With plotlines that often revolve around society’s outcast and downtrodden, sci-fi should be the one genre that embraces actors of color. But until Marvel Films doubled down on their comic book adaptations, that just wasn’t the case.
That Donald Glover as Spider-Man movement never took off, but otherwise we’ve seen more bothers and sisters in tights than Hollywood Blvd. during pride week. Check out these 14 black actors in Marvel Comics movies for further proof.
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Photo: Paramount Pictures
Samuel L. Jackson – Nick Fury
Given his penchant for dropping a good F-bomb, it stands to reason that Sam Jackson was almost born to play a guy named Nick Fury in the Captain America and Avengers franchises as well as a cameo in Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Idris Elba – Heimdall
When fanboys got mad at Elba being cast as a Norse god, he clapped back, reminding them Elizabeth Taylor tried to play Cleopatra.
Halle Berry – Storm
Berry brought the lightning, thunder, and any other inclement weather during her run as Storm in the X-Men franchise.
Don Cheadle – Rhodey/War Machine
Cheadle replaced Howard as James Rhodes, and eventually got more screen time as the War Machine character was fleshed out. He’s also slated to appear in Avengers: Age Of Ultron.
Zoe Saldana – Gamora
Guardians Of The Galaxy was proof that no matter what weird colored alien you try to make Zoe Saldana, she’s still equally tough and fine.
Will Smith – Agent Jay
Technically, Men In Black started out under Aircel Comics. But Aircel was bought by Malibu Comics, and then Marvel Comics purchased Malibu. Are you confused yet?
Terrance Howard – James Rhodes
According to Howard, Paramount asked him to take one-eighth of his original salary for Iron Man 2. If that’s true, it explains why he never appeared in any of the sequels.
Kerry Washington – Alicia Masters
Before her swirly love affair with Fitz on Scandal, Kerry Washington was crushing on Ben Grimm in Fantastic 4: Rise Of The Silver Surfer. The less we say about Princess Shuri on The Black Panther, the better off we all are.
Wesley Snipes – Blade
When America’s vampire fascination was initially at a pre-Twilight all time high, Snipes held down the role of the half-human and half-vampire titular character in Blade.
Derek Luke – Gabe Jones
It wasn’t quite as good a soldier role as Antwone Fisher, but popping up in Captain America was a dope opportunity for Luke.
will.i.am – John Wraith
Black Eyed Peas front man will.i.am can do a lot of things well. In X-Men Origins: Wolverine, we learned acting was not one of those things.
Zoe Kravitz – Angel Salvadore
All we know is that in X-Men: First Class Zoe Kravitz was seducing mad dudes before morphing into some kind of human/mosquito mutant hybrid that could spit explosives.
Michael Clarke Duncan – Kingpin
The late Michael Clarke Duncan owned the role of Kingpin in Daredevil. It was a classic case of a pretty great performance wasted in a pretty terrible movie.
Peter Mensah – General Joe Greller
We’re going to have to call foul on them sending the brother out to try and capture The Incredible Hulk.
