Actors Who Play Both Supervillain and Superhero Characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

1. Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man Will Return to the MCU as Doctor Doom

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Robert Downey Jr. is one of the most influential actors in the development of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) to its current size. His role as Tony Stark, or Iron Man, in the MCU films has become iconic and hard to replace. Downey Jr. first debuted in the MCU through the film IRON MAN in 2008.

As a key member of the Avengers, Iron Man is a genius who often resolves various crises with the help of his advanced technology. After more than two decades portraying Iron Man, Downey Jr. is believed to have retired from the MCU after the character sacrificed himself in AVENGERS: ENDGAME in 2019.

However, at the San Diego Comic-Con 2024 held on Sunday, July 28, 2024, Marvel Studios surprised fans with a major announcement. In a dramatic presentation, Robert Downey Jr. was announced to return to the MCU, not as Iron Man, but as Doctor Doom, the iconic supervillain. Downey Jr. is expected to replace Kang the Conqueror as the main enemy of the Avengers in Phase 6.

2. Benedict Cumberbatch Plays Doctor Strange and Dormammu Simultaneously

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DOCTOR STRANGE (2016) is a film that tells the origin story of the superhero with the greatest magical powers, played by Benedict Cumberbatch. The film follows Stephen Strange's efforts to prevent Earth from destruction due to a dark dimension ruled by an evil cosmic entity named Dormammu.

Interestingly, Benedict Cumberbatch also portrays Dormammu, even though this character appears as a cosmic entity. Benedict Cumberbatch not only voices the character but also serves as a model for motion capture of Dormammu. This allows him to act alongside himself in the film. The appearance of Clea, played by Charlize Theron, in the post-credits scene of DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS (2022), opens up the possibility for Benedict Cumberbatch to reprise both characters in upcoming MCU films.

Although portrayed by the same actor, each character has its own uniqueness and distinct characteristics, thanks to impressive acting skills and strong characterization from the writers. Now, attention turns to Robert Downey Jr.'s performance as Doctor Doom, which is highly anticipated by MCU fans.

3. Gemma Chan Plays Sersi and Minn-Erva with Contrasting Appearances and Characters

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Gemma Chan showcases her extraordinary acting skills by portraying two different characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Her debut began as Minn-Erva, an elite sniper from the Kree race in the film CAPTAIN MARVEL (2019). In her role as a Kree alien, Gemma Chan appears with a distinctive look, featuring blue skin.

After playing Minn-Erva as a secondary supervillain, Gemma Chan landed a more prominent role in the next MCU film, ETERNALS (2021). In this film, she plays Sersi, an Eternal with the ability to manipulate molecules and atoms. Sersi becomes one of the main characters in the film, showcasing an appearance and personality that are very different from her previous role.

Gemma Chan's ability to bring both characters to life with contrasting traits emphasizes her versatility as an actress. Her distinct performances in two vastly different roles demonstrate her excellence in adapting to and embodying each character she portrays.

(kpl/adp)