Both Marvel and DC have been turning their intellectual property into movies for decades now, but over the past ten or twenty years, the past has truly accelerated.
Since comic book adaptations seem to constitute about 90 percent of all theatrical releases these days, there’s bound to be some crossover with actors.
Let’s take a look at the actors who’ve appeared in both cinematic universes.
Zoe Saldana
Saldana’s first role in this realm actually came in a DC movie when she played Aisha in The Losers . A few years later, she joined the ranks of the Marvel Connected Universe (MCU) to play Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy .
Zachary Levi
Levi played Fandral in Thor: The Dark World as part of the MCU, but he’s also been in films based on Marvel comics. He played the lead in Shazam! and will reprise his role in the sequel as well.
Willem Dafoe
Back at the beginning of the “movies based on comics” renaissance, Dafoe played Normal Osborn, the Green Goblin, in Spider-Man , along with its sequels. He then moved over to the DC universe when he played Vulko in Aquaman .
Tommy Lee Jones
Jones was in one of the campy ’90s Batman films when he played Harvey Dent, or Two-Face, in Batman Forever . Years later, he crossed over to the MCU when he played Colonel Phillips in Captain America: The First Avenger .
Tom Hardy
Hardy stole the show when he played Bane in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises . He leveraged that role into a role in the MCU, where he appeared in Venom . He’ll be back in the sequel, Venom: Let There Be Carnage .
Tilda Swinton
In the DCCU, Swinton supported Keanu Reeves in 2005’s Constantine , playing the role of Gabriel. Moving to the MCU, she played the Ancient One in Doctor Strange . Later, she came back to reprise the role in Avengers: Endgame .
Terence Stamp
Stamp was in comic book movies way before they were cool, starring as General Zod in the DCCU’s Superman and Superman II . Years later, when comic book movies were cool, Stamp played Stick in Elektra , a Marvel film.
Taika Waititi.
The New Zealand-born Waititi is known more as a director than as an actor, directing Thor: Ragnarok . But he also played a role in Green Lantern , along with smaller roles in Avengers: Endgame* and The Suicide Squad .
Sylvester Stallone
Sly Stallone has been a big name in Hollywood for decades now, and his star power has been on full display in both MCU and DCCU movies. He appeared in the MCU in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 , and in the DCCU’s The Suicide Squad .
Sean Gunn
Director James Gunn tapped his brother, Sean Gunn, to work on various projects. He played Kraglin in the Guardians of the Galaxy films and also had a cameo in his brother’s film The Suicide Squad . He’s also provided motion capture in various movies.
Ryan Reynolds
Reynolds is iconic in his role as Deadpool, but long before the two Deadpool films, he was in various comic book movie roles. Notably, he played Hannibal King in Marvel’s Blade: Trinity , along with Hal Jordan in the DCCU’s Green Lantern .
Randall Park
Park played the role of Agent Jimmy Woo in Ant-Man and the Wasp back in 2018. That same year, he also appeared in Aquaman . He’ll likely appear in the sequels of both films, along with the TV series WandaVision .
Rachel Weisz
Weisz appeared alongside Keanu Reeves in 2005’s Constantine . She’ll likely appear in any sequels that may come out, as well. Years later, Weisz had her first MCU role when she appeared in Black Widow , playing the role of Melina — Natasha Romanoff’s secret mother.
Pom Klementieff
Klementieff is another actor who’s appeared in multiple movies, spanning both cinematic universes, directed by James Gunn. She played Mantis in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 . In the DCCU, she had a brief cameo in The Suicide Squad .
Nathan Fillion
Fillion’s provided voice-over work for various DC characters in animated productions. He also had a voice-over role in Guardians of the Galaxy , although his work in the sequel didn’t make the final cut. Fillion also had a small cameo in The Suicide Squad .
Natalie Portman
Portman starred as Evey in V for Vendetta , a DC film. She moved over to the Marvel universe soon after, playing Jane Foster in Thor as well as its sequel, Thor: The Dark World . She’s set to return in the next Thor film, set for a 2022 release date.
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Michelle Pfeiffer
Pfeiffer was unforgettable in her role as Selina Kyle, better known as Catwoman, in Batman Returns . Much later, she became part of the MCU when she played Janet van Dyne, the original Wasp, in Ant-Man and the Wasp .
Michael Rooker
Rooker has been in various James Gunn films, spanning both universes. He played Yondu Udonta in Guardians of the Galaxy , along with its sequel. Gunn once again called on Rooker when he moved to the DCCU, where he had a role in The Suicide Squad .
Michael Keaton
There weren’t a ton of superhero movies released in the ’80s, but the biggest may have been 1989’s Batman , with Keaton playing the titular role. He later jumped over to the MCU to play Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming .
