We already have our major players in the Avengers, with Robert Downey, Jr., Edward Norton, Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth each playing the iconic roles of some of the most famous members of Marvel’s PREMIERE superteam, but who is going to play the others? We can’t go into an Avengers movie without Hank Pym or Simon Williams, can we? Well, Simon Williams…MAYBE, but Hank Pym, never! We have to make our guesses at who would make great fits for the characters, and I’m going to take a shot at who I think Joss Whedon himself will cast.
Much like Kevin Smith, Whedon has a tendency to use the same actors in different roles. Summer Glau was on no less than THREE shows he helmed, Angel, Firefly, and Dollhouse, respectively. Then there are actors like Alan Tudyk, Gina Torres, and Adam Baldwin. So don’t be surprised to see a few familiar faces if you’re a Whedon fan. It was undoubtedly intentional, and for that reason. Another tactic Whedon uses is to cast unknowns, so another way to describe my picks would not necessarily be picking an actor, but a TYPE.
Also, if I didn’t include your favorite Avenger, I’m sorry. There have been A LOT of members
Hank Pym/Ant-Man — Alexis Denisof
Even though he had a large role late on Dollhouse, Denisof will always be known (at least in my eyes) as Wesley Wyndam-Price, Buffy’s replacement watcher in season three. Originally conceived as a comedic foil for the gang, Buffy and Giles especially, he eventually grew to an enormously conflicted and dynamic character that had one of the most tragic arcs on television ever.
To me, I think this fits a lot with the character of Hank Pym. There is a lot of fun in Hank’s character, but there is a LOT of darkness too. He doesn’t much LOOK like Hank Pym, but as I’ve said before we can’t be slaves to the physicality of the character. If that were true, Hugh Jackman was the worst choice for Wolverine, EVER. He’s only a foot too tall.
Janet van Dyne-Pym/The Wasp — Grace Park
Now, I know when this is discussed, certain people *cough* may balk at the fact she is in fact Asian when Janet van Dyne is white. Well, I took that into account when I cast this, and I concluded that much like the summer blockbuster G.I. Joe, the producers will want a more diverse cast culturally, and will fill the roles to suit these needs. Therefore I think the role of The Wasp would go to an Asian-American, in a nod to the Ultimate version of Janet, who was Asian.
But why choose Grace Park over Lucy Liu, who was listed by Mark Millar himself? Well, aside from the fact that I think Grace Park is a much more capable action star from her work on Battlestar Galactica, I really dislike Lucy Liu. That’s about it.
Let’s just hope Hank doesn’t go near the RAID, alright?
Carol Danvers/Ms. Marvel — Victoria Pratt
Considering Carol Danvers is a colonel in the United States Air Force, I chose to go with a slightly older (yet stunning) actress who I remember from such cult fair including “Mutant X” and “Cleopatra 2525.” She’s a fitness model and a serviceable actress who can play an action role quite keenly. She certainly has the look to play Col. Danvers. I say give it a go.
Sam Wilson/The Falcon — J. August Richards
Another alum from Joss Whedon’s group of actors, known for playing the streetwise vampire hunter Charles Gunn (better known simply as “Gunn.”), Richards will come off as an odd choice to play Captain America’s partner and protégé when he is nearly 8 years Chris Evans’ senior, but as I said, barring an unknown, it’s in Whedon’s wheelhouse to put familiar actors in his movies. I personally might see him more as a Luke Cage role, but Luke Cage wouldn’t fit in this sort of Avengers movie, not yet.
Continued below
Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch — Sarah Lancaster
Some may scoff, but in the case of The Avengers, I believe that Scarlet Witch and her brother Quicksilver (who we’ll get to in a minute) will probably be played as younger, inexperienced heroes who are just coming to terms with the fact they used to be on the wrong side. It will certainly be interesting to see Magneto’s kids in a movie franchise separated from their father (at least until the X-Men’s movie rights are returned to Marvel and Disney). Well, I feel Sarah Lancaster, best known for her role of Ellie Bartowski on the Multiversity favorite Chuck, would be a great pick for the role of everyone’s favorite hex witch. She’s beautiful, has a bit of innocence to her still, and she already plays a character who was abandoned by her father.
The Vision — Doug Jones
I could have gone with the easy joke and said Stephen R. Stahl should play The Vision in life as well as movies, but Doug Jones, best known for working with Guillermo Del Toro on the Hellboy movies and Pan’s Labyrinth would be a perfect actor for the role of The Vision. Since he has already played Abe Sapien in the Hellboy movies as well as El Fauno from the masterpiece Pan’s Labyrinth, another full body suit would be like a second home for him, and I bet he’d jump at the chance to play an android who oddly can feel. And he’s kind of necessary if you consider the fact movies need some sort of romantic subplot these days.
Pietro Maximoff/Quicksilver — Ben Foster
Ben Foster is one of the most intense young actors out there today. Best known to comic book audiences as the woefully underused Warren Worthington III in the third X-Men flick, Ben has a tendency for playing emotionally complex characters with a dark past. Pietro would be a character he would love to play if given the chance, and his features tell me it’s a match made in Heaven, if you pardon the pun.
Maria Hill — Demi Moore
With the inclusion of Samuel L. Jackson since the first movie in the Avengers mega-franchise, Iron Man, Maria Hill might be a bit of a stretch to cast. But I do think that Whedon, who loves conflict in every way possible, would love a foil for Fury to squabble with while the big bad causes wonton destruction wherever he or she goes. I think Maria Hill would represent the bureaucracy that might inhibit a government sponsored superteam such as this.
Why Demi Moore though? It’s tough to say. I wanted a actress who could stand toe to toe with someone who chews scenery like Sam Jackson. Demi Moore was the only one I could think of who fit all the criteria in mind (tough, looks good with short hair, little older) but I would not be opposed to another unknown in this role.
Kang the Conqueror — Luke Goss
Another character actor from Guillermo Del Toro’s troupe, Luke Goss is known for playing the villains. Either the Prince Nuada in the second Hellboy film or as Jared Nomak from Blade II, he can totally get immersed in the role and just have a lot of fun. Since Kang a guy who runs along the same lines (hugely operatic at times and a similar “look,” so to speak.) I can’t think of anyone more suited to the role. But why Kang you ask? I think that the Avengers first enemy Loki will be too soon after the Thor movie, so he’s out. Ultron might be a good fit, but he’d ultimately probably be CGI, and therefore no fun to cast.
