing in the MCU has been brought down by the nigh-unstoppable entity that is Disney. Now we can finally (and realistically) begin speculation on who could/should/would play our favorite authoritative personas from the comics; namely the dynamic cosmic powerhouses that will face even greater threats that approach in the aftermath of Thanos and the Infinity War.

Until now, fan inquiries to producers and directors (basically just Marvel CEO Kevin Feige, Guardians writer/director James Gunn, and the Russo Bros) about their favorite characters debuting in the MCU would get replies of uncertainty and redirection simply because it was pointless to discuss things that just couldn't be. Gunn stated back in August that Guardians Vol. 3 would come after the Infinity Wars 1 and 2 with the intention of setting up the next decade or so of cosmic characters and that was before the merger. Now initiating the Marvel Cosmic Universe and armed with the film rights to just about every character in the Marvel vault, Mr. Gunn teases that Guardians 3 could be kicking off phase 4 of the MCU as soon as 2020 and several of the characters below are bound to show up.

After several failed attempts to bring the Fantastic Four to life, the franchise might finally be getting the treatment it has been denied or maybe they will remain dead and scattered as they are now in the comics. The character fans are most excited about is, hands down, Silver Surfer and his only big screen appearance was majorly disappointing, so expectations will be high when he finally does zoom into our 3D glasses at the local theater with the World Devourer, Galactus, in tow. The introduction of the characters on this list into the MCU opens a plethora of intergalactic plots and storylines that involve X-Men, Avengers, Guardians and cosmic randos fighting together, meaning the next phase or two of Marvel films should be nothing short of epic.

Anyone who reads the comic books knows that the phasing out of the current Guardians most likely means slowly phasing in Starlord's ultimate team of unstoppables known as the Annihilators to battle the likes of Blastaar, Maelstrom, Magus and eventually the ultimate baddie, Tyrant. We've already briefly met Cosmo, the psychic astronaut dog that transports them around via teleportation to dish out their cosmic beatdowns, as well as Guardians Vol. 1 villain/hero, Ronan the Accuser (presumed dead). Marvel is staying tight-lipped about phase 4, other than revealing potential plans for a Nova solo film and of course, Guardians Vol. 3 but with access to over 7,000 Marvel characters, we can expect the coming movies to be much more like the comics with crossovers galore. Hopefully, that means we get to see Nightcrawler, Wolverine and Vision battle alongside Silver Surfer and Beta Ray Bill in 3D.

Kallark a.k.a. Gladiator

Much is unknown about his past, but Kallark swiftly rose through the ranks and landed the position of Praetor of the Imperial Guard to the Shi'ar Empire. He eventually finds himself in the role of Imperator after destroying Emperor Vulcan in an act of revenge. As even more dangerous threats make themselves known, Gladiator is called to join four other Alpha Class beings (most of which grace this list) to form an unstoppable team known as the Annihilators; a squad designed to be the immovable wall protecting the universe and the pinnacle of all Marvel hero teams.

Perhaps the easiest to cast, Kallark is a simple being of extreme loyalty, principle and brutality. The guy no one is quick to fight; as swift and merciless as the warrior class by which his alias takes after. Gladiator is without a doubt one of the most physically powerful beings in the Marvel Universe and a key player in the next generation of Marvel Cosmic films. He has yet to be mentioned or set up but there is one Easter egg in Spider-Man: Homecoming where Peter Parker uses the terms Strontian and Vibranium in the same sentence. His long-running history with the X-Men could have seen him hit the screen as soon as the upcoming Dark Phoenix-themed X-film, however with that being the last under the Fox regime, Marvel is most likely keeping him in the vault until the right time.

Who better to harness the assertive rage of the mohawked Strontian than the man who so perfectly portrayed the gladiator Crixus in the ultra-gritty series Spartacus on STARZ? Starring soon after as the DC Universe's most cunning super-villain in Deathstroke on CW's Arrow, Manu Bennett proves he always brings the highest level of badassery to the screen. While there are several actors that possess the physique and look to portray Marvel's Superman, few bring the intensity and tenacity that Mr. Bennett holsters when performing fight and action scenes, making him a prime choice for the aggressive, violet-hued Annihilator.

