Top Five… Comic book Crossover-curbing Casting Cock-ups
Comic book characters are a sociable bunch – when they’re not saving their own respective universes, they can usually be found guest appearing in someone else’s comic. Nowadays superheroes do more crossovers than Cristiano Ronaldo in front of an open goal, but some casting directors have made life difficult for themselves. Ross McD lines em up…
5. Mickey Rourke – Whiplash / Marv
Ok, so Iron Man and Frank Miller’s Sin City were unlikely to have a crossover, but with the craggy-faced comeback kid playing both Dark Horse’s ass kicker and Marvel’s Stark botherer, it’s an impossibility. Whiplash was actually the name of a shitload of crap Marvel baddies; I would have loved to see Marv come in and slap them all around.
4. James Marsden – Cyclops / Richard White
Poor old James Marsden. In both X-Men and Superman Returns he plays the nice guy partner to Jean Grey/Lois Lane, who in turn fancy the far more interesting Wolverine/Superman. Come to think of it, this happens to him in Enchanted too. Interesting fact: Havok, who appears as a teenager in X-Men: First Class is supposed to be Cyclops’s little brother, even though Cyclops won’t be born for another decade or so. Go figure.
3. Halle Berry – Storm / Catwoman
Although Marvel and DC comics are bitter rivals, believe it or not they have crossed over in the past. Were the worlds of X-men and Batman to merge, this would cause a problem, since Ms Berry played both Marvel’s weather witch and DC’s feline femme fatale. Thankfully, the cinema-going public at large have universally agreed to pretend Berry’s Catwoman just didn’t happen at all. Michelle Pfeifer’s awesome performance and costume have helped purge the memories.
2. Chris Evans – The Human Torch / Captain America
Not the UK radio DJ and former Big Breakfast presenter – although he had the flaming head down to a tee. As the title of the film will tell you, Captain America – The First Avenger is all about crossovers. In fact, the only reason they are making this film is so they can stick The Hulk, Iron Man and Thor in a room together. Unfortunately The Fantastic Four can never be invited to the party, since greedy Evans decided he wanted to play Johnny Storm too. Anyway, we reckon he made a better supervillain as pretty good skateboarder turned pretty good action movie star Lucas Lee in Scott Pilgrim Vs The World
1. Ryan Reynolds – The Green Lantern / Deadpool / Hannibal King
Not quite sure who Ryan Reynolds is shagging in Hollywood, but he seems to have the monopoly on comic book characters at the mo. Not only did he play vampire hunter Hannibal King in Marvel’s Blade and most recently Hal Jordan in Magic Jewellry Man, sorry, The Green Lantern, he also starred in X-Men Origins: Wolverine as Wade Williams – aka Deadpool – who, yes you’ve guessed it, is a combination of every other mutant in the film. Will this guy ever have enough?!
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Ross v Ross 
June 16, 2011 at 5:01 pm
Right with you on the last two. It bugs me that Chris Evans is playing Cap and Torch but not nearly as much as it does Reynolds popping up everywhere. You can’t go to the dark side to play the lame guy with the crappy costume jewellery and then expect us to welcome you back to get your own merc with a mouth movie. It’s just not cricket 😛
June 16, 2011 at 5:06 pm
for once im in total agreement with Ross McD and Katie here, although to be fair to Evans and Reynolds their crossovers are muddling ‘franchises’ *shudders* that I have pretty much zero interest in seeing.
June 17, 2011 at 3:27 am
[…] Top Five… Comic book Crossover-curbing Casting Cock-ups (Ross vs. Ross) […]
June 18, 2011 at 12:49 am
I had no idea what the title of this post meant but this is great! haha
June 18, 2011 at 12:50 am
I had no idea what the title of this post meant but this is great! haha
Agrees with Katie. Every actor should be limited to one brand name superhero and then feel free to play roles in films based on graphic novels!
June 18, 2011 at 3:24 pm
All these people agreeing with me…I feel unusual
June 19, 2011 at 9:54 am
dont get used to it, Katie
June 19, 2011 at 5:24 pm
Wow there’s a whole lot of s**t characters/actors in this list (Mickey Rourke excluded)
Mickey Rourke – I can forgive this man for any mistakes he makes in his career (and there’s sure to be plenty more to come). The Russian accent almost did it for me though!!
James Marsden – I could really do without seeing him in anything ever again
Halle Berry – Looks great.
Chris Evans – see James Masrden
Ryan Reynolds – I gets worse……
June 27, 2011 at 7:47 am
Are people really saying that Evans and Reynolds and Marsden are actually actors worthy of getting leading roles (well Marsden probably never will)? I mean they’re bland when it comes to talent, personality and looks. SEXIEST MAN ALIVE SHINY JEWELLERY MAN.
June 27, 2011 at 7:57 pm
Cyclops got so shafted by casting. He is supposed to be an enigmatic leader and instead we got that guy from ’27 Dresses’.
August 2, 2011 at 5:44 pm
ah Craig, come on now… Marsden is class. havent you seen Sex Drive?
September 25, 2011 at 2:03 am
Not to be the pedantic comic dork, but it’s Wade Wilson, not Williams.
That being said, I like Marsden. He’s generally fun to watch because he’s willing to be a huge dork on camera. And, man, the less said about “Catwoman,” the better. That thing was a pile.
September 25, 2011 at 10:30 am
Haha whoops, good spot Gayle!
Wade Williams is that dude from Prison Break! Dunno how that slipped in there….
Will edit
You win a prize 🙂