The MCU makes the superhero genre look like a piece of cake in this day and age, but years ago, superhero films had a lot of work to do. Early hits like Spider-Man and X-Men got the ball rolling, but there were plenty of misfires that many fans have chosen to forget all about.
Dusing this time, a number of Marvel characters were getting a chance to shine once and for all, and studios were looking at using some huge names to fill these important roles. Sure, a few no-name performers landed big roles, but a few superheroes were in need of a star like Johnny Depp.
Let’s see which hero Johnny Depp nearly played.
Johnny Depp Was Considered To Play The Hulk
During the early 2000s, superhero movies were still finding their footing in Hollywood to a mixed degree of success. Studios were swooping up characters left and right to smack a home run with a film project, and Universal was able to bring the Hulk to the big screen. Prior to production getting underway on the film, Johnny Depp was in consideration for the lead role in the film.
Before being in consideration for the role, Depp had already established himself as a major star in Hollywood. After breaking out in the 80s, Depp would take on huge roles in the 90s, all of which went into making him a household name. Films like Edward Scissorhands, Blow, Choclat and more all helped Depp show the world that he was a bankable star.
The Hulk, meanwhile, is one of Marvel’s most famous characters who already had a track record of success in entertainment. Aside from being a giant figure in the comics, the Hulk already had a hit television show decades earlier. This meant that the upcoming movie had potential to do huge business at the box office with a modern take on the character.
Despite the opportunity coming his way, Johnny Depp wound up turning down the chance to star in the film. This opened the door for another performer to get his chance at playing the iconic hero on the big screen.
Eric Bana Gets The Role
Prior to landing the role of the Hulk, Eric Bana was not nearly as known stateside as Johnny Depp was. Bana rose to prominence in his native Australia before coming to North America to increase his mainstream appeal. After small screen success in Australia and a role in Black Hawk Down, Bana got his chance to play the Hulk on the big screen for Universal.
Released in 2003, Hulk received okay reviews from critics and was able to net $245 million at the global box office. While the film was a success, to a degree, it was nowhere close to matching some other huge Marvel properties during that time, namely Spider-Man and X-Men. At one point, a sequel was being considered, but this ultimately fell through, which opened the door for some changes to be made to the character.
Eventually, the Hulk would make his way into the MCU, where his lone solo film is considered one of the worst MCU movies to date. It hasn’t been easy making a solo Hulk film, and at this point, we have to wonder if it will happen again. Maybe the MCU can make a mini-series on Disney+ instead.
Speaking of the MCU, many acclaimed actors have appeared in the franchise, leading some to wonder if Johnny Depp will ever make an appearance.
Depp Has Been Rumored To Come To The MCU
While it has only been rumors, there have been whispers about Johnny Depp appearing in the MCU at some point. There are so many characters that can come into the fold at any point, and fans have been speculating who they think Depp could play and who they would like to see him play if he does enter the franchise.
One of the rumors about Depp suggests that he could play Bounty Hunter, who is a primary villain of Ghost Rider. This would allow Depp to play a villainous character, and fans could finally get a halfway decent Ghost Rider solo film. Remember those two Nicolas Cage Ghost Rider flicks? Yeah, neither does anyone else.
Until there is an official confirmation, we will all have to sit back and wait. Depp already passed playing a Marvel character once, but he could make an entirely different decision this time around and enter the MCU to shake things up. People would pack theaters to see the actor alongside the MCU’s biggest stars.