Top 10 Times Marvel Hollywood Actors Insulted Marvel
#10: Hugo Weaving
Hugo Weaving was already a sci-fi acting legend thanks to his villainous role in the “Matrix” franchise. So, hearing he would play Red Skull in multiple MCU films was great news. But there were several reasons the legend didn’t get red in the face again. In an interview, Weaving stated the company wasn’t willing to pay him the money he was promised to return. Outside of calling the studio “impossible” to talk salary with, the actor also shied away from the role for professional reasons. Although Weaving was happy with his first performance, he said it was “not something he’d want to do again”. His issues with salary and desire for something new paved the way for Ross Marquand to take over as Red Skull.
#9: Ben Affleck
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Before Affleck put on the bat suit, he tried to make a splash at Marvel by playing Matt Murdock. Unfortunately, the movie was blasted by many for its overly gritty tone, ridiculous characters and baffling scenes. But Affleck might actually dislike the movie more than the fans. In a 2014 interview the actor called Daredevil “the only movie I actually regret”. The only positive part about the role he mentioned was that it pushed him to play the Dark Knight. He’s far from the only performer in the movie that wasn’t happy with their Marvel role. Affleck’s co-star Jennifer Garner called her “Daredevil” spin-off “Elektra” “awful”.(Xref) Additionally, she wished she’d been in the universe when MCU leader Kevin Feige could’ve approved the script.
#8: Edward Norton
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After playing Bruce Banner in 2008’s “The Incredible Hulk,” Edward Norton was in a prime position to make lots of MCU appearances. However, these hopes were smashed by a press release. Marvel announced the actor wouldn’t return because the studio had a “need for an actor who embodies the creativity and collaborative spirit of our other talented cast members.” This strong statement initially prompted Norton to call the studio “low, unprofessional and very dishonest”. A 2019 interview seemed to suggest that the heated relationship had cooled down. While Norton clarified that disagreements about cash and time may have led to his exit, he had nothing bad to say about the studio. He was also delighted his friend Mark Ruffalo stepped into the big gamma shoes.
#7: Ryan Reynolds
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Fans were thrilled when they heard the merc with the mouth would appear in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”. Instead of breaking the fourth wall, Deadpool broke everyone’s hearts with a confusing and partially silent portrayal. Ryan Reynolds definitely agreed with the criticism of that version of the merc. The actor revealed that his role as Deadpool was “frustrating” because the studio never wrote specific dialogue or motivations for his character. Ultimately, Reynolds mainly appeared because he could’ve completely lost out on the chance to play the character. Although he tried to salvage the script by making up his own lines, his efforts weren’t enough to save the character. Scorned fans were happy when Reynolds figuratively and literally erased the old Deadpool in his new franchise.
#6: Idris Elba
As soon as he finished playing the lead in “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”, Idris Elba had to jump right back into playing Heimdall in “Thor: The Dark World” reshoots. This drastic switch between the two very different roles wasn’t easy for the actor. Although Elba attempted to get around his obligation, contracts required him to be there. He later said that “it ripped his heart out” to do stunts with an elaborate costume and makeup so soon after playing Mandela. Elba’s negative comments didn’t seem to bode well for his future as Heimdall. However, he returned to his role four times in seven years. Something about the role likely motivated Elba to see past his bad feelings towards the second “Thor’s” reshoots.
#5: Chloe Bennet
One of the most exciting aspects of “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” in its early days was the promise that its overall story would be closely connected to the events of the MCU films. However, fans and S.H.I.E.L.D. actress Chloe Bennet noticed the amount of connections between the movies and series decreased as time went on. During one tongue-in-cheek q&a, she said that Marvel “didn’t seem to care what happened on the show”. Bennet also called “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”the “black sheep of the MCU” in another candid interview. The fact that game-changing events like the snap barely made a blip on the show’s radar added fuel to the actress’ claims.
#4: Mickey Rourke
Mickey Rourke went the extra mile to hone his accent and mannerisms to play Ivan Vanko in 2010’s “Iron Man 2.” Despite his work, his villain was seen as one of the most underdeveloped big bads in the franchise. Rourke later stated that his writer and director supported the actor’s desire for a layered approach to the character. But the star blamed the studio for the terrible result. According to Rourke, Marvel wanted Vanko to be “one dimensional” and removed scenes that would’ve fleshed out his character more. He also said “If they want to make mindless comic book movies, then I don’t want to be a part of that”. Rourke statements seemed to hint that he wouldn't take another crack at Whiplash anytime soon.
#3: Christopher Eccleston
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The often outspoken Christopher Eccleston certainly didn’t mince words about his role as Malekith in 2013’s “Thor: The Dark World.” Before he even got on set, he was upset about the extensive makeup process that turned him into an evil dark elf. Outside of calling the studio “dishonest” about the process, he also expressed his issues with the role itself. Eccleston said the movie “lacked humor” and that working on it basically felt like he was being held at gunpoint. Most critics and fans shared his negative feelings and blasted the second “Thor” film for its flat characters and confusing plot. Despite the bad reception and rough experience, Eccleston entertained the idea of coming back if “Thor Ragnarok’s” writers handed him a script.
#2: Sally Field
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Sony’s “Amazing Spider-Man” franchise was stacked with plenty of top-notch acting talent. Two-time Oscar winner Sally Field was especially great as the iconic Aunt May. Unfortunately, she didn’t seem to like the part that much. When interviewed on “The Howard Stern Show,” she fully expressed her true feelings about May. Field stated that she initially only took the role as a favor to a late producer friend who worked on the “Amazing Spider-Man”. Once in the franchise, she found it difficult to bring any nuance to the character. Field went as far to say that “you can’t put ten pounds of manure in a five-pound bag.” And she didn’t say manure. While Field didn’t really care for her role, she did praise Garfield’s performance.
#1: Terrence Howard
Before 2008’s “Iron Man” ended, it was extremely obvious that Terrance Howard’s Rhodey would take flight as a superhero in the next movie. But he was quickly grounded before he could appear in any follow up films. According to reports, Marvel offered less money than they had previously promised for Howard’s next appearance. The actor has since called out the studio for going back on their word and not following through. Howard has also claimed that although he could lead multiple successful Marvel movies as Rhodey, he’s very unlikely to come back. The actor’s very public exit and multiple comments constantly keep him in conversations about Marvel recastings. It’s unlikely anyone will forget that he was the original choice for War Machine.
