After his recent comments, Marvel Studios would benefit from bringingJohn Boyegainto theMCUas any of these iconic Marvel Comics characters. Until recently, British actor and producer John Boyega had rejected any comments about him joining the MCU, as he criticized Marvel movies for their lack of"fresh ideas"(viaMen’s Health). However, theAttack the BlockandStar Warsactor may now have changed his tune, as he opened up about a conversation with Marvel boss Kevin Feige which could create the opportunity for him to join the MCU.
During an appearance at this year’s C2E2,John Boyega confirmed conversations with Marvel Studiosabout possibly joining the MCU. Even though he suggested that"there ain’t no room for [him],“Boyega’s change of tune has led to new speculation about who he could portray in the MCU.Boyega also gave a direct answer as to who he’d want to play, but that doesn’t mean Marvel will make hisX-Mendebut wish come true. There are many iconic Marvel Comics characters thatJohn Boyega would be a great casting choicefor.
8Tyrone Johnson’s Cloak
Tyrone Johnson Debuted In Marvel Comics In 1982’s Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #64
Tyrone “Ty” Johnson might have already had a live-action adaptation, asTandy Bowen portrayed the character in Marvel Television’sCloak & DaggerandRunawaysseries, but this version isn’t considered canon to the MCU’s primary continuity. This leaves the door open for a new actor to become the Darkforce-wielding Cloak in the MCU proper. John Boyega would be a great choice for this character, despite the fact that Johnson is typically depicted as a teenager in Marvel Comics. Boyega could portray an older and hardened iteration of the mystical vigilante.
John Boyega has taken on many grounded roles in his career, including in projects such asSmall Axe, Imperial DreamsandDetroit, which suggests he’d fit in perfectly within the street-level stories of the MCU. Now thatDaredevil: Born Againhas established a new status quo for New York City in the MCU, it would be great to see new versions of Cloak and Dagger appear, perhaps asmembers of Daredevil’s army. John Boyega’s Cloak would be a formidable addition to this team, working in the shadows of a Kingpin-ruled New York as the Demon of Darkness.
7Nick Fury Jr.
Nick Fury Jr. Debuted In Marvel Comics In 2012’s Battle Scars #1
Samuel L. Jackson has portrayed Nick Fury, the former Director of SHIELD and man behind the Avengers' formation, since 2008’sIron Man, but after recent events, it’s possible his MCU story could be coming to an end.Fury’s appearances inSecret InvasionandThe Marvelsweren’t so well-received, but someone new could step up to fill his shoes, perhaps even his as-yet-unseen son, Nick Fury Jr., a.k.a. Marcus Johnson. This would be an inspired role for John Boyega in the MCU, as he could follow in the footsteps of one of the MCU’s central human characters.
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With speculation thatcharacters from Marvel Television’sAgents of SHIELDmay be officially joining the MCU proper, it would be great to see John Boyega debut as Nick Fury Jr. to perhaps lead a new team of Secret Avengers.Fury Jr. replaced his father in Marvel Comics, and John Boyega has the recognition, screen presence, acting ability and likability to do the same in the MCU. This could create the opportunity for some of Nick Fury’s unexplored Marvel Comics stories to come to the MCU, and perhaps even mark a stronger re-do of theSecret Invasionstoryline.
6Hobie Brown’s Spider-Punk
Hobart “Hobie” Brown Debuted In Marvel Comics In 2015’s The Amazing Spider-Man #10
Another British actor, Daniel Kaluuya, voicesHobie Brown’s Spider-Punk in Sony’s animatedSpider-Versefranchise, but Kaluuya has already debuted in the MCU asBlack Panther’sW’Kabi, which means someone else could take on the role of a live-action Spider-Punk.This anti-establishment and revolutionary version of Spider-Man would be a fantastic addition to a multiversal Spider-Man adventure in the MCU, and John Boyega would be a great replacement for Kaluuya in live-action. This casting could tease one of Marvel Comics' biggest events coming to the MCU.
Spider-Punk plays a key role in Marvel Comics’Spider-Geddonstoryline from 2018, which saw an army of Spider-Men go up against Morlun and his Inheritors. Morlun has been a popular suggestion for theprimary antagonist ofSpider-Man: Brand New Dayand Tom Holland’s new trilogy as the MCU’s Peter Parker, so it would be great to see him team up with other Spider-People if this story is adapted.John Boyega has a similar cheekiness, wit, satirical spirit and humor as Daniel Kaluuya, so would be brilliant as a live-action iteration of Kaluuya’s animated Spider-Man hero.
5Jericho Drumm’s Doctor Voodoo
Jericho Drumm Debuted In Marvel Comics In 1973’s Strange Tales #169
Mark Anthony Brighton’s appearance in 2016’sDoctor Strangemovie as Daniel Drumm spurred speculation that the character’s more-powerful brother, Jericho, would also be introduced to the MCU. This hasn’t yet come to pass, which means thatJericho Drumm’s Brother Voodoo, later Doctor Voodoo, could be the perfect role for John Boyega.Drumm’s extensive mystical knowledge makes him one of Marvel’s most powerful heroes, so much so that he replaced Stephen Strange as the Sorcerer Supreme in 2009, so this casting would give Boyega a bright MCU future.
Jericho Drumm is of Haitian descent in Marvel Comics, which means that 2022’sBlack Panther: Wakanda Forevermight have teased his debut again by having Nakia move to Haiti to raise her son after T’Challa’s death.
