# Single best casting choice for a comic book character in film **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** comic-books-manga\ **Created:** [April 28, 2014, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-best-casting-choice-for-a-comic-book-character-in-film/687206 "2014-04-28T19:20:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-best-casting-choice-for-a-comic-book-character-in-film/687206/81 "2014-04-30T18:49:25Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > I’m willing to accept Hugh Jackman as Wolverine because he does a terrific job with it, but the character in the comics isn’t that tall, so he loses points. Too tall and too handsome to match the comic book character, but I agree he does a great job with it. ---
**Author:** ![SirGalahad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/71c47a/32.png) [@SirGalahad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirGalahad)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-best-casting-choice-for-a-comic-book-character-in-film/687206/82 "2014-04-30T19:14:49Z")
Steve Reeves (1926-2000), a bodybuider, had about the perfect physique for nearly any powerfully built superhero: Superman, Batman, Capt. America, Thor. [http://www.jeffhowefitness.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=138622512](http://www.jeffhowefitness.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=138622512) I’m surprised Manu Bennet isn’t getting cast as a superhero (he would have been a much better Conan than Jason Momoa). ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-best-casting-choice-for-a-comic-book-character-in-film/687206/83 "2014-04-30T19:40:18Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk. “…I’m always angry.” Makes the whole performance. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-best-casting-choice-for-a-comic-book-character-in-film/687206/84 "2014-04-30T19:41:59Z")
> [@SirGalahad](#): > > I’m surprised Manu Bennet isn’t getting cast as a superhero (he would have been a much better Conan than Jason Momoa). The accent’s a problem. But otherwise, I think he’d be deadly in a number of roles. As I said in another thread, if they need a younger Dr. Henry Jones Sr. for any forthcoming Indy flick, he could step into the role, slurred consonants and all. ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-best-casting-choice-for-a-comic-book-character-in-film/687206/85 "2014-04-30T19:53:29Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > No dude who’s “built like a bodybuilder” could pass as a “mild-mannered reporter”. Reeve was right at the happy medium where he could pass as beefy or scrawny, either one, by his mannerisms. I gotta second this – and I’m not much of a comic book fan and for what little enthusiasm I have I don’t appreciate DC’s line much (Vertigo is another matter\*). But the premise of Superman is that his powers are based on the radiation from our yellow sun (as opposed to whatever Krypton’s local sun was before it exploded). Therefore, Superman doesn’t need to be a muscle-bound guy, and his disguise as a human should be even less muscle-bound so he won’t attract attention/suspicion. Either of the Reeves (no relation, by the way) fit that bill. There’s a recent article in Entertainment Weekly that shows the changes in muscle-portrayal over the years. It seems relevant to this discussion, at least, though not necessarily to the whole thread. —G! I won’t lie I wish that I Could be your Superman tonight …–Jon Bon Jovi (Bon Jovi) …_Superman Tonight_ …The Circle ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-best-casting-choice-for-a-comic-book-character-in-film/687206/86 "2014-04-30T20:44:07Z")
> [@tim314](#): > > J. K. Simmons is a great choice. I felt like the writers really got the character, too. I especially loved the scene in the first movie where he lies to Green Goblin and says he doesn’t know who takes the Spider-man pictures. Jameson is a jerk, but he’s a jerk with guts and a moral compass. The only other person I could have seen as JJJ was [Dabney Coleman](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001056/?ref_=nv_sr_2). ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2022, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-best-casting-choice-for-a-comic-book-character-in-film/687206/87 "2022-01-02T00:16:52Z")
I know I’m bumping an old topic, but I was thinking about doing a topic like this and found this one as I was typing the topic. Also because the old thread predated the Doctor Strange movie and I think that Cumberbatch might be a good contender. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2022, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-best-casting-choice-for-a-comic-book-character-in-film/687206/88 "2022-01-02T01:00:37Z")
> [@Cuckoorex](#): > > In a strange twist, I think Ryan Reynolds was a perfect choice for Wade Wilson/Deadpool, but the character itself got butchered beyond recognition in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Too bad. He had the athletic physique, can pull off the serious, intense look, and still has good comedic delivery and timing. Yeah. They should give him a retry! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2022, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-best-casting-choice-for-a-comic-book-character-in-film/687206/89 "2022-01-02T01:30:08Z")
I think this thread also predates Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2022, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-best-casting-choice-for-a-comic-book-character-in-film/687206/90 "2022-01-02T01:52:38Z")
Interesting. I thought that she would be about 300th on a list of people who were right for the part. Oddly, while I’ve never seen any of the movies I saw Henry Cavill on a talk show recently and I’d believe him as Superman or any other superhero. ---
**Author:** ![Tabco](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tabco/32/7644_2.png) [@Tabco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabco)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2022, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-best-casting-choice-for-a-comic-book-character-in-film/687206/91 "2022-01-02T02:05:08Z")
Maybe Mickey Rourke as Marv from _Sin City_. Although that might just be good makeup. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2022, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-best-casting-choice-for-a-comic-book-character-in-film/687206/92 "2022-01-02T17:16:27Z")
Though she is often let down by the material, Melissa Benoist pretty much nails Supergirl. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2022, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-best-casting-choice-for-a-comic-book-character-in-film/687206/93 "2022-01-02T17:23:08Z")
Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool tops everyone except JK Simmons. Who got to reprise the role since the original thread. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2022, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-best-casting-choice-for-a-comic-book-character-in-film/687206/94 "2022-01-02T17:24:14Z")
> Melissa Benoist pretty much nails Supergirl. There was a crossover where The Flash ended up in Supergirl’s dimension. Someone here called them “adorkable”. Oh, almost forgot Jessica Jones and Matt Murdock. I miss the Netflix Marvel shows. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-best-casting-choice-for-a-comic-book-character-in-film/687206/95 "2022-01-03T05:19:08Z")
I would agree with others with Christopher Reeve’s gave the best performance as _Clark Kent_. None of the actors who played Superman did as much as Reeve to differentiate between Clark Kent and Superman, ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-best-casting-choice-for-a-comic-book-character-in-film/687206/96 "2022-01-03T05:24:57Z")
I think Hugh Jackman’s outstanding performance as Wolverine in _Logan_ overrode any of the critiques I had of his casting before it came out. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-best-casting-choice-for-a-comic-book-character-in-film/687206/97 "2022-01-03T06:36:58Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > I would agree with others with Christopher Reeve’s gave the best performance as _Clark Kent_. None of the actors who played Superman did as much as Reeve to differentiate between Clark Kent and Superman, While Reeve is fine, George Reeves made a better Clark Kent. He also did a great job differentiating. His Clark was smart and with a great sense of humor, where his Superman played it completely straight. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-best-casting-choice-for-a-comic-book-character-in-film/687206.md?page=4)