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In comic book movies, the multiverse has been cracked wide open. Both Marvel and DC have opened the floodgates for actors from the past to reprise their roles. From Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man and beyond, it seems like no character from the past is off-limits. With both DC and Marvel studios dealing with the multiverse, the odds are countless fan-favorites will return to the big screen. Here are some fan-favorite characters audiences would love to see come back one last time, including Michael Keaton’s Batman.
Michael Keaton – Batman
Michael Keaton debuted as The Caped Crusader in 1989. The Tim Burton-helmed film redefined the comic book movie and paved the way for franchises, such as the MCU. For the first time in over 30 years, Michael Keaton will once again don the Batman cape and cowl in The Flash later this year. While fans have gotten their first look at Michael Keaton’s return as Batman and are certain they will see him again, they hope it will be more than a cameo. With the DC Universe being reset, fans are hoping Michael Keaton will stick around and maybe even be the main Batman going forward.
Brandon Routh – Superman
When Christopher Reeve retired from the role of Superman after his accident, he left some big shoes to fill. The shoes were finally filled in 2006 when Brandon Routh appeared in Superman Returns. While not explicitly stated, it is believed that Routh’s Superman is the same version of Reeves’, and he does a fair job in the role. He reprised the character briefly in the Arrowverse’s Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover, but it was nothing more than a cameo. Fans feel Routh is underrated and hope he will once more take to the skies in a feature-length movie.
Ben Affleck – Daredevil
The 2003 Daredevil movie is still as decisive as ever. Some fans see it as a melodramatic cash grab based on the success of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man. Others find it an underrated adaptation that they wish would be continued. One aspect of the movie that was praised by fans was Ben Affleck’s role as the titular hero. The future Batman does a decent job as a vigilante and adds his own twist on the character. This movie’s reputation isn’t as great as other comic book movies, so it is unlikely Affleck will reprise the role. Still, fans are hopeful.
Thomas Jane – Punisher
While Jon Bernthal did a fantastic job as the MCU’s Punisher, many fans still have a soft spot for the first theatrical take on the character. Thomas Jane portrayed Frank Castle in the 2004 version of The Punisher, and fans still think highly of it. At a time when every movie tried to be Spider-Man, The Punisher was a violent and gritty movie worthy of its R rating. With Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock officially joining the MCU, Jon Bernthal is likely soon to follow. However, if Michael Keaton proves anything, it’s that you can have multiple actors in the same role simultaneously.
Mark Strong – Sinestro
The Ryan Reynolds-led Green Lantern movie from 2011 has gone down in infamy. The movie attempted to cash in on DC’s recent resurgence thanks to Christopher Nolan’s Batman movies, but it crashed and burned. Green Lantern does have some fans, but it has mostly been relegated to a punchline in the community. However, one aspect of the film most people agree on was Mark Strong’s performance as Sinestro. He brought the sinister and cunning attitude needed to play the character. An after-credits stinger finally shows Sinestro as a Yellow Lantern, ready to spread evil. Thanks to the failure of the film, this was never shown. Fans would love to see Strong reprise the role as a proper bad guy. Green Lantern is finally getting a modern treatment with an upcoming series, so now is a good time for Strong to return.
Andrew Garfield – Spider-Man
Spider-Man: No Way Home saw the return of all big-screen Spider-Man actors, including Andrew Garfield. The Amazing Spider-Man movies led by Garfield weren’t as popular as the Sam Raimi trilogy. Andrew only got two movies, so his story went incomplete. His return in the third MCU Spidey movie helped close that gap, but there is still more to be told. Fans would love to see Andrew return for one last solo outing to give him the closure he deserves.
Ioan Gruffudd – Reed Richards
The MCU is gearing up for its long-awaited Fantastic Four reboot. Odds are, the team will consist of performers new to the role, but that doesn’t mean fans don’t long for cameos from the original actors. The 2004 Fantastic Four film and its sequel were moderately successful, and the movies still have fans today. Ion Gruffudd played the leader of the team, Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic. Of all the actors from those films, fans would love to see him return, even in a cameo. With the multiverse allowing both Tobey Maguire and Michael Keaton to return, this is a reprisal that is definitely possible.
Nicolas Cage – Ghost Rider
A fan-favorite Marvel movie from the early 2000s was the Nic Cage-led Ghost Rider. While the sequel left much to be desired, the first movie has a steady fan following. The MCU is suffering from a severe lack of Ghost Rider, and Nic Cage would be perfect to fill that gap. A version of the character did appear in the MCU adjacent series Agents of SHIELD, but if one movie can have two actors as Batman, why can’t a franchise have two Ghost Riders?
Tom Welling – Clark Kent
Smallville was a popular show showing a young Clark Kent on his journey to become Superman. Tom Welling played the young Kryptonian, and fans still sing his praises. He did return in the aforementioned Crisis on Infinite Earths event, but once again, it was just a cameo. He didn’t even have his trademark powers. Tom never actually wore the Man of Steel’s trademark costume, so fans would love the chance to see him take to the skies as a proper Superman.
Henry Cavill – Superman
Henry Cavill has been the main Superman since Man of Steel. His performance has been sporadic over the years, with multiple reports at different times that he is no longer in the role. With a final cameo in Black Adam, he is officially done with the role. Fans felt this final cameo was cheap, and they want to see a proper goodbye. A direct sequel to Man of Steel is something fans wanted for years, and it would be an excellent way to have Henry retire the character. The character never got any resolution, and it would be a shame for the modern Superman to leave without any sort of closure.