Fantastic Four is set to finally bring the eponymous superhero team into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, alongside several of their major villains from the comics. While rumors have swirled regarding characters like Doctor Doom, the Silver Surfer, and even Mole Man appearing in the film, one of the most exciting prospects is the potential debut of Galactus, Devourer of Worlds.
If Galactus does indeed appear in Fantastic Four, Marvel must find the perfect actor to bring the Celestial supervillain to life. Given Galactus’s stature, the performance will largely be voice-based, though the actor must also have an imposing presence themselves for any potential motion-capture work. As such, several well-known actors could be perfect for this role of a lifetime.
10 Bryan Cranston
Best known for his portrayal of Walter White in AMC’s highly acclaimed Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston is one of the most talented actors to get his start on television. After winning four Emmys for his role in Breaking Bad, Cranston has gone on to play multiple villainous roles, including in the 2012 reboot of Total Recall.
Bryan Cranston brings an intimidating presence to any dramatic role he plays–a quality that would only be bolstered when combined with the size and stature of Galactus. Moreover, Cranston’s tremendous, expressive voice would go a long way in humanizing the larger-than-life character while also making him quite frightening for any heroes unfortunate enough to get in his way.
9 Keith David
Keith David is one actor everyone has seen in at least one role over the years, even without knowing it. David has a propensity for appearing in smaller roles that nonetheless elevate whatever film he appears in, making him an interesting choice to bring one of Marvel’s most important villains to life.
Keith David is no stranger to villainous roles or to voice work, both of which will be highly important in any actor’s portrayal of Galactus, Devourer of Worlds. With his stern, commanding presence, David would easily craft one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most terrifying villains, who would surely become a fixture of the franchise for years to come.
8 Ving Rhames
Ving Rhames is known for playing tough characters like Luther Stickell in the Mission: Impossible film series. The actor has already starred in a minor role in the MCU, appearing as the Ravager Charlie-27 in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, though Marvel has already shown its willingness to cast actors in more than one role if necessary.
Not only is Rhames a physically imposing presence, but he also has a deep and resonant voice that would serve well for embodying the cosmic entity of Galactus. The actor’s iconic voice has already made characters like Lilo & Stich‘s Cobra Bubbles memorable and would do the same for a villain as major as Galactus.
7 Mark Hamill
Although most audiences instantly recognize him as Luke Skywalker, Mark Hamill has become a terrific voice actor in the years since his debut in Star Wars. The actor has repeatedly displayed an uncanny talent to warp his voice to bring to life a variety of comic book villains, including the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series.
Mark Hamill’s voice may not be as deep and intimidating as other actors, but he brings a sinister quality to the villains that he plays, making them all the more frightening. Hamill’s Galactus would walk the line between being a necessary evil and a deranged maniac that must be stopped, the perfect balance for a character so nuanced in Marvel Comics.
6 Laurence Fishburne
Laurence Fishburne has appeared in many iconic franchises over the years, including The Matrix and John Wick. He is also no stranger to starring in Marvel properties, having portrayed Dr. Bill Foster in Ant-Man and the Wasp and even providing the voice of Galactus’s most famous herald, the Silver Surfer, in 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.
Casting Fishburne as Galactus would not only act as a fun nod to his original Marvel role but would also provide a humanizing quality that was not present in Rise of the Silver Surfer‘s iteration of the Devourer of Worlds. Fishburne’s propensity for powerful but subdued delivery made him a perfect Silver Surfer and would also lend itself well to his portrayal of Galactus.
5 Liam Neeson
Liam Neeson has made a career out of playing tough-as-nails characters in various action thrillers, including Taken and Non-Stop. However, audiences often forget that the actor has a remarkable range, best displayed in his portrayal of the titular character in Schindler’s List, which earned him an Academy Award nomination.
Neeson’s history playing tough characters combined with his incredible range as an actor makes him a terrific choice to play Galactus in Fantastic Four. Moreover, the actor’s instantly recognizable voice is both compelling and frightening, lending itself well to villainous roles. Neeson would easily redefine the role of Galactus, layering him in a level of complexity worthy of the iconic villain.
4 Michael Shannon
Michael Shannon is an often underappreciated actor who has appeared in several recognizable roles over the years. His recent projects include Knives Out and Bullet Train, both of which showed just how versatile the actor can be, displaying unbridled rage and smarminess in each of his two characters therein.
Shannon is perfect for portraying comic book villains like Galactus. The actor has already played one of Superman’s strongest supervillains, appearing as General Zod in Man of Steeland DC’s upcoming The Flash. Through his portrayal of Zod, Shannon proved that he can go big at times and remain subdued at others, a perfect quality in a Celestial villain as powerful and contemplative as Galactus.
3 Gerard Butler
Gerard Butler has made a career for himself in action-heavy roles like Leonidas in 300, and Mike Banning in Olympus Has Fallen. However, the actor is also capable of portraying deep, contemplative characters like The Phantom in Phantom of the Opera, displaying some of the traits absolutely necessary in Marvel’s Galactus actor.
Butler’s powerful voice carries tremendous weight, making his voice work in franchises like How to Train Your Dragonall the more impressive. Coupled with his vocal talent, Butler’s perfect mix of portraying vehement rage and contemplative angst makes him a terrific candidate to play Galactus in the MCU, bringing to life every aspect of the complex character from Marvel Comics.
2 James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones has one of the most famous voices in the history of Hollywood, voicing multiple iconic characters, including Darth Vader in Star Wars and Mufasa in The Lion King. Any character is instantly elevated by Jones’s portrayal, making him a truly timeless actor whose roles will not soon be forgotten.
Jones is an easy choice to bring Galactus to life, especially since the role will heavily rely on the power of the actor’s voice. Imbuing the Devourer of Worlds with the booming voice of James Earl Jones would instantly make the character stand out against the MCU’s many supervillains, solidifying him as a cosmic force capable of wreaking havoc on entire galaxies.
1 Antonio Banderas
Antonio Banderas is a versatile actor who has made a name for himself in many genres throughout his long and celebrated career. Banderas has portrayed many iconic heroes and villains throughout the last several decades, including the legendary Zorro. He will next appear in the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
Banderas brings a certain charm to his every performance, imbuing each of his characters with an abundance of personality. While he might not be the obvious choice for a character like Galactus, Antonio Banderas can certainly lean into the villain’s humanity while still providing the imposing qualities that make him such a terrifying threat in Marvel Comics.
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