Marvel Studios has recently been giving more attention to the mystical, moresupernatural corners of the MCU, with the debuts of characters such as Werewolf by Night, Man-Thing, Blade, Moon Knight and more. Jericho Drumm would fit into this side of the franchise perfectly, and John Boyega already has experience with more unorthodox characters in projects such asPacific Rim UprisingandThey Cloned Tyrone.Benedict Cumberbatch’s future as Doctor Strange after the MCU’s Phase 6 is uncertain, so it would be great to see someone such as John Boyega replace himas the MCU’s Sorcerer Supreme.
4Adam Brashear’s Blue Marvel
Adam Brashear Debuted In Marvel Comics In 2008’s Adam: Legend Of The Blue Marvel #1
Despite being introduced to Marvel Comics in 2008, Adam Brashear was retroactively implanted into the Marvel Universe’s history, as he was revealed to have been a classic hero operating in the 1960s. His body became an enhanced antimatter reactor during an accident while experimenting with the Negative Zone, but, after being given the Presidential Medal of Freedom, he was asked to resign due to his African American heritage being discovered by the public.This is a hugely important and relevant story that deserves to be told in the MCU, and John Boyega would be perfect at spearheading this narrative.
Over the duration of his career, John Boyega has taken many roles that celebrate and shine light on the Black experience, and there’s no better hero in Marvel Comics to spotlight these themes than the Blue Marvel. Adam Brashear eventually returned as a full-time superhero in 2010, which meansJohn Boyega’s Blue Marvel could be integrated into the MCU’s entire history, similarly to how Isaiah Bradley was recently retroactively introduced as a Black Captain America from the 1950s. Blue Marvel could become John Boyega’s most important role yet.
3T’Challa’s Black Panther Variant
T’Challa Debuted In Marvel Comics In 1966’s Fantastic Four #52
The tragic passing of the late Chadwick Boseman in 2020 meant that his MCU character of T’Challa, a.k.a. the Black Panther, was written out of Ryan Coogler’s 2022 sequel,Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. However,some felt as though T’Challa should have just been recast inWakanda Forever, and recent speculation has suggested that Marvel Studios might soon use the multiverse to do just that.Recasting T’Challa in the MCUis a tall order, as Marvel must find an actor strong enough to follow in Boseman’s footsteps. John Boyega could be the perfect choice.
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Similarly to Blue Marvel, appearing as T’Challa in the MCU would give John Boyega the chance to celebrate his Black heritage by portraying one of the most legendary Black superheroes in history.Boyega has portrayed African characters before, Ugwu inHalf of a Yellow Sunand King Ghezo inThe Woman King, which will have given him valuable experience to play T’Challa. It’s even possible that Boyega could be introduced as an adult version ofT’Challa’s son, Toussaint, who debuted inBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever, though it would be great to see him as a fully-fledged Black Panther.
2Luke Cage
Luke Cage Debuted In Marvel Comics In 1972’s Luke Cage, Hero For Hire #1
Mike Colter portrayed Luke Cagein Netflix’s Defenders Saga, but Colter’s doubts about returning to the role and some criticisms aimed at his characterization of the New York-based hero mean Marvel Studios might choose to recast him. In Marvel Comics,Luke Cage is a central character, even becoming an Avenger and, eventually, the team’s leader. It’s hard to imagine Mike Colter’s stoic and brooding Luke Cage filling this role, but an actor on the level of John Boyega could breathe new life, energy and fire into the MCU’s Power Man.
Several Defenders Saga characters have already returned inDaredevil: Born Again, including Matt Murdock, Wilson Fisk, Vanessa Fisk, Karen Page, Foggy Nelson, Benjamin Poindexter, Josie and Frank Castle. The other members of the Defenders team, including Luke Cage, Jessica Jones and Danny Rand, haven’t yet returned, however.
John Boyega has the right physique, screen presence, acting range and star-power to bring anew version of Luke Cageto life. WithDaredevil: Born Againexpanding on the stories of the MCU’s Defenders Saga,it’s almost essential that Luke Cage returns inBorn Againseason 2 or another street-level story. If Mike Colter doesn’t return - bearing in mind his return could come with alterations to the character better fitting the MCU - John Boyega would be a fantastic candidate to replace him, though Boyega has already revealed who he’d want to play in the MCU.
1Lucas Bishop
Lucas Bishop Debuted In Marvel Comics In 1991’s The Uncanny X-Men #282
During his appearance as C2E2,John Boyega was asked which Marvel character he’d want to play in the MCU, and he simply stated,“Oh, I’d play Bishop”(viaX). This is referring to Lucas Bishop, a time-traveling mutant from Marvel Comics who originally came face-to-face with the X-Men after journeying from a dystopian future into the past. Bishop is central to some huge Marvel Comics storylines, such asAge of ApocalypseandMessiah Complex, so he could be key to theMCU’s development of mutants, which makes John Boyega’s desire to play Bishop even more exciting.
Bishop is one of the most powerful members of the X-Men who was routinely ignored and sidelined by 20th Century Fox during its two-decade-longX-Menfranchise.Omar Sy portrayed Bishop in 2014’sX-Men: Days of Future Past, but saw very little action, so it would be great to see John Boyega take over the role and make Bishop a much more important character.Marvel Studios’X-Menrebootand its spinoffs would benefit from introducing Bishop, especially if someone on the caliber ofJohn Boyegaassumes the role, so Marvel should make this happen.
