Despite auditioning for the role of a superhero, several actors ended up playing the movie’s villain. In the world of superhero cinema, actors often chase the dream of portraying the heroic lead in a Marvel or DC franchise. Yet some were redirected into the darker, more compelling role of the villain.
From the MCU timeline to the DC Universe, the actors featured here originally aimed for heroic roles. However, they instead delivered some of the most iconic villainous performances in the same movie or its sequels. These casting curves not only alter the trajectory of characters but can define an actor’s career in surprising ways.
What’s especially fascinating is how often these “wrong turns” end up becoming the right decision, both for the actor and the story. The characters they wound up playing usually became scene-stealers. These examples often prove that sometimes the villain truly outshines the hero.
Tom Hiddleston
Tom Hiddleston initially auditioned to play Thor in the 2011 Marvel Studios film. However, Kenneth Branagh and Marvel saw something different in him. Branagh, who had previously worked with Hiddleston on Ivanov and Wallander, believed that Hiddleston’s temperament suited the more subtly dangerous charm of Loki rather than the god of thunder himself.
The heroic lead went to Chris Hemsworth, while Hiddleston was offered the role of Thor’s adoptive brother and villainous foil. Hiddleston later noted, “I never auditioned for Loki. I only ever auditioned for Thor,” underscoring how castings can pivot in unexpected directions. The result was career-defining. His nuanced, layered portrayal turned Loki into one of the MCU’s breakout characters.
Loki boasted appearances across multiple films and even his own Disney+ series, spawning some of Marvel’s greatest television. It’s difficult now to imagine Marvel’s first decade without Loki’s mischievous presence. Without Hiddleston’s masterful performance, it’s unlikely that Loki would have had possibly the most compelling character arc in the whole MCU.
Cillian Murphy
Cillian Murphy initially auditioned for Bruce Wayne/Batman himself in Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins. Despite delivering a strong performance – including donning Val Kilmer’s Batsuit for the screen test – both Nolan and Murphy quickly recognized he wasn’t the right fit for the Caped Crusader. Warner Bros. executives felt the same, preferring someone more physically imposing.
However, Nolan was captivated by Murphy’s piercing eyes and unsettling calm. Rather than lose him, he offered him Dr. Jonathan Crane, aka Scarecrow – a villain who manipulates Gotham’s fears through toxins. The role turned into a trilogy-spanning performance, with Murphy appearing in Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises.
For Murphy, the shift wasn’t a disappointment. In interviews, he praised Nolan for recognizing his strengths as an actor. The casting also highlights Nolan’s knack for reshaping traditional superhero expectations by valuing nuance over stereotypes. Murphy’s Scarecrow is chillingly understated, unlike any comic-book villain audiences had seen before, making him the perfect way to introduce Nolan’s grounded, gritty Gotham.
Lee Pace
When casting Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel and James Gunn invited Lee Pace to audition for Peter Quill/Star-Lord, putting him in the contest alongside Joel Edgerton, Jim Sturgess, and Eddie Redmayne. Pace’s audition leaned toward gravitas, but Marvel ultimately wanted someone with more comedic energy. This is the main reason Chris Pratt landed the role.
Rather than let Pace go, Gunn cast him as Ronan the Accuser, a Kree fanatic whose unyielding beliefs made him a terrifying antagonist. While Ronan was criticized for being underdeveloped, Pace’s commanding physicality gave the villain a genuine sense of menace. Pace later reprised Ronan in Captain Marvel, which gave him more screen time to develop more effectively.
Had Pace landed Star-Lord, Pace’s career might have taken a very different turn. Instead, his villainous performance allowed the Guardians’ humor and chaos to shine by contrast. Gunn has since suggested that even smaller villains can elevate heroes – and Pace exemplified that perfectly.
Sam Rockwell
Sam Rockwell was a genuine contender to play Tony Stark/Iron Man in the MCU’s Iron Man. Of course, when Robert Downey Jr. auditioned, his balance of arrogance and vulnerability made him impossible to top. Still, director Jon Favreau liked Rockwell’s energy and kept him in mind. That foresight paid off in Iron Man 2, where Rockwell returned as Justin Hammer.
Justin Hammer was Tony Stark’s smarmy corporate rival. Sam Rockwell leaned into the sleazy, almost cartoonish qualities of Hammer, creating a memorable antagonist who wasn’t necessarily frightening but was always entertaining. His dance-filled entrance and awkward rivalry with Stark remain highlights of the film.
Although Hammer hasn’t returned in the MCU in a major capacity, Rockwell’s performance became a fan favorite. Marvel has teased the character’s survival in the MCU, meaning audiences may not have seen the last of him. Rockwell’s near miss at playing a superhero instead offered one of the MCU’s most quotable, quirky villains.
Nicholas Hoult
Nicholas Hoult auditioned for Clark Kent in James Gunn’s Superman but lost out to David Corenswet. Gunn, however, was impressed enough to offer Hoult the role of Lex Luthor, Superman’s most iconic enemy. Hoult admitted that while he initially wanted to play the hero, he realized that Lex’s cerebral menace fit his sensibilities better.
In interviews, Hoult revealed he sought advice from Michael Rosenbaum, the Smallville actor whose Lex became a fan favorite. Rosenbaum encouraged him to embrace the role’s complexity, noting that Superman is only as interesting as his villain. Hoult was energized by the challenge, joking that being the villain allows him to have more fun onscreen.
Hoult’s Lex proved to be complex and terrifying in equal measure. He managed to build upon the previous depictions, presenting a fully formed Lex, already with immense influence and a deep-rooted hatred for the hero. This is one of many reasons that Superman (2025) was the perfect step after Man of Steel.
Sebastian Stan
Sebastian Stan sent in audition tapes for Steve Rogers before testing in person for Captain America: The First Avenger. Although he was passionate about the part, Marvel sensed an underlying darkness that better suited him for the role of Bucky Barnes. Marvel ultimately chose Chris Evans for Rogers for his boy-next-door relatability.
By Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Stan transformed into the eponymous brainwashed Hydra assassin. He instantly became one of the MCU’s most tragic villains. His arc resonated so deeply with audiences that he returned in multiple sequels and eventually co-headlined The Falcon and the Winter Soldier series and appeared as part of the Thunderbolts team.
Stan himself later admitted he was glad he didn’t get Captain America, as Bucky gave him a richer, more layered trajectory. Sometimes the sidekick-turned-villain ends up with the more fascinating story.
Heath Ledger
Christopher Nolan once considered Heath Ledger for Batman in Batman Begins. Ledger met with Nolan to discuss the role but ultimately turned it down. After seeing Batman Begins, Ledger actively campaigned for the role of the Joker for The Dark Knight, cementing himself a place in cinematic history.
Ledger’s casting sparked controversy at the time, but his anarchic, terrifying take silenced doubters and became legendary. His performance redefined not just Batman’s rogues’ gallery but superhero villains in general. The role ultimately earned him a posthumous Academy Award. The irony is striking: had Ledger played Batman, audiences may never have experienced one of cinema’s most iconic Joker performances.
Ledger’s transformation into the Clown Prince of Crime is the ultimate proof that sometimes losing the hero role opens the door to greatness. Though he didn’t actively audition to play the Caped Crusader, it demonstrates the intriguing casting developments that can fundamentally change a superhero franchise.