Silver Surfer

Surfer is without a doubt one of the most cherished characters in the Marvel Universe with a massive following. He's teamed up or battled with them all over the past five decades in the comics and now we get to see him do it on the big screen. Truth be told his entrance into the MCU means the seldom seen hero would become highly commercialized and well, some things just lose their cool factor when you see it everywhere you go. Fortunately, the Surfer is in good hands, with Gunn expressing his excitement on the topic and while it's uncertain whether he will direct it himself, Feige surely wouldn't leave it in the hands of just anyone.

You may remember Fox had the Surfer up for a solo film about a decade ago with I, Robot and Dark City director Alex Proyas at the helm but the sci-fi aficionado backed out, citing his past experiences working with Fox as the reason. Perhaps now that things have changed hands, Proyas will toss his hat into the MCU and we can get the Surfer film we fans deserve. It's still a bit early to ruminate where he will be introduced to the MCU but given his pivotal role in the Infinity War storyline, it's not too far-fetched to think the Surfer could show up in part 2 of Infinity War, maybe even as a post-credit setup. Really it could be anywhere from the next Guardians to a Fantastic Four reboot or even a solo origin film. In both of the latter cases, we would most likely be introduced to Galactus and maybe even some other Heralds at some point.

So who best to play the Sentinel of the Spaceways? This one is tough because there are not many people who could truly nail such a role. Norin Radd is a somewhat tragic character of immense inner conflict and a duplicitous actor is called for. Perhaps the guy that was almost Doctor Strange? It's really only a matter of time before Ryan Gosling is cast in the MCU and truth is he would make a great Moon Knight and could probably play any one of the characters on this list. We the fans could feel relatively safe placing our beloved Surfer in Gosling's capable hands but really it all depends on Feige and Gunn's vision for the character.

P.S. - My first choice would have been Heath Ledger! RIP Heath!

Beta Ray Bill

A cybernetic Korbinite-Asgardian that roams the cosmos on his awesome ship Skuttlebutt, defending the meek and snuffing out evil. It's difficult to sound cooler than that. In a way, he is like Thor's other adopted brother, having received an all-powerful cousin hammer from Odin called Stormbreaker that rivals the might of Mjolnir. The combined power of his Asgardian bestowment, coupled with his already formidable cybernetic enhancements, make him possibly more powerful than the Thunder God and one of the first lines of defense against high-level threats to the universe.

Bill has been set up through small Easter eggs appearing in the MCU films thus far; most recently in Thor: Ragnarok in the form of a Champion statue displayed on Sakaar. Word has it Bill was initially set to be in the film but was replaced with the Hulk and given a much smaller role that was later cut by Feige, fearing the fans would be discontent and the character would not get due justice for his on-screen debut. Feige's instincts were correct. If you're gonna do it, do it right! And respect to Feige for recognizing. It's doubtful Bill will get his own spin-off film but between Captain Marvel and Guardians 3, we are bound to see him, however, we could be left waiting until the fourth installment of the Thor franchise.

We may never know how Bill was to appear in Thor: Ragnarok but in hopes that they don't go the full CGI route (depends on who is directing I guess) when BRB inevitably does grace the MCU, it would be nice to see a commanding on-screen persona behind the effects or masks. This was a tough choice between two guys so going again outside the norm... it's a draw. Omari Hardwick of the STARZ urban drama series Power would be an interesting and diverse albeit chancy option while action star/comedian Terry Crews would be the obvious fan choice. For Crews, it's almost meant to be but it's a different role than anything Hardwick's done so far. That said, Omari possesses the grit, range and physique to play a hero like Beta Ray Bill but still... hard to argue against Crews being kind of perfect for it.

Quasar (Wendell Vaughn)

An average S.H.I.E.L.D. agent named Wendell Vaughn was the son of a gifted scientist that was studying the mysterious Quantum Bands. Wendell, lacking the pizzazz to pull the trigger in the field, suddenly finds himself in a bad situation against an A.I.M. incursion with the only way out being the pair of bands that had just vaporized a colleague who put them on. Turns out, his timid nature is actually what enabled him to harness the power of the Quantum Bands and he eventually came to be known as Quasar, a being of untapped potential with direct access to the Quantum Zone. Much like Nova and Surfer, his involvement in the war with the Cancerverse, Phalanx and Annihilation Wave make him a key cosmic player in the next phase of the MCU.

