5 Perfectly Cast Comic Book Movie Roles

The Internet runs rampant every time a new comic movie casting is announced. Right now, it’s rumors surrounding the potential of Armie Hammer portraying Hal Jordan.

Sometimes, these studios really drop the ball, and the nerd community will never let them live it down.

Other times however, the perfect actor is placed in the perfect role, and they make the character iconic. These decisions are what spell out true success for comic book franchises, and there are a few over the years that have risen above the rest.

Who are the best comic casting choices of all time? Take a look through the slideshow to find out.

Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark

There may be five more names on this list, but was there ever a comic casting better that Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark.

Everything about RDJ screams Iron Man – it’s almost as if he was born to play the role. His charming wit and sarcastic dialogue made it feel like Iron Man had just jumped straight out of the comic books. 

Not only is Downey’s style spot-on, but his story aligns so well with Stark’s. The actor had lived a lavish lifetsyle in his younger days, and was trying to find his place in Hollywood once again. Stark’s story is very similar, once he has to go from Playboy to people’s savior.

Let’s put it this way, if anyone else had been cast as Tony Stark, the MCU would not