This is part two of our deep-dive into which characters we want to see brought into the MCU, how it could be done, and which actors we feel are best suited to play the roles. Part one can be found HERE.
NORMAN OSBORN
Full disclosure: Spider-Man is one of my all-time favorite Marvel characters -- someone whose storylines require special handling to correctly adapt to film. And while this character has been portrayed in each of the previous Spider-Man franchises with varying levels of success, any series focused on Peter Parker will *have* to feature the character at some point. While Willem Dafoe gave an excellent performance as Norman Osborn, the design of the Green Goblin mask prevented him from fully utilizing his expressive face. Chris Cooper’s portrayal (as is often the case) reflected poor writing rather than poor acting, as Osborn was inexplicably made a background character with a terminal illness, even while maintaining his cold and calculating nature.
In the Comics:
Norman Osborn is the founder and presiding head of Oscorp, a billion-dollar multinational corporation specializing in science, engineering, and technology. Due to his amoral nature, when exposed to an experimental chemical that enhances his physical and mental abilities, he also becomes criminally insane, taking on the identity of the Green Goblin. This leads to him becoming Spider-Man’s archenemy, including causing the death of Gwen Stacy and orchestrating the entire Clone Saga (shut up, I enjoyed it) from the shadows. Eventually, Osborn receives treatment for his mental instability, and manages to distances himself from the Green Goblin persona.
While his recent exploits occur in the legal realm, they are just as menacing as he becomes a threat to the greater Marvel universe at large. During the Civil War storyline, he gains control of the Thunderbolts, a team of “rehabilitated” supervillains who apprehend super-powered individuals who resist registration. Later, during Secret Invasion, Osborn intercepts information from the Avengers and uses it to personally kill the Skrull queen. This makes him a hero in the eyes of the public and leads to his appointment as the director of H.A.M.M.E.R., a secret organization similar to S.H.I.E.L.D. but more aggressive. He subsequently forms the Dark Avengers, whom he leads as the Iron Patriot (i.e., the red, white, and blue War Machine armor from "Iron Man 3"). He later invades Asgard (which was located over Oklahoma at the time), and continues to wreak all manner of havoc.
What He Might Look Like in the MCU:
Origin/Look: According to rumors at the time of this posting, Norman Osborn will be introduced at some point during"Spider-Man: Far From Home." It seems like a no-brainer to introduce Osborn into the MCU via the Spider-Man franchise since he has spent most of his comic book existence as web-slinger's archnemesis. Any MCU portrayal of Osborn should be a mover and a shaker in the city of New York, well connected in the technology industry as the head of Oscorp and possibly even the new owner of Stark/Avengers tower at the end of "Spider-Man: Homecoming." Osborn should also be a strategic planner with a great deal of influence in the federal government through military contracts and relationships with elected officials, making him a powerful threat on both the criminal and legal fronts. Ideally, his MCU story arc would include using his company’s resources to develop weapons technology and transgenics, and using that research to outfit lesser villains before finally becoming the iconic Green Goblin.
In terms of look, the role needs someone versatile, who is both business-like and physically aggressive, with the ability to bounce between calmly diabolical as a businessman and gleefully maniacal as the Green Goblin, complete with an intense stare and insane laugh.
Age: Somewhere in his 40's or 50's. He should be old enough to be convincing as the CEO of a billion dollar corporation but young enough to believably engage in physical fights with the likes of Spider-Man, Winter Soldier, and Falcon.
Powers/Abilities: Osborn is an average human in terms of powers and abilities, albeit incredibly wealthy and incredibly amoral. He is a gifted strategeist and manipulator, capable of organizing and coordinating teams of criminals and supervillains, while also commanding their allegiance. This is actually his rumored role in "Spider-Man: Far From Home," as the secret benefactor of the Sinister Six.