Fans of ABC's Agents of Shield may have caught the several vague references to a "Professor Vaughn", giving way to the thought that Wendell Vaughn and the Quantum Bands could be introduced in the next season of the show with the full incarnation of Quasar appearing later, either just before or after he unlocks his full powers but this is unlikely. Gunn tweeted a photo back in June that all but confirmed Quasar and the Quantum Bands would be introduced to the MCU soon. His debut could be in the upcoming Captain Marvel film but there's also big potential for him to appear in the next Guardians. With GOTG 3 gearing towards phasing out the current Guardians and delving a bit more into the future Guardians, it's looking even more likely that we'll see the Wendell Vaughn version of Quasar simply because he is, oddly enough, Stakar's (Starhawk) father.

As HBO's mega-hit series Game of Thrones comes to an end, many of the show's amazing actors will be looking for the next project so we might expect to see a few show up in the MCU. For the very few of you who don't watch the show, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau portrays Jamie Lannister, a cocky knight with a complex redemption arc. The character sees the actor sporting both the long locks and the short, clean-cut look; both of which Wendell has been seen rocking in the comics. It's harder to think of someone more perfect for Quasar.

Runner up: Travis Fimmel

Nova (Richard Rider)

The ranks of the Nova Corps are teeming with talent but none so notable as the Queens-born human, Richard Rider, a boy chosen at random to fill the role of a fallen Nova Corps member. His teenage years saw him a member of the New Warriors, an NYC-based team of teenage superheroes to which the TV series is presently shooting without Nova on the roster. What this means is most likely we will be seeing the adult Richard Rider first and probably as soon as Guardians Vol. 3 but if not for sure in a rumored Nova solo film slated for early 2021 that Gunn would most likely be serving as a producer on. Nova has been set up in the first two films through the introduction of Xandar and the Nova Corps but there is still some mystery as to when and how we meet Nova.

For a time, many fans thought Nathan Fillion might be filling the role, however, that was deaded fast and it was revealed he would play Simon Williams or Wonder Man as most know him. Legit speculation as to who would be the best fit for Richard Rider's Nova is officially open, however, for all we know, Gunn already has someone tapped for the role. Several cliche actors come to mind but the one that stands out is actually Seann William Scott. That's right, Stifler. The role is just serious enough without taking him too far out of his element and the banter with Pratt would be the stuff Marvel movies are made of. Given John C. Reilly's portrayal of Nova Corps leader Rhomann Dey, adding Scott to the Nova ranks isn't as far-fetched as it might seem and it blends well with Marvel's whimsical action-comedy formula.

When Deadpool was just a twinkle in Hollywood's eye, the general census of who should play the Merc with a Mouth would bring about two names more than the rest: Ryan Reynolds and SWS. Alas, Reynolds was the clear-cut choice with his active interest in the role and Scott kind of dwelling in the shadows. Scott has been relatively inactive aside from the hockey-themed Goon films but it's not too crazy to think he could pull this one off and resurrect his career.

Runner up: Chris Pine

Adam Warlock/Magus

The immaculate human being, engineered to be perfect in every way, Adam Warlock is the man at the center of the universe. Both the savior and the doom of the cosmos, his future-self transforms into the Magus, a villain trumping the might of Thanos. It's kind of complicated an involves time travel and different dimensions and paradoxes but after Warlock is driven mad and transformed into Magus, he is thrust back thousands of years and becomes the founder of the Church of the Universal Truth, a religious empire spanning the universe with the ultimatum of convert or die. Adam, or Him as he was referred to in Vol. 2 of Guardians, was made specifically for the purpose of being the counterpart of life to Thanos, the avatar of death and thus bringing the Titan down but that in no way means that's how it will go down in the MCU.

