10 'Spider-Verse' stars who have played Marvel characters in other live-action projects

October 2024 · 5 minute read

Oscar winner Mahershala Ali voiced Aaron Davis/Prowler in "Spider-Verse." He also played a villain in season one of the Marvel show "Luke Cage."

On the left: Aaron Davis/Prowler in "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse." On the right: Mahershala Ali in "Luke Cage." Sony Pictures; Myles Aronowitz/Netflix

Ali's "Spider-Verse" character is the uncle of Miles Morales, the film's protagonist. 

Aside from starring as Cornell Stokes/Cottonmouth in "Luke Cage," Ali will also portray the titular character in Marvel's upcoming reboot of "Blade."

Ali's casting as the half-human, half-vampire character, previously played by Wesley Snipes, was revealed at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2019.

His arrival in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) was later teased in the end-credits scene of the 2021 film "Eternals."

Prior to portraying a superhero in "Eternals," Brian Tyree Henry voiced Jefferson Davis in "Spider-Verse."

On the left: Jefferson Davis in "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse." On the right: Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos in "Eternals." Sony Pictures; Marvel Studios

Henry's "Spider-Verse" character is a police officer and the father of Miles. 

In "Eternals," the actor portrayed the tech-savvy Phastos, an immortal with superior engineering and inventing skills. 

Academy Award nominee Hailee Steinfeld has portrayed two popular Marvel characters: Gwen Stacy/Spider-Woman and Kate Bishop.

On the left: Spider-Woman in "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse." On the right: Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop in "Hawkeye." Sony Pictures; Chuck Zlotnick/Marvel Studios

Steinfeld voices Gwen Stacy/Spider-Woman in the "Spider-Verse" movies.

In 2021, she made her debut as the archer and Hawkeye superfan Kate Bishop in the Marvel/Disney+ series "Hawkeye." 

Zoë Kravitz's acting credits include roles as Marvel characters in "Spider-Verse" and the "X-Men" franchise.

On the left: Mary Jane Watson in "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse." On the right: Zoë Kravitz as Angel Salvadore in "X-Men: First Class." Sony Pictures; 20th Century Fox

Kravitz voiced the iconic Spidey character Mary Jane Watson in the first "Spider-Verse movie" 

Prior to that, the actress played a mutant named Angel Salvadore in the 2011 film "X-Men: First Class." 

Long before voicing Spider-Man Noir in "Into the Spider-Verse," Nicolas Cage portrayed Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider.

On the left: Spider-Man Noir in "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse." On the right: Nicolas Cage in "Ghost Rider." Sony Pictures; Sony Pictures

In the 2007 movie "Ghost Rider," Cage starred as a motorcyclist who made a deal with the devil. 

In "Into the Spider-Verse," he played a black-and-white detective version of Spider-Man. 

After voicing Dr. Olivia Octavius/Doc Ock in "Into the Spider-Verse," Kathryn Hahn took on another Marvel villain in the Disney+ series "WandaVision."

On the left: Doc Ock in "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse." On the right: Kathryn Hahn as Agatha Harkness in "WandaVision." Sony Pictures; Marvel Studios

"WandaVision," which premiered in January 2021, centered on Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision's (Paul Bettany) seemingly perfect life in a suburban town known as Westview. 

Hahn portrayed Agatha Harkness, a witch from Salem, Massachusetts, who tried to steal Wanda's powers.

The actress will reprise the role for an upcoming spin-off series called "Agatha: House of Harkness."

"Ray Donovan" star Liev Schreiber has played antagonists in "Into the Spider-Verse" and "X-Men Origins: Wolverine."

On the left: Wilson Fisk/Kingpin in "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse." On the right: Liev Schreiber as Victor Creed in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine." Sony Pictures; 20th Century Fox

In "Into the Spider-Verse," Schreiber voiced the crime lord known as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin.

Years prior, he portrayed Victor Creed/Sabretooth, a mutant with long nails and cat-like teeth, in Hugh Jackman's first standalone "Wolverine" film released in 2009. 

"Moon Knight" star Oscar Isaac voices Miguel O'Hara/Spider-Man 2099 in the "Spider-Verse" films.

From left: Miguel O'Hara/Spider-Man 2099 in "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse," Oscar Isaac in "X-Men: Apocalypse," and Isaac in "Moon Knight." Sony Pictures; 20th Century Studios; Gabor Kotschy/Marvel Studios

He first appeared as the alternate version of the web-slinger in the end-credits scene of "Into the Spider-Verse." Isaac reprised the role for the 2023 film "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse," as the leader of the Spider Society.

In 2022, Isaac joined the MCU debut as Steven Grant/Marc Spector in the Disney+ series "Moon Knight." Season one centered on a gift-shop employee named Steven with dissociative identity disorder.

Prior to that, Isaac played the titular villain of the film "X-Men: Apocalypse."

"Deadpool" star Karan Soni joined the "Spider-Verse" franchise as Pavitr Prabhakar, an Indian version of Spider-Man," in "Across the Spider-Verse."

Left: Pavitr Prabhakar in "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse." Right: Karan Soni as Dopinder in "Deadpool 2." Sony Pictures; 20th Century Studios

In "Across the Spider-Verse," Soni's character fights crime in a city known as Mumbattan — a mix of Manhattan and Mumbai — on Earth-50101.

In the "Deadpool" franchise, the actor plays a taxi driver and associate of Ryan Reynolds' titular anti-hero. Soni will reprise his role for the upcoming third film

Daniel Kaluuya, who voiced Hobie Brown/Spider-Punk in "Across the Spider-Verse," is also recognized for his role in the MCU.

Left: Spider-Punk in "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse." Right: Daniel Kaluuya as W'Kabi in "Black Panther." Sony Pictures'

Kaluuya's Spidey has a close bond with Gwen Stacy. He's a non-conforming rocker who uses his guitar as an instrument and as a sonic weapon.

The actor made his first appearance in the MCU in the 2018 film "Black Panther." He didn't reprise his role as W'Kabi in the 2022 sequel due to scheduling conflicts with the Jordan Peele film "Nope."

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