As the Green Goblin, he gains heightened physical strength and endurance, almost to the level of Captain America, but the formula also makes him mentally unstable and prone to maniacal rage. He has access to advanced weapons technology, such as explosives and flight systems, and can leverage government authority to achieve his plans legally. If you can picture an unhinged Nick Fury with Tony Stark’s resources, you have a good idea of the threat Osborn poses.
Fan-Cast Actors:
I think the ideal casting choice for Norman Osborn would be highly versatile: aloof and expressive, calm and manic.
Matthew McConaughey -- This is far and away my first choice for the role. It seems like he can be “alright, alright, alright” one minute, and in a bug-eyed rage the next. He is the epitome of cool, but can convey menace and charm with equal proficiency, sometimes in the same breath. He is also in the perfect age range, well built, and can cover every aspect of the character that I’ve described here.
Bryan Cranston -- Let me be clear: I want Heisenberg in the MCU one way or another. He is too good of an actor not to be. I think Norman Osborn might be the ideal role to accomplish that. Cranston is perhaps less physically imposing than other choices on this list, but he more than makes up for it on the “amoral businessman” side of things. A Cranston version of Norman Osborn might bypass the Green Goblin persona altogether and focus more on his ability to manipulate lesser villains to be his muscle, or else he would lean heavily into the government contracts and political influence, like the Sokovia Accords on steroids. But if he can’t be Norman Osborn, he’d be a top choice for the MCU’s eventual Max Eisenhardt/Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto.
Michael Fassbender -- Speaking of Magneto, the Fox versions of the X-characters are concluded with "Dark Phoenix" (thank the One Above All), so Michael Fassbender is officially available to join the MCU. Fassbender has most of the upside that McConaughey has, though not to the same magnitude. He might be better served in another role more suited to his acting style, possibly as Doctor Doom or even Reed Richards.
Alan Tudyk -- If Fassbender possesses a fraction of the buttoned-up menace of McConaughey, then Alan Tudyk possesses 110% of McConaughey’s mania. He has more than enough experience playing zany characters with a villainous streak (e.g., Turbo/King Candy in "Wreck-It Ralph," Eric Morden/Mr. Nobody in Doom Patrol), and he would undoubtedly be a memorable Green Goblin.
David Morrissey -- Morrisey is a choice in the same vein as Cranston, but slightly more physically imposing and younger. He would be believable in direct confrontations with Spider-Man (or any other MCU hero), but he would absolutely excel in the more cerebral, chessmaster-like aspects of Osborn’s character, especially if he used his natural British accent or his faux-Southern accent (see: The Walking Dead. He has a naturally commanding presence, and would be very believable as an industrialist with both high-level government contacts and ties to organized crime.
BLADE
Long before the birth of the MCU with 2008’s "Iron Man," there were a handful of worthy Marvel film adaptations that fell victim to diminished returns with sequels. For example, the original X-Men franchise that introduced Hugh Jackman's Wolverine ultimately went off the rails with the disaster that was "X-Men: The Last Stand" (honestly, the only thing that film got right was casting Kelsey Grammer as Hank McCoy/Beast). When weighed in full, the best pre-MCU Marvel franchise was probably the Blade trilogy, whose worst installment, "Blade: Trinity," still had a number of redeeming points.
Wesley Snipes set the bar pretty high for any potential successors in the MCU, but there are still a few good options. Thanks to the success of "Spider-Man: Homecoming," Sony’s MCU-adjacent Marvel Universe is set to release a film featuring Morbius, a famous Spider-Man character and...wait for it...a vampire. It seems logical, therefore, that once vampirism has been introduced, Marvel’s most famous vampire hunter shouldn’t be far behind.
In the Comics:
Eric Brooks/Blade’s mother was bitten and killed during childbirth by a vampire posing as a doctor. Certain vampiric enzymes made their way into his infant bloodstream, giving him the enhanced senses, strength, speed, stamina, and agility of a true vampire, but without the weaknesses, such as deadly sensitivity to sunlight. It also, understandably, led to his lifelong hatred of vampires. Blade possesses an accelerated healing factor and disease immunity, though not as developed as Wolverine’s and Deadpool’s, and he ages at a much slower rate than a regular human being, again similar to Wolverine or Captain America.