So far, we haven't heard any new info on Warlock or when exactly he'll emerge from his cocoon or even what Feige and Gunn's approach to the character will be. The filmmakers have already shown they are not afraid to deviate from the comics so for all we know the Magus may not even play a role until later, but given their involvement in the Infinity Saga and their heavy ties to Captain Marvel, Warlock and Magus could come into play for the upcoming film. This gives way to their embroilment in part 2 of Infinity Wars should the Black Order be defeated but that's wishful thinking as they may just concentrate on Thanos and bring Warlock into the picture in Guardians 3, which sets up the cosmic phase 4 of the MCU.

Who should be the perfect human being? Sure, there are tons of talented actors out there that could pull it off but not many with the chiseled facial features most people associate with the character. The first guy that comes to mind is Dracula re-booter Luke Evans. Admittedly, the man is pretty much perfect for the role of Prince Namor, who should be popping up in phase 4 at some point (please God, not on Agents of Shield). Evans has the depth and caliber to play both the righteous Warlock and his evil counterpart.

Runner up: Ed Skrein

The Sentry

A being whose limits we still don't know or could even comprehend, The Sentry is the ultimate wild card in the Marvel universe. A drug addict with heart of gold that ingests a serum that gives him his immense power, Robert Reynolds becomes an honorable hero, admired by Cap and the rest of the Avengers but he has a dark side that could at some point unveil him as a threat. Should the memories he used his psychic power to banish suddenly return, he releases The Void, an entity with annihilation first on his list. Much like Bruce Banner, Reynolds is the product of accidental science and struggles psychically with controlling his enormous power to prevent a monstrous alter ego from escaping... except that his is fully capable of destroying the universe.

While there's no guarantee we'll even see the bright yellow fellow on the big screen, he usually shows up when the odds are impossible and doom is on the horizon so we could see him pop up somewhere in the next twenty films that Marvel has lined up. Sentry hasn't been talked about much by Feige or Gunn but the little they have said points to Sentry coming into the fray much later in the MCU, like phases 5 or 6. Again, it really all depends on what Feige's vision for the character is. As we prepare for the inevitable end of the current Avengers core roster, it's time to think about the next phase of Earth's Mightiest and Sentry fills a big void so who knows for certain if we'll see him sooner or later.

How does one go about casting a character with such duality? Easy, find an actor with the same propensity. Ok, well maybe not easy but with the vault of talent that Hollywood and television has seeded in these last ten years, it shouldn't be too difficult to find the right man for the job. Alexander Skarsgard comes to mind first. Although he could quite easily play the Silver guy or any number of the top guns in the Marvel Universe, the man who most recently brought Tarzan to life can certainly encapsulate the somber fire that calmed Worldbreaker Hulk or the unbridled savagery that ripped the homicidal villain Carnage in half.

Other Notables

Darkhawk (Chris Powell): Darkhawk is another wild card and could definitely show up at some point, despite how underrated he is but the cold, hard truth is we may never see him. Like his pals Nova and Spidey, he is a New York native and served as a member on the New Warriors but was not seen consistently in the comics for a while after his solo comic run, basically skipping a generation of comic book readers. Also like Nova, he is not on the roster for the upcoming show based on the team but this doesn't mean he won't make an appearance.

Given his extremely pivotal role in the War of Kings and his origin stemming from the Shi'ar Empire, it's possible we'll see the more experienced cosmic Darkhawk as he comes to learn of the secret order from which his amulet was born, the Fraternity of Raptors. His close relationship with Nova could see him in the Human Rocket's solo film but he was also a good pal to Moon Knight, who Gunn is actively pushing for a solo film. Zac Efron could easily don the amulet and armor, giving the character the star power needed to hang with Marvel's more well known and popular heroes.

Moondragon: Heather Douglas, the daughter of Drax the Destroyer, was taken barely alive by The Mentor to Saturn's moon, Titan to be raised in the Shao-Lorn monastery, where she learned to be a skilled martial artist. It was here that she unlocked her powerful psychic abilities and was possessed, in a way, by a spiritual being known as The Dragon of the Moon, hence her name. In the comics, she's in the cosmic mix so much, her name is synonymous with the Silver Surfer and Adam Warlock, essentially making her a must-have for the next phase of the MCU. A story-critical lady of the cosmos, much like Captain Marvel, Phyla-Vell and Ikon, Moondragon is another example of someone we should have met already but, again, character rights.

