# What older, award winning actor has NOT been tapped up for a super-hero film? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 22, 2017, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-older-award-winning-actor-has-not-been-tapped-up-for-a-super-hero-film/796932 "2017-09-22T02:46:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-older-award-winning-actor-has-not-been-tapped-up-for-a-super-hero-film/796932/1 "2017-09-22T02:46:19Z")
Usually to play the role of the villain or guy behind the scenes or the mentor. It’s a fairly rote formula actually. Keep in mind i haven’t seen all these films. So if a role is a bit off… Jeff Bridges William Hurt Michael Douglas Robert Redford Ben Kingsley Mickey Rourke Anthony Hopkins Kevin Costner Kurt Russell Michael Keaton Jeff Goldblum Eliot Gould did the Oceans movies. They may as well be super-hero movies. Glenn Close made an appearance So who is left? I don’t see Eastwood doing it. Chris Walken i can see. Nicholson? (I know hes done it already) Geena Davis…James Brolin. Is Sam Watterson still around? Dustin Hoffman… ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-older-award-winning-actor-has-not-been-tapped-up-for-a-super-hero-film/796932/2 "2017-09-22T02:54:29Z")
To your list of those who _have_ been tapped, you can add: - Patrick Stewart (Professor X) - Ian McKellen (Magneto) - Morgan Freeman (Lucius Fox in the Batman films) - Michael Caine (Alfred in those same films) ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-older-award-winning-actor-has-not-been-tapped-up-for-a-super-hero-film/796932/3 "2017-09-22T03:02:41Z")
Sub-question: I find it hard to believe no one has asked Spielberg to direct one. The guy who produced Amazing Stories certainly can’t think he’s above it. That’s not a slam on him, it just seems like something he’d be good at and interested in. SO…if you could give him any property that hasn’t been done yet, what would it be? Has to be bright and iconic and probably optimistic…so I’d give him Justice Society. I think that’s the only unproduced property left that seems like a good fit for him. or its marvel equiv, but groups like The Invaders arn’t near as well known. Not that Justice Society is exactly that well known. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-older-award-winning-actor-has-not-been-tapped-up-for-a-super-hero-film/796932/4 "2017-09-22T03:03:40Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Chris Walken i can see. Nicholson? (I know hes done it already) Walken did it right after Nicholson. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-older-award-winning-actor-has-not-been-tapped-up-for-a-super-hero-film/796932/5 "2017-09-22T03:05:55Z")
Paul Scofield? Kirk Douglas? By the way, Douglas will be 101 in December! Scofield passed away in 2008. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-older-award-winning-actor-has-not-been-tapped-up-for-a-super-hero-film/796932/6 "2017-09-22T03:19:25Z")
Thinking about living Oscar winners who haven’t, and who probably won’t: Daniel Day-Lewis Meryl Streep (though she’s done some less-than-serious roles, and I could see her taking on a role if it intrigued her) Sean Penn Al Pacino Helen Mirren was in RED, which, while not a superhero film per se, was based on a comic book series. Judi Dench hasn’t done a superhero film, but she’s been in a bunch of Bond films, as well as “Chronicles of Riddick,” so I could picture her doing one. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-older-award-winning-actor-has-not-been-tapped-up-for-a-super-hero-film/796932/7 "2017-09-22T03:56:56Z")
Jeremy Irons has been playing Alfred the butler. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-older-award-winning-actor-has-not-been-tapped-up-for-a-super-hero-film/796932/8 "2017-09-22T04:00:24Z")
I’m surprised Robert de Niro hasn’t done a superhero movie (I’m not counting Rocky and Bullwinkle as a superhero movie). He’s got the Oscar credibility. And let’s face facts, he’s taken roles a lot worse than supervillian (now I’m counting Rocky and Bullwinkle). ---
