The roster of well-known actors who have starred in DC films is quite extensive. Since the 1950s, DC has produced full-length movies, featuring talents such as Christopher Reeve, Henry Cavill, and David Corenswet as Superman, alongside Michael Keaton, Christian Bale, Ben Affleck, and Robert Pattinson in the role of Batman. Notable villains like Gene Hackman’s Lex Luthor and Heath Ledger’s Joker have also graced the DC screen, contributing to its cinematic legacy. Interestingly, some of these stars gained prominence following their involvement in the superhero series.
2025 marks a fresh chapter for DC as James Gunn’s DC Universe takes flight on the big screen. Prior to Superman kickstarting the connected narrative of the franchise, it’s worth taking a moment to reminisce about the actors who started small in DC films but have since become household names. Unbeknownst to many, these seven faces graced our screens in DC productions early in their careers, eventually gaining recognition by movie and TV enthusiasts alike.
1) Glen Powell in The Dark Knight Rises
Glen Powell has achieved significant fame in recent times through notable performances in films like “Top Gun: Maverick”, “Hit Man”, “Anyone But You”, and “Twisters”. However, one of his earlier, less recognized roles can be traced back to 2012’s “The Dark Knight Rises”. In this movie, Powell portrays a stock exchange trader who is attacked by the villain, Bane (played by Tom Hardy). At the beginning of the sequence, Powell’s character is getting his shoes shined, only to find himself caught up in Bane’s plan to seize control of the exchange. Although Powell’s role in “The Dark Knight Rises” may be overlooked given its age, it makes for an exciting revelation when revisiting the film.
In 2024, Powell shared with Vanity Fair that he attempted multiple auditions for a minor role in The Dark Knight Rises. He expressed his gratitude for being given a chance to appear in Christopher Nolan’s movie.
Speaking about the experience, he shared: “I found myself working alongside one of the world’s finest directors, Christopher Nolan. Suddenly, Tom Hardy appeared as Bane – it was electrifying, almost surreal. That filming was a time when nothing else mattered in my life. I was struggling for every bit of progress. When Christopher Nolan chooses you to be part of his movie, it’s a validation that’s challenging to articulate.
2) Emily Carey in Wonder Woman
Prior to Emily Carey’s role as young Alicent Hightower in the “House of the Dragon” spinoff of “Game of Thrones”, she made a brief yet impactful appearance in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). In the 2017 movie “Wonder Woman”, Carey portrayed a 12-year-old Diana Prince. In an early scene, her character sparred with Antiope (played by Robin Wright) in Themyscira. Although Carey’s screen time was limited in “Wonder Woman”, her talent as an actor was evident to viewers. It seems that Carey excels at playing notable characters, as she later played a young Lara Croft in the 2018 movie “Tomb Raider” and joined the “Game of Thrones” universe.
3) Taika Waititi in Green Lantern
Taika Waititi is mainly recognized for helming “Thor: Ragnarok” and “Thor: Love and Thunder,” lending his voice to Korg in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Interestingly, before delving into the Marvel realm, Waititi had previously collaborated with DC. In 2011’s “Green Lantern,” he portrayed Tom Kalmaku — an engineer at Ferris Aircraft. In this movie, Tom worked alongside Hal Jordan/Green Lantern (Ryan Reynolds) during jet testing. At the time of his “Green Lantern” appearance, Waititi’s career was just starting out, and this film served as a stepping stone for his subsequent significant roles in the Marvel Universe.
4) David Dastmalchian in The Dark Knight
2008 marked David Dastmalchian’s first appearance in a feature film with “The Dark Knight.” In this movie, he portrayed Thomas Schiff, one of the Joker’s (Heath Ledger) associates. During the assault at Commissioner Loeb’s funeral, his character disguised himself as a guard and was subsequently kidnapped by Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), having been injured in the process. Despite his limited screen time, Dastmalchian delivered a compelling performance as his complex character struggling with mental instability.
In a wicked chuckle and unsettling air, Dastmalchian steals the show amidst an ensemble of esteemed actors. Making his debut in such a high-profile film early on could have paved the way for his later roles in ‘Oppenheimer’, ‘Late Night with the Devil’, ‘Dune: Part One’, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s ‘Ant-Man’ series. Furthermore, Dastmalchian revisited DC to portray Polka-Dot Man in ‘The Suicide Squad’ of 2021.
5) Jack Gleeson in Batman Begins
Fans of Game of Thrones will always remember Jack Gleeson’s chilling portrayal of King Joffrey Baratheon. However, six years before his iconic role, Gleeson made an appearance as an unnamed boy in the 2005 film, Batman Begins. In his debut feature-length movie, Gleeson shared the screen with Christian Bale’s Batman, saving the young boy’s life. Although Gleeson had limited screen time in Batman Begins, his character played a significant role in a touching scene where he shows amazement upon meeting Batman in person. This added an extra layer of emotion to Batman’s rescue of the boy.
6) Joey King in The Dark Knight Rises
In “The Dark Knight Rises”, Joey King makes her significant debut in film, playing the younger version of Talia al Ghul. As a child, she was jailed before adopting her father Ra’s al Ghul’s (Liam Neeson) mission to demolish Gotham City. Marion Cotillard portrays the mature Talia in “The Dark Knight Rises”. Although King’s screen time is limited, her brief scene towards the end of the film leaves a lasting impression. Additionally, Joey King’s presence in “The Dark Knight Rises” underscores the fact that her rise to fame in Hollywood was already underway at a young age.
Following those events, I found myself stepping into supporting positions in movies like “The Conjuring” and “White House Down”. More recently, I’ve had the opportunity to lead in the “Kissing Booth” series and “Bullet Train”.
After that, I moved on to take on backing roles in films such as “The Conjuring” and “White House Down”, and more recently, I’ve been cast as the star in the “Kissing Booth” franchise and “Bullet Train”.
7) Jon Favreau in Batman Forever
Today, Jon Favreau is primarily known for directing movies like Iron Man and Iron Man 2 in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as well as playing Happy Hogan. Moreover, his work on Star Wars films has made him a prominent figure in Hollywood. However, many people may not know that his career started in the DC universe, making a brief appearance in Batman Forever in 1995 as an associate of Bruce Wayne (Val Kilmer). Although Favreau’s role in Batman Forever is minor and appears only for a few seconds, it’s worth noting that he has contributed to three of the most renowned entertainment franchises ever created.
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2025-07-07 23:13