8) Jack Black (Green Lantern)
Before Ryan Reynolds took the role in the underwhelming Green Lantern movie in 2011, there was almost a very different take on the character; a superhero comedy starring Jack Black.
In a script by Hotel Transylvania’s Robert Smigel, the Green Lantern Ring would get sent to the wrong person: Black’s Jud Plato, a reality TV star. Obviously, this leads to comedic hijinks ensuing. Black was very excited for the project, but the plug was ultimately pulled on it.
He later said:
“They [the studio] didn’t want to pull the trigger. They were making zillions of dollars with all their other superhero movies – they didn’t want to mess with that formula.”
Clearly, this Green Lantern movie was a little ahead of its time and might well have been made today, in this new age of more experimental superhero films.
7) Joaquin Phoenix (Hulk)
It took a while before Marvel found the perfect Bruce Banner. First, Eric Bana played the role in Ang Lee’s ponderous Hulk and then Edward Norton took over for 2008’s so-so The Incredible Hulk. For The Avengers, things finally fell into place when Mark Ruffalo nabbed the role of the big green rage monster. Before Ruffalo signed along the dotted line, though, a much more left-field choice was rumoured to get the part.
Joaquin Phoenix is most known for intense roles, so on the one hand you can imagine him playing a character like Banner, with his anger issues and a monster hiding under the surface. However, the three-time Oscar nominee isn’t known for his blockbuster roles – save maybe Gladiator.
Funnily enough, though, Phoenix was also in the running to play another Marvel superhero later on; this time Doctor Strange. From what we can gather, he was the second choice for the role if Benedict Cumberbatch proved unavailable.