What he might look like in the MCU:
Origin: Blade presence in either the MCU or Sony’s Marvel Universe necessitates addressing the origin of vampirism. The two most likely sources are magical energy (possibly in the form of an ancient curse) and/or a biological cause such as a mutation or disease. It could also be some combination of those two (e.g., a supernatural disease or a biological consequence of harnessing powers beyond your control). The facts and history in favor of a mystical origin for vampirism in the MCU:
Stephen Strange and Jonathan Pangborn harness mystical power to cure or circumvent their physical limitations (nerve-damaged hands and paralysis, respectively). This is proof of magic being able to interact with human physiology.
Dormammu used mystical dark energies to physically transform Kaecilius and his followers into Mindless Ones at the end of "Doctor Strange" before taking them back to the Dark Dimension to serve him. This is proof of magic being able to fundamentally change a person’s physical body.
In all MCU movies including Doctor Strange, a number of mystical artifacts are name-dropped without giving specific details about what they do. This leaves open the possibility of some such object causing the conditions for vampirism.
In Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., the Darkhold is an ancient book made of dark matter from the same dimension as Ghost Rider's Spirit of Vengeance. In the comics it was the ultimate origin of vampires, as a group of ancient Atlantean sorcerers used the book of spells to raise the bodies of enemy soldiers with the goal of creating an invincible army of undead warriors. When these revenants turned and killed their would-be masters, the lone survivor, Varnae, used the same spell on himself, making him the first master vampire in history. He reigned as the undisputed leader of all vampires for millennia until passing that authority to Dracula.
As for the facts and history in favor of a biological/mutation-based origin of vampirism, the Fox deal has allowed the X-characters to return to Marvel Studios, and with that the ability to use words like “mutation” and “mutant” instead of the current “enhanced” terminology. The mutations that produce the X-Men have numerous varied biological effects, granting diverse abilities.
Given that the MCU has typically favored a technological or scientific basis for most mystical occurrences, it makes sense that vampirism would follow the same trend and be lumped together with genetic mutations that produce superhuman abilities. Either way, there is precedent to justify both options.
Since Blade is typically more of an auxiliary character than a standalone headliner, it might make sense to introduce him as a wildcard or renegade antihero that interferes with the main hero’s ability to defeat and capture a villain. He typically works alone or in temporary partnerships, so the character might need to be used sparingly at the beginning to allow for character development. Whichever way they choose to introduce him, it's essential he have his trademark black leather trench coat sunglasses.
Age: It's tempting to skew younger, because of the whole “ageless” aspect of Blade’s physiology, but it would be just as appropriate to have a spry & believable older actor, perhaps with a reveal that he was born in the 1800's or something similar. Wesley Snipes has made it known that he would like to reprise his role, and if he’s still able to meet the physical demands I see no problem letting him return. If not as Blade, he would be a very cool Whistler.
Powers/Abilities: Due to the highly unusual circumstances of his birth, Blade essentially has all of the benefits of being a vampire without and of the drawbacks. He has superhuman strength, stamina, speed, and reflexes, and his senses are heightened to the point that he knows when vampires are in his vicinity. He ages at a much slower rate than a normal human, thanks in part to his accelerated healing factor. Blade, true to his name, is also an exceptional swordsman and a skilled martial artist.
Fan-Cast Actors:
My top qualification for anyone to correctly portray Blade is that they be able to convey intensity without speaking. Blade is notoriously no-nonsense, and no-banter. He shows up, does the job, and leaves without saying goodbye. With that mandatory qualification in mind, here are some actors who would be a great fit:
Mustafa Shakir -- “Dem call me”...Blade? As Bushmaster from Luke Cage, Shakir did what some might have considered impossible: he was a physical match for Luke Cage. His character bounced from outright villain to sympathetic antihero throughout the season, and the viewer saw that his hatred was born from the murder of his family. Those characteristics are very similar to the typical way Blade is portrayed in both the comics and previous films. Shakir has demonstrated he can embody the physicality and emotional depth of a complicated character like Blade.