**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:** [September 22, 2017, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-older-award-winning-actor-has-not-been-tapped-up-for-a-super-hero-film/796932/9 "2017-09-22T04:03:40Z")
Sean Penn would be awesome as a Spidey villain. Can’t decide which one, but he’d be awesome. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-older-award-winning-actor-has-not-been-tapped-up-for-a-super-hero-film/796932/10 "2017-09-22T04:03:40Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Al Pacino > > Helen Mirren was in RED, which, while not a superhero film per se, was based on a comic book series. Pacino – along with Dustin Hoffman, who got mentioned upthread – arguably counts thanks to DICK TRACY. (Hell, _everybody_ was in that one: Warren Beatty, of course; but also James Caan, Mandy Patinkin, Dick Van Dyke, Kathy Bates…) ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-older-award-winning-actor-has-not-been-tapped-up-for-a-super-hero-film/796932/11 "2017-09-22T04:09:36Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’m surprised Robert de Niro hasn’t done a superhero movie (I’m not counting Rocky and Bullwinkle as a superhero movie). He’s got the Oscar credibility. And let’s face facts, he’s taken roles a lot worse than supervillian (now I’m counting Rocky and Bullwinkle). I have a hard time seeing him do anything other than say his Brazil character. Swing in, wink and away he goes. Let me think about it. What shady, older head of agency roles haven’t been filled? Guess he could play the rebooted Uncle Ben. He wasn’t in Homecoming was he? Could be Alpha Flight’s nemesis Jerry Jaxon but really that’s just a retooled Iron Monger kind of. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-older-award-winning-actor-has-not-been-tapped-up-for-a-super-hero-film/796932/12 "2017-09-22T04:13:03Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > I have a hard time seeing him do anything other than say his Brazil character. Swing in, wink and away he goes. Let me think about it. What shady, older head of agency roles haven’t been filled? Silvio Manfredi? ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-older-award-winning-actor-has-not-been-tapped-up-for-a-super-hero-film/796932/13 "2017-09-22T04:14:22Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > Sean Penn would be awesome as a Spidey villain. Can’t decide which one, but he’d be awesome. Not a villain but he could be Phil Sheldon from Marvels. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-older-award-winning-actor-has-not-been-tapped-up-for-a-super-hero-film/796932/14 "2017-09-22T04:24:41Z")
Chris Cooper John Goodman Steve Buscemi William H Macy Don Johnson (actually _Boy and His Dog_…aaaa forget it) I’m sure a great way to revive the career of the much-maligned Mr. Busey is cast him in a role where he’s, well, Busey-like, and then during a pcp-addled tear through town he falls into a dumpster and re-emerges as: SUPER REALLY FRAZZLED MOUTH-FROTHING BANZAI JUGGERNAUT OF HEP C CONGRATULATORY GOODNESS. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-older-award-winning-actor-has-not-been-tapped-up-for-a-super-hero-film/796932/15 "2017-09-22T04:54:47Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > Sean Penn would be awesome as a Spidey villain. Can’t decide which one, but he’d be awesome. He’d be perfect as Hank Pym ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-older-award-winning-actor-has-not-been-tapped-up-for-a-super-hero-film/796932/16 "2017-09-22T05:17:12Z")
> [@Eddie The Horrible](#): > > William H Macy He was awesome as The Shoveler in “Mystery Men.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-older-award-winning-actor-has-not-been-tapped-up-for-a-super-hero-film/796932/17 "2017-09-22T05:21:27Z")
> [@Eddie The Horrible](#): > > Chris Cooper Did one of the Andrew Garfield SPIDER-MAN flicks. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-older-award-winning-actor-has-not-been-tapped-up-for-a-super-hero-film/796932/18 "2017-09-22T05:37:39Z")
Gene Hackman, although he appears to be retired now. > [@Eddie The Horrible](#): > > William H Macy > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > He was awesome as The Shoveler in “Mystery Men.” 🙂 Okay then, Felicity Huffman. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-older-award-winning-actor-has-not-been-tapped-up-for-a-super-hero-film/796932/19 "2017-09-22T06:07:18Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Gene Hackman, although he appears to be retired now. Hackman was Lex Luthor in three of Christopher Reeve’s Superman films (I, II, and IV). ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-older-award-winning-actor-has-not-been-tapped-up-for-a-super-hero-film/796932/20 "2017-09-22T06:57:23Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Guess he could play the rebooted Uncle Ben. He wasn’t in Homecoming was he? Robert De Niro married to Marisa Tomei? Ew. More likely it would be George Clooney. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-older-award-winning-actor-has-not-been-tapped-up-for-a-super-hero-film/796932.md?page=2)