The Thor: Love and Thunder, which, true to form, promises to introduce plenty of new characters to the MCU.
Given the presupposition that the film will introduce audiences to different pantheons of ancient gods, including that of Greece, it seems likelier than ever that the comic book superhero Hercules will make his MCU debut in Love and Thunder. If and when he does appear, certain Redditors have spoken their piece on who they would like to be cast in the coveted role.
Alan Ritchson
Taking hints from the MCU's propensity to cast up-and-coming actors as their superheroes, Redditor Reacher much, but he has the look. Just needs a beard."
As the Redditor suggests, Ritchson has the physique necessary to pull off the role of a Greek demigod, which is imperative to match the might of Thor, both in strength and power. The Jack Reacher actor would certainly have no trouble in doing so, given his recent filmography.
Alexander Skarsgård
Certain casting choices have fun implications for the real world, as Reddit s ham52391 and Metfan722 discovered. When the former suggested Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård to play Hercules, the latter suggested that it might be fun to include "a brief interaction between Professor Selvig and Hercules," nodding to the fact that the respective actors are father and son.
Hot off the success of Godzilla vs. Kong, Skarsgård The Northman, which sees the actor take on just such a role.
Jason Mantzoukas
Recalling a previous conversation regarding a prospective casting choice for the Greek demigod, Almighty-Arceus offers a somewhat unique opinion regarding the role. "Someone suggested to me once Jason Mantzoukas," they write, "That's perfect."
Mantzoukas, generally known for his comedic performances in guest spots on high-rated series like Brooklyn 99 and The Good Place, is likely not the first man that would come to mind when imagining the strapping Hercules. However, the actor does hail from Greco-American heritage, and, given the MCU's propensity to embrace the comedic side of their characters, Mantzoukas could prove to be a surprisingly worthy choice for the larger-than-life Hercules.
Jason Momoa
Many actors are simply built to inhabit superhero roles, but very rarely is there an actor that fans could see become not one, but two major heroes in their career. Jason Momoa is apparently such a rarity, as seancurry1 suggests him to play Hercules despite the actor's history playing Aquaman for the DC Extended Universe.
Momoa is certainly larger-than-life, making him the perfect choice for many superhero castings. While his stint playing Aquaman has been celebrated as one of the best parts of the DCEU, he would be far from the first performer to vacillate between both DC and its largest competitor. And, as many fans would agree, seeing Momoa's Hercules fight side-by-side with Chris Hemsworth's Thor would certainly be a sight unlike any other.
Joe Manganiello
In a response to a comment calling for Hercules to be introduced to the MCU, Reddit Revolutionary_Slip46 writes that "Joe Manganiello seems like a good fit" in of casting, going on to lament that his talents were wasted by DC, who had previously cast him as the villain Deathstroke.
ing the MCU could give Manganiello a chance to redeem himself in the superhero community after his initially exciting but ultimately disappointing turn in the DCEU. The actor has long been a vocal fan of all things comic books, with a career that has included films under both the Marvel and DC banner. The time has come for Manganiello to finally be given his due in the superhero fandom by finally landing a leading role in one of its films.
Brett Goldstein
Redditor Ted Lasso star Brett Goldstein take on the major role of Hercules for the MCU. They hail Goldstein's "gravitas [and] good comedic timing" as important qualities that could "really bring the look to life."
Despite recently finding fame on Ted Lasso, Goldstein is a relatively unknown name to many audiences, which, should he be cast as Hercules, could help the English actor to make the role his own without the audience predispositions that often come with a higher level of fame. Indeed, Goldstein may prove to be a great choice for Marvel Studios to truly forge a unique version of the character.
Gerard Butler
HalfYeti pitches their own idea for Hercules's introduction, along with their choice of actor to play him: "I always thought of Hercules hiding in plain sight, just the hairy fighter guy in a bar somewhere until a villain comes crashing through and he launches at him, finishing his pint first though." They go on to suggest Gerard Butler for the role, citing his facial hair, grisly voice, and humor as viable indications of his potential success as the character.
As a veteran of Hollywood, Butler's casting would certainly turn heads in the filmmaking community, especially given the actor's memorable turn as the Spartan king Leonidas in Zack Snyder's 300. Though on the older side, the Scottish actor would no doubt have the cinematic presence necessary to accurately bring Hercules to life on the big screen in a fashion that wouldn't be lost behind Hemsworth's performance as a contemporary god.
John Cena
"I think John Cena would make a good Hercules for the MCU," writes Reddit kaijuking87 when prompted to provide their own fan-casting for the character. The star, well known for his wrestling career and subsequent success as an actor, has been a common casting choice for many superhero roles over the years.
Cena has already found work in the comic book film industry as Peacemaker, a quasi-superhero with plenty of blood on his hands. However, if he were to take on the role of Hercules, Cena would finally have the opportunity to play a very different kind of superhero, one more firmly aligned with the side of good.
Dwayne Johnson
Reddit -Buckaroo_Bonzai- suggests Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson for the role of Hercules in the MCU. They note that the comic book Hercules is generally presented as a more comedic version of the character, which is "the Rock's lane of acting."
Johnson is a skilled enough actor to give this hero his well-deserved entrance to the MCU Avengers. It should be noted, of course, that it wouldn't be the first time that the actor had played the Greek demigod, having portrayed the titular role in the 2014 adventure film Hercules. While many fans of his may wish for Johnson to get a second stab at playing the legendary character, his history in the role paired with his ventures as Black Adam for the DCEU could cause him to stay away from such a casting.
Henry Cavill
TheGr3aTAydini notes that they see Superman actor Henry Cavill as being among "the best choices" when it comes to casting the character of Hercules. Cavill has been a frequent subject of superhero fan castings ever since his stint as the DCEU's Superman was seemingly cut short, with no plans to bring his version of the character back in the near future.
There are many Marvel roles that Cavill could play, but Hercules does seem like a surefire way of utilizing the British star's talents. He would make for a fantastic foil to Hemsworth's Thor, perhaps even acting as the rare alpha-dog threat to the Norse god's ego. Should Cavill find his way into the role of Hercules, fans would no doubt be ecstatic at the actor's long-deserved success in the superhero genre.