Mahershala Ali -- Not to harp on the Luke Cage cast, but there is too much talent there to not see some of the actors brought into the MCU proper (since Marvel seems inexplicably determined to keep Daredevil, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and Iron Fist off the silver screen). Ali’s Cottonmouth was a formidable antagonist for the first season, though in keeping with his character he veered more toward manipulation and coercion than direct physical confrontation. That said, Ali is more than capable of achieving the necessary physicality to slay vampires.
Robert Diggs -- You know him as RZA from the Wu-Tang Clan. He was Blind Master, the teacher of both Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow, in "G.I. Joe: Retaliation," and the titular protagonist of "The Man With the Iron Fists," so he wouldn’t have trouble with the martial arts aspect of Blade’s persona. Plus, he has a pre-existing connection to the former Blade films as a producer on the Blade: Trinity soundtrack.
Honorable Mentions: Jamie Foxx, John Boyega
THE MANDARIN
The Mandarin has been teased since "Iron Man," the very beginning of the MCU. The terrorist group that kidnaps Tony Stark was known as the Ten Rings, which comic book aficionados know to be a reference to the Mandarin, who uses 10 mystically powered rings to gain various elemental superpowers. In "Iron Man 3," the tease appeared to be paid off, but the writers pulled a double bluff by revealing A) the supposed Mandarin was just a paid, though unwitting, actor reciting his lines from a script, and B) the “real” Mandarin was (surprise!) a dragon-tattooed, Extremis-enhanced Aldrich Killian. This was widely criticized, and the identity of the Mandarin was almost immediately retconned with a Marvel One-Shot All Hail the King, in which the actor pretending to be the Mandarin, now behind bars, is interviewed by documentary filmmakers. In the course of their interview, they eventually reveal themselves to be members of the Ten Rings terrorist group, having infiltrated the prison solely in order to break him out to meet the *real* Mandarin.
In the Comics:
The man known as the Mandarin was said to have been born in pre-revolutionary China to a Chinese father (himself a descendant of Genghis Khan) and an English mother. He has
consistently been portrayed as a megalomaniac and would-be world conqueror, albeit one with a very strong sense of personal honor. As a child, his family’s financial resources are exhausted to train him in science and martial arts, and his ancestral home is confiscated by the government when he is unable to pay the proper taxes.
In his subsequent wanderings seeking revenge on the government that made him homeless, he discovers an ancient alien spacecraft hidden in a forbidden valley. Over the course of several years, he masters the alien technology and discovers how to use the ten rings that power the vessel. From there, he harnesses his new knowledge to subjugate nearby villages and achieve a level of power the Chinese government refused to challenge. The Mandarin’s continual pursuit of more advanced technology to further his global ambitions brings him into conflict with Tony Stark, as he frequently attempts to steal and reverse engineer Stark Industries weaponry. From that point on, Iron Man becomes his primary obstacle to achieving world domination.
What he might look like in the MCU:
Origin: The MCU has already provided certain information regarding the character; we know he leads the fanatical terrorist organization called the Ten Rings and we know he is aware of international events, with his henchmen abducting the actor pretending to be him. However, there is still room for speculation regarding where he comes from, what his motivations are, and how he fits into the larger picture of the MCU.
First, let’s get this out in the open: in the comics, the Mandarin is of Chinese decent. The term “mandarin” is derived from a Sanskit word (by way of Malay and Portuguese) that means “counselor” or “minister,” and it was originally applied to officials in the government of various Chinese dynasties, namely the Ming and Qing. This would strongly suggest (at least to me) that the Mandarin should be portrayed by an actor of Asian descent, preferably Chinese.
