Top 10 Comic Book Character Dream Casting

One of Spider-Man’s most fearsome enemies, Kraven is a man who will never give up the hunt - not until he’s skinned the spider and has his skull as a trophy. Who do you get when you’re looking for someone who can channel such a thirst for blood and visceral rage? Why, the man who gave us “this is Sparta,” of course. Not only does Gerard Butler have the physique and screaming capabilities to portray the hunter; we’re also pretty sure he’s one of the few who can pull off that leopard skin coat look. If this supervillain ever does make his debut on the silver screen, all we can say is we feel sorry for Tom Holland and any other actor who may portray the web-slinger in the future.

Don’t be so quick to write off Bruce Banner’s cousin as just a poor female substitute for Bruce’s alter ego; this emerald powerhouse has more than proven her worth in the comics. Not only is she as strong as can be; she also has a razor sharp lawyer’s mind. And who better to demonstrate the strength and charm of the green-skinned beauty than Ronda Rousey? Her skills as an MMA fighter have landed her roles alongside action heavyweights in “The Expendables” and “Fast and Furious” franchises. There’s no doubt she could kick an abundance of ass, as well as bring a sense of fun to the role. Lest we forget, Ronda Rousey is also an adorably awesome geek!

The 2015 big screen incarnation of the Fantastic Four didn’t receive the warmest response from critics or fans. Should the First Family of Marvel ever get another chance at the limelight, we think that some major star power could reinvent Reed Richards for the better. We’ve seen Clooney as the charismatic Danny Ocean, the determined, good-hearted Matt Kowalski, and lovable, mad inventor Frank Walker - all aspects that make up the personality of the smartest man in the world. If he can sell the science, forge a believable romance with Sue Storm, and command the screen, then this dying franchise might just stand a chance. He’s already halfway there by rocking the grey hair.

We’ve seen the Prince of Puzzles in his campier incarnations over the years, but we think it’s time he had his due as one of Batman’s more dangerous villains. He may not have the Joker’s psychosis or Bane’s strength, but he has wit, resourcefulness, and an intellect to rival that of the Dark Knight. Joaquin Phoenix has portrayed characters that are fundamentally disturbed, but still sympathetic, and could easily slip into a character that is internally conflicted - not to mention give us some truly head-scratching riddles. His roles in “Her,” “The Master,” and “Gladiator” more than reflect his acting capabilities, proving he could offer up a villain that would test the Caped Crusader in a battle of the mind.

Speaking of campier incarnations, Poison Ivy has yet to be portrayed in live-action with a performance that demonstrates just how much of a dangerous seductress she really is. With someone like Emily Blunt in the part, her devotion to plant-life and plans of eco-domination might not come across as ludicrous as they sound. Ivy’s most deadly weapon is her sexuality, as she is able to entice before claiming her victims’ lives with a kiss. This would require an actress to give a performance that’s both arousing and terrifying at the same time. Blunt is not only beautiful, she’s also demonstrated her vicious side in “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Edge of Tomorrow.” We think she’d have us covered.

Now we at WatchMojo love Nicolas Cage as much as the next person, but in all honesty, his Cage-isms only served to make the Spirit of Vengeance look goofy, when we should have been downright terrified. As Daryl Dixon on “The Walking Dead,” Norman Reedus not only showcases how well he can pull off the biker look, but also shows us a man on the fringes of society with plenty of inner demons. That’s Johnny Blaze in a nutshell. Should Marvel’s flaming skull of a protagonist ever find himself in a solo flick again, we have no doubt that Reedus could bring out the Ghost Rider’s more hellish side.

Most are in agreement that Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor didn’t really cut it. We’ve seen great actors like Gene Hackman and Kevin Spacey have their fair try at the criminal genius, but who better to take the reins than Walter White himself? While he nailed the part of Commissioner Gordon in “Batman: Year One”, seeing Bryan Cranston put his spin on the CEO of LexCorp would be quite the spectacle, since he’s clearly shown how well he can invoke menace and fear. As a vicious businessman who isn’t afraid of squaring up to the Man of Steel, you need an actor who can hold his own. Who better than “the one who knocks”?

Should Peter Parker ever decide to pass the mantle, we’d love to see young Miles Morales accept the role, especially if he’s portrayed by Donald Glover. Morales keeps Spidey’s better aspects, such as his intelligence and signature sense of humor, which Glover has shown in abundance with roles in “Community” and “The Martian.” Much like his predecessor, Morales has to deal with the burden of being a superhero and hiding it from his loved ones, not to mention a fair bit of family drama mixed in with the criminal element. If this particular Spider-Man ever gets his due, here’s hoping Donald Glover is up for strapping on those web shooters.

Hugh Jackman will eventually be too old to play Wolverine, and it’s still up in the air about who will replace him. If we were to choose a suitable candidate to take up those adamantium claws, it would be the UK’s home-grown hardman. Not only does he have the physique for it, his comedic timing as Eames in “Inception” and his lone wanderer persona of Mad Max also encompass everything the Canadian mutant killing machine stands for. As long as he can convincingly dismember his enemies, howl like a beast, and say, “bub,” convincingly, we’re sold. Considering Hardy’s tendency to play intimidating characters, you can even toss in that classic yellow outfit and he still wouldn’t lose any of the fierceness.

Before we reveal our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
- Brad Pitt as Black Bolt & Angelina Jolie as Medusa
- Charlize Theron as Invisible Woman
- Tom Hanks as Shazam

Harvey Dent was once a suave lawyer with dreams of clearing up Gotham. After becoming horribly disfigured, his mind practically broke, and he is now one of Batman’s most ruthless and tragic enemies. Need an actor for the job? Look no further than the man who can play both sensual and shattered. He was as cool as they come in “The Great Gatsby,” while roles in “Shutter Island,” “Django Unchained,” and “The Wolf of Wall Street” display the varying levels of damaged that DiCaprio can portray. The scariest part about Two-Face isn’t his scars, but the remnants of his broken mind that come to life in the form of a violent gangster, and we wholeheartedly believe Leo could pull it all off were he given the chance.

Do you agree with our list? What’s your comic book character dream casting? For new top tens published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.