We can almost assuredly expect Moondragon to use her fearsome martial arts skills in Captain Marvel as the two characters have intertwining storylines. As a rule of thumb, when casting a character who is an expert martial artist, it is vital to be sure that actor or actress is a martial artist themselves. As an example, stunt woman and actress Samantha Jo of Wonder Woman would bring the needed fighting ability and athleticism to make the character genuine, unlike another Marvel martial artist that recently made his way from the comics to the TV screen. Let's hope Feige and Gunn have the same mindset.

Ikon, Spaceknight: The gal (no pun intended) who secretly teleported to Knowhere and showed the Annihilators a thing or two about strategy and hand-to-hand combat before offering to be their leader. She is a colleague of Gunn's all-time favorite character, ROM and the self-proclaimed greatest living Spaceknight. It's unclear whether Marvel even has the rights to the Spaceknights but Gunn has stated before that Ikon is also a favorite character of his and someone he always wanted to add to the mix in Guardians. If Gunn has access to her rights, it's a solid bet you will see Galador, Ikon and the other Spaceknights (ROM excluded) in Guardians 3 and/or possibly Nova to set her up for the eventual Annihilators run.

It remains unclear whether or not The Builders will come into play in Infinity War as they did in the comics but if so, there's even more reason to believe the Alpha-Class Spaceknight will make her MCU debut. Another reason we could see Ikon would be her romance with Quasar, who we already know is all but MCU bound. A fierce shield maiden on History Channel's hit series, Vikings, Katheryn Winnick seems like an almost ideal spin on the fierce Galadorian Knight-ess. Given all her combat training for the show, she is almost tailor-made to wield the Poleaxe and step into the Plandanium armor.

Firelord (Pyreus Kril): Once a tenacious Nova Corpsman, Pyreus Kril's commander and friend, Gabriel Lan was stolen away by Galactus in his pursuit to find a new Herald to fill the void the Surfer left. Eventually, he catches up with Galactus in the wake of a deadly attack by a race called the Ovoids, learning they had slain Gabriel, who had become the Herald Air-Walker. A deal is struck and Pyreus becomes the flame-shrouded and hot-tempered Firelord, Galactus' newest Herald. As just one of many, the inclusion of Firelord in the MCU opens the possibilities for other Heralds like Red Shift, Stardust, the villainous Terrax or even the very first of them, the Fallen One.

It's hard to say when and where we'll see him but we will see him. Chances are it will be in a Surfer movie but it all depends on where the Surfer is in life when we meet him for the first time. For example, an origin film means we may not see Firelord for a while, as he comes into the picture later but if we have already met the Silver dude in say, Captain Marvel or a Fantastic Four reboot, we can probably expect to see Firelord and other Heralds in what follows. Pablo Schreiber, the man who plays the ancient, short-fused Leprechaun brawler known as Mad Sweeney in American Gods on STARZ, seems like a safe bet for the cosmic lord of the inferno.

Hyperion: Sometimes a hero, most of the time a villain, Hyperion is king of the Eternals, an alien race hailing from an alternate reality in which he was a hero that destroyed his version of Earth and was transported with his team, the Squadron Supreme, to our Earth with intent to conquer it. There are several different versions of the character, which makes him tricky to involve in the MCU but not impossible. In whatever follows for the Avengers and Earth's heroes, Hyperion and his Squadron Supreme could play the antagonists. Sort of a pipe dream, but it would open up the possibility of the ultimate showdown with a certain canary-colored strongman.

Hyperion's surly, aggressive nature resembles that of Kevin McKidd's portrayal of the fearless Roman soldier, Lucius Vorenus in HBO's Rome so it's not hard to imagine him stepping into the black and gold outfit. Sure, he may have to beef up a bit but this would be the case for anyone short of Dwayne Johnson. McKidd sports the looks to play the part but also has a commanding voice, which is a defining trait of Hyperion. Two thumbs up for the Scotsman as the over-zealous Eternal.