In "Iron Man" it's implied that the Afghani group that kidnapped Tony Stark was Islamic in nature, but they could very well be just one regional branch of the Mandarin's death cult, similar to Ra’s al-Ghul’s League of Shadows/Assassins in the DC comics universe. The group seemed comfortable working with Obadiah Stane and also wanted access to the latest Stark technologies, forcing Tony to personally build them while he was their prisoner, This M.O. is completely consistent with the source material from the comics.
As for the Ten Rings themselves, it will be interesting to see whether the organization is all there is, or if there are also literal rings that the Mandarin uses to maintain continued loyalty. If there are actual rings (which is preferable, even if they seem like a retread of the Infinity Gauntlet), then their origin and powers need to be defined. The most plausible explanations for their existence are that: A) they are ancient mystical artifacts that have been lost by the worldwide network of sanctums that protect the Earth from magical threats, or B) they are alien technology (as in the comics). In the latter scenario, it could easily be Skrull or Kree technology, as they have been previously introduced in the MCU as having a strong interest in Earth for millennia. It could even be Asgardian in origin, which could bring Thor into the mix.
Age: The Mandarin could feasibly be any age, given the appropriate backstory and explanation. He could be portrayed as a young man with the in-story explanation that he has been prevented from aging due to the rings or some other alien technology, or he could just as easily be portrayed as an older man (picture an evil Pai Mei from Kill Bill Vol. 2) who primarily relies on henchmen instead of fighting for himself.
Powers/Abilities: Each one of the ten rings one grants the Mandarin control over a particular elemental force or energy. For example, one ring emits powerful bolts of electricity, another grants psychic control over others, and another can create intense wind vortices like tornadoes. Beyond the rings, however, the Mandarin is a scientific genius on par with Tony Stark, has a natural gift for strategy, and possesses near-superhuman mastery of various martial arts. Like many of Marvel’s iconic villains, he is multi-faceted in the threat he poses to the world. If you took Sun Tzu’s strategic genius, put it in Bruce Lee’s body, and gave him an extensive array of quasi-magical powers, you’d have a fairly accurate picture of the Mandarin.
Fan-Cast Actors:
In considering who could best embody the complexity of the Mandarin, I did an exhaustive review of similar characters from other films, I settled on a few names:
Ben Kingsley -- Haha, just kidding...sort of. I was very excited at the prospect of Kingsley portraying the Mandarin in "Iron Man 3." Everything seemed to be spot-on in the trailers, minus the ethnicity. While it was mildly annoying that he ended up being a head-fake for Aldrich Killian’s villainy, I accepted it as a viable way to tell the story in a fresh way. Still, it might be interesting to have a body double situation, where the unwitting actor Trevor Slattery is a dead ringer for the real Mandarin.
Donnie Yen -- Yen is invariably my first choice when a role requires someone with quiet intensity, who can convey a range of emotions solely with his eyes. He was terrific in the "Ip Man" franchise, and I think the Mandarin could be written with a comparable backstory. Yen also has the advantage of being both physically threatening a la direct combat and dangerous as a more intellectual foe, commanding legions of loyal troops to do his bidding without question.
Jackie Chan -- This would be playing against type, but if done well, I think Jackie Chan might be my favorite option for the role. He would be an older version of Mandarin, but Chan still has the physical prowess of a much younger man in addition to a level of martial arts mastery that is practically unmatched. He would also do his own stunts, and the inevitable Marvel outtake reel would be solid gold.
Steven Yeun -- I almost feel guilty saying this, but despite his versatility as an actor, Yeun is probably too young for this role, unless the writers include a point about the rings halting his aging. Nevertheless, I think he could give a very complete rendition of the character, and would definitely fit into an MCU that seems to be moving in a younger direction with its heroes. He could be a formidable Mandarin, provided no one shows up with a leather jacket and a barbed wire-wrapped baseball bat.
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