Numerous legendary actors were almost in Marvel movies, from early plans for Tom Cruise to star in Iron Man to recent instances like Daniel Craig nearly playing Thor’s other brother, Baldur, in Doctor Strange 2. It’s important to note, though, that those actors never actually got in front of a camera and shot any scenes for a Marvel film. But certain other big-name stars weren’t so lucky; they shot scenes for an MCU movie and were ultimately cut.
The MCU has an ever-ballooning cast of characters, and every new Marvel movie seems to be more ambitious than the last, so it’s maybe not surprising that some sequences have to be left on the cutting room floor lest every film last as long as Avengers: Endgame. Still, what is surprising is that the following actors, who are either major names in the business or fan-favorites from other MCU appearances, were still given the snub. Other franchises would pay hefty fees to get the following stars in their films, but Marvel was happy to snap its fingers and blip these Hollywood heavyweights off the screen.
12
William Sadler Did Not Get a Second Term as President Ellis
Deleted From — Ant-Man
Just as there have been three presidents across the MCU’s lifespan in the real-world, there have been three fictional presidents within the MCU as well. Before Harrison Ford’s President Ross was hulking out in Captain America: Brave New World and Dermot Mulroney’s President Ritson faced a Skrull incursion in Secret Invasion, William Sadler played President Matthew Ellis in Iron Man 3.
While this was his only silver-screen appearance in the role, Sadler did return as Ellis for three episodes of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and for the WHIH Newsfront web shorts (which are among the most forgotten MCU media at this point). The Bill & Ted actor has revealed he also shot a cameo for Ant-Man, however, which was ultimately removed from the film’s final cut. The specifics of this sequence have never been revealed, but Sadler confirmed it was comedic in nature, describing it as “pretty silly.”
11
Glenn Close’s Nova Prime Is Doomed to Be a One-and-Done Character
Deleted From — Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Glenn Close memorably joined the MCU as Nova Prime, the beehive-sporting chief of the Nova Corps, in Guardians of the Galaxy. That film positioned her as both an ally of the Guardians and a figure of authority in the cosmos, so it’s surprising that she has never returned to the franchise. This was not for lacking of trying, though, as Close shot a return as Nova Prime in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, but her role did not make it into the finished movie.
Though she was cut from Guardians 2, Close did return as Nova Prime for the Avengers Campus attraction at Disneyland Paris. In What If…?, meanwhile, the character is voiced by Julianne Grossman.
Unfortunately, missing out on the sequel meant that Close’s MCU career had to come to a premature end. In Avengers: Infinity War, it’s revealed that Thanos wiped out the Nova Corps, meaning Nova Prime was killed off-screen. Still, if Marvel’s long-gestating Nova project (probably a film) gets off the ground, Close could conceivably reprise Nova Prime via flashbacks to the Nova Corps at their, well, prime.
10
Nathan Fillion Almost Played Yet Another Marvel Role
Deleted From — Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Nathan Fillion has already appeared in a super-sized number of Marvel and DC projects, generally thanks to his long friendship with James Gunn, but he almost added another to his list in Guardians 2. Alongside Close, Fillion was also due to appear in the cosmic sequel, and his cameo would have had major repercussions for the future of the MCU if it had come to pass.
In a nutshell, the Superman star was all set to play the MCU’s Wonder Man. Fillion would not have appeared in the flesh, but a movie poster featuring him as actor Simon Williams was to be included in the background of a shot that ended up being excised from the final cut. Marvel is no doubt relieved about that, as if Fillion’s poster made it in, it would have precluded Yahya Abdul-Mateen II from going on to play the part in the Wonder Man TV show. Fans likely wouldn’t switch out that cult favorite of a series for anything, but it is fascinating to think of the universe out there where Fillion potentially offered his own stamp on the hero.
9
Katherine Langford Could Have Been Iron Man’s Daughter
Deleted From — Avengers: Endgame
Katherine Langford’s removal from Avengers: Endgame is perhaps the most infamous instance of an actor being cut from an MCU project, if only because Marvel has been so unusually transparent about it. The 13 Reasons Why and Knives Out actor was due to play an older version of Tony Stark’s daughter, Morgan, who appears to him via a vision in the Soul Realm when he uses the Infinity Gauntlet to sacrifice himself and defeat Thanos.
The intention was to allow Tony to see his daughter all grown-up before he died, but test audiences did not approve of the scene, feeling that Langford’s abrupt cameo took them out of the emotion of the moment. The Russo brothers gave in to these negative reactions and deleted her from the film. That said, Langford’s cameo can be viewed via Endgame‘s bonus content tab on Disney Plus, which suggests the studio is leaving the door open for her return at a later date – maybe as a member of the Young Avengers.
