Stop Ruining Comic Book Movies with Wild Casting Speculation – Here’s Why Fans Need to Chill

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At the moment, enthusiasm for the summer 2025 superhero movies titled “Superman” and “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is running high. In this buzz, a common occurrence during the build-up to these films is fans scouring the cast lists of upcoming blockbusters, identifying actors without listed roles, and guessing which iconic comic book characters they might be playing. For example, some believe that actresses Sarah Niles and Natasha Lyonne from “First Steps” must be portraying significant figures from Marvel Comics lore, don’t they?

This pattern isn’t fresh, yet it continues to show itself as empty hype. Rarely do these assumptions hold true, and they often create unrealistic anticipation for both actors and entire films that can never live up to the expectations set by such speculation. Despite its persistent nature, fans need to learn to curb their endless conjecture about comic book movie casting.

A Tale of Ike Barinholtz (& Other Actors)

One notable instance where pre-release speculation about comic book movie casting got excessively heated was the case of Ike Barinholtz in the Suicide Squad. In David Ayer’s adaptation of the DC antihero team, he played the role of prison guard Griggs. However, a whopping sixteen months before the film’s August 2016 premiere, there were widespread rumors that he would embody Dr. Hugo Strange instead. This unfounded speculation persisted for quite some time and eventually led to Barinholtz only appearing as a minor character created specifically for the movie.

In 2016’s DC Extended Universe production, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” actor Scoot McNairy was assigned a secret role that stirred internet excitement. Initially rumored to be Jimmy Olsen or one of the Robins, McNairy eventually portrayed Wallace Keefe in the film, a character unrelated to the comic books.

Even Marvel film adaptations haven’t escaped this trend. Peter Dinklage was among the rare cast members of Avengers: Infinity War who played a completely new character, sparking widespread speculation online. Many fans were convinced he would portray Pip the Troll, a role that eventually went to Patton Oswalt in Eternals. The guesses continue, as fans often imagine comic book movie plots before they even reach the big screen.

The Perils of Incessant Comic Book Movie Casting Speculation

It’s perfectly fine to be excited about the upcoming comic book films, and friendly discussions about them are harmless fun. However, the constant speculation about casting in these movies before they’re even released can sometimes overshadow the final product, which is an unusual and potentially risky situation. It’s better for audiences to evaluate a movie based on what it actually is, rather than whether or not it aligns with their personal expectations of who actors like Scoot McNairy or Peter Dinklage might play.

As a fan, it’s easy to jump to conclusions and imagine that every comic book movie is strictly based on characters from the comics. Even shows like M.O.D.O.K., with its villain Hexus, a lesser-known Marvel Comics entity, prove that this isn’t always the case. It’s crucial to give these movies some space before they hit the screens and consider the possibility that the talented actors portraying characters might be playing original creations instead.

Regardless of whether you end up admiring or criticizing the movie, try not to get too caught up in the assumption that an actor like Scoot McNairy can only be playing Jimmy Olsen in Dawn of Justice. Each production stands on its own merits and should be evaluated as such.

Unrealistic assumptions prevent gifted performers such as Barinholtz, Dinklage, and McNairy (and countless others) from being acknowledged, criticized, or even responded to for their performances in their respective superhero films. It’s already challenging for artists working on big-studio superhero projects, but why add the additional weight of fan theories that might not be grounded in reality?

Moving forward, let’s take a laid-back approach regarding who Natasha Lyonne might play in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Whether she voices H.E.R.B.I.E. or takes on a new character, either way, it could be exciting. The endless debates about potential cast members in comic book movies have been prevalent for quite some time now. However, this doesn’t need to continue indefinitely.

Currently, you can stream “Suicide Squad” on Netflix, while “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” will be in theatres starting from July 25th.

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2025-04-27 00:11