It’s not uncommon for an actor to play more than one comic book character role. Sometimes that means they’re starring in a DC movie for the first time before switching sides for the Marvel movies (and vice versa) or appearing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe years after playing an entirely different Marvel Comics character. in a film that predates the creation of the shared universe.
However, what if I told you that there are also many cases of actors who have doubled in the MCU? Although the timeline of Marvel movies is usually pretty tight, there are a surprising number of times the same actor has played more than one character in the same interconnected franchise and the following are just 12 examples of those movie characters. Marvel – starting with one you might have already known.
Sean Gunn – Rocket Raccoon, Kraglin (Guardians of the Galaxy Movies, Avengers: Endgame, Thor: Love And Thunder)
Guardians of the Galaxy furry weapons expert Rocket Raccoon is a role shared between Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper who lends his voice to the Boston accent and director James Gunn’s brother Sean Gunn, who plays the mo-cap on the set. Gunn also appeared “by his side” three times as the former Ravager, Kraglin.
Laura Haddock – Autograph Seeker (Captain America: The First Avenger), Meredith Quill (Guardians of the Galaxy Movies)
Speaking of guardians of the galaxy stars, most fans will likely recognize British actress Laura Haddock as Peter Quill’s mother, Meredith, in the cold, open flashbacks of the first film and its sequel. However, the Downton Abbey: A New Era The MCU actor’s tenure actually dates back to 2011 Captain America: The First Avenger, in which she plays a 1940s woman affectionately approaching Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) for an autograph.
Kenneth Choi – Jim Morita (Captain America: The First Avenger), Principal Morita (Spider-Man: Homecoming)
Speaking of Captain America: The First Avenger stars, Private Jim Morita – Steve Rogers’ Japanese-American teammate in the Howliing Commandos – was played by Kenneth Choi. The actor (who is also part of the DC Extended Universe as Yakuza Boss in suicide squad) will appear later in Spider-Man: Homecoming as Morita’s grandson, who also happens to be Peter Parker’s (Tom Holland) high school principal.
Benedict Cumberbatch – Doctor Strange, Dormammu (Doctor Strange)
Here’s another interesting example of a Marvel actor appearing as two different characters in the same movie. Benedict Cumberbatch debuted as former Sorcerer Supreme Stephen Strange in 2016 strange doctor, in which he also provided the voice of the Dark Dimension’s ruler, Dormammu. Talk about being your own worst enemy.
Clancy Brown – Ray Schoonover (Daredevil, The Punisher), Surtur (Thor: Ragnarok)
Another actor who gave a memorable performance in a Marvel movie as a giant CGI villain is Clancy Brown, who was the voice of the fire demon, Surtur, in 2017. Thor: Ragnarok. That same year, the Sponge Bob SquarePants star (also famous for voicing Superman’s nemesis Lex Luthor in numerous DC animated titles) would resume his daredevil role of Major Schoovover in the short-lived spin-off, The Punisher.
Patton Oswalt – The Koenig Brothers (Agents Of SHIELD), Pip The Troll (Eternals)
Comedian Patton Oswalt has lent his distinct voice to many, many comic book characters, including a troll named Pip in the mid-credits scene of Eternals in 2021. Before that, he would appear in several episodes of Agents of SHIELD as four different characters: identical quintuplets Sam, Eric, Billy, and Thurston Koenig, making him the current record holder for most MCU-canon characters portrayed by a single person.
Enver Gjokaj – Young Cop (Avengers), Daniel Sousa (Agent Carter, Agents of SHIELD)
An example of an actor who debuted in the MCU with something small before reappearing with something much bigger is Enver Gjokaj. He played an anonymous police officer in the years 2012 The Avengers before playing Agent Carter and the last season of Agents of SHIELD as World War II soldier-turned-strategic operative Daniel Sousa.
Gemma Chan – Minn-Erva (Captain Marvel), Sersi (Eternals)
Outside of those who have played two characters in the same film, English actor Gemma Chan has one of the smallest windows of time between her first MCU character and her second. In 2019, she wore blue makeup to play Imperial Kree warrior Minn-Erva in Captain Marvel and, literally the same year, was announced as part of the Eternals cast in the role of Sersi.
Alfre Woodard – Miriam Sharpe (Captain America: Civil War), Black Mariah (Luke Cage)
Someone who can top Gemma Chan’s record for the time between her characters’ official appearances is Oscar nominee Alfre Woodard, who appeared in a memorable 2016 scene. Captain America: Civil War, opposite Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark as Miriam Sharpe – a woman mourning the unseen death of her son in the final act of Avengers: Age of Ultron. That same year, a few months later, she made her debut on Luke Cage as Mariah “Black Mariah” Dillard, whose cousin is Harlem crime boss Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes.
Mahershala Ali – Cottonmouth (Luke Cage), Blade (Eternals)
Speaking of Cottonmouth, the crime boss on Luke Cage would only be the beginning of Mahershala Ali’s legacy in the MCU. While the new take on the two-time Oscar-winning vampire hunter Blade has yet to be seen, he debuted the character in a voice cameo by Eternals‘ post-credits scene.
Chris Hemsworth – Thor, one of the three heads of Hajo (Thor: Ragnarok)
It’s hard to imagine a Marvel character better suited to Chris Hemsworth than the God of Thunder, but believe it or not, the title hero of Thor: Ragnarok isn’t his only role in the fun 2017 blockbuster. Only eagle-eyed fans noticed that the Aussie actor also played one of the three heads of Hajo – a gladiator from Sakaar who tried to help save Asgard from Hela (Cate Blanchett).
Taika Waititi – Korg, one of the Three Heads of Hajo (Thor: Ragnarok)
In fact, Chris Hemsworth isn’t the only well-known star of Thor: Ragnarok share the role of Hajo. The film’s own director, Taika Waititi, also appeared as one of the Gladiator’s three leads, in addition to providing the voice of fan-favorite rock-skinned alien Korg, and in the same setting as well!
I don’t know if there is or could be a weirder example of the MCU’s double-dipping phenomenon than these last two. However, I would like to see a challenger take over one day. Of course, given that the franchise is now in a stage known as “The Multiverse Saga”, it seems like a distinct possibility.