8
Lena Headey Was Cast Out of Asgard
Deleted From — Thor: Love and Thunder
Thor: Love and Thunder likely earns the gold star for the MCU movie with the most big-name actors left on the cutting room floor. While others might have chopped out one A-lister or maybe two, Taika Waititi’s second Thor outing removed cameos for no less than three major stars — namely, Game of Thrones duo Lena Headey and Peter Dinklage and the Grandmaster himself, Jeff Goldblum.
Headey would have appeared as one third of a trio of witches, alongside Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Angus Sampson, that Thor encounters in the underworld. Headey has described her character as “very, very funny” and “kind of insane,” but it seems the character was just a little too odd even for this very bonkers movie.
7
Peter Dinklage Didn’t Make It Into the Final Cut
Deleted From – Thor: Love and Thunder
Much like his Game of Thrones co-star Lena Headey, Peter Dinklage had also joined Thor: Love and Thunder. Dinklage is in the MCU elsewhere as Eitri, playing the Nidavellir blacksmith in Avengers: Infinity War.
Christian Bale, who played Gorr the God Butcher in the Thor movie, confirmed he shot scenes with Dinklage. The exact nature of his role as Eitri in Thor: Love and Thunder is somewhat unclear, but what fans do know is that Waititi ultimately cut Dinklage’s scenes to keep pacing tight.
6
Jeff Goldblum’s the Grandmaster Was Left On the Cutting Room Floor
Deleted From – Thor: Love and Thunder
Goldblum made his Marvel debut as the ruler of Sakaar in Thor: Ragnarok, and while he was set to reprise his role as the Grandmaster in Thor: Love and Thunder, his scenes ultimately didn’t make the theatrical cut.
Goldblum’s sequence, where he was reportedly due to meet Thor, Valkyrie, and Jane Foster on the Moon of Shame, was cut during post-production so Waititi could streamline Love and Thunder’s narrative.
5
Rob McElhenney’s MCU Role Was Axed By Ryan Reynolds
Deleted From — Deadpool & Wolverine
Unsurprisingly for a film with as many cameos as Deadpool & Wolverine, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s grand MCU debut is littered with what-ifs and could-have-beens. Danny DeVito was considered to play the short Logan variant, for instance, and Reynolds had a “conversation” with Nicolas Cage about returning as Ghost Rider. Vinnie Jones was also extremely close to signing on to reprise Juggernaut before negotiations fell through. Still, the only star we’re aware of who actually shot footage for the movie but doesn’t appear in it is Rob McElhenney (It’s Always Sunny).
Reynolds originally hired his Wrexham FC business partner to play a TVA agent who encounters Deadpool in the Void. During editing, Reynolds quickly realized McElhenney’s scene was superfluous but, reluctant to ditch his friend’s big cameo, he kept the scene in the film for months, before ultimately deciding that it was not working how he wanted it to. The star admitted he was “mortified” about cutting his friend from the movie after he had specifically flown to London to shoot his brief cameo. Maybe Reynolds can make it up to McElhenney by giving him another, much bigger role in Deadpool 4.
4
Seth Rollins Didn’t Get to Fight Captain America
Deleted From — Captain America: Brave New World
The fact that Captain America: Brave New World went through significant, transformative reshoots is obvious from the lackluster nature of the final product. Various characters had their roles in the film altered and/or reduced, but two cast members were removed from the finished movie entirely. While the final cut features Giancarlo Esposito on villain duties as Sidewinder, the leader of the Serpent Society mercenary group, he was originally not supposed to be in it at all.
Of the two actors removed from the final cut altogether, WWE star Seth Rollins had originally been cast as King Cobra, a member of the Serpent Society. Rollins filmed scenes for Brave New World before the extensive reshoots reshaped its villain lineup.
3
Rosa Salazar Was Another Casualty of Brave New World’s Overhaul
Deleted From – Captain America: Brave New World
In the pre-reshoots version of Captain America: Brave New World, another of the Society’s most prominent members was Diamondback, portrayed by Alita: Battle Angel actor Rosa Salazar. Diamondback — not to be confused with the Luke Cage villain of the same name — seems to have been particularly key to the movie’s original cut.
The character featured prominently in early merchandising for the film. As a result, Diamondback’s removal was particularly noticeable. Despite never making it onto screen, she had earned herself a McDonald’s Happy Meal toy and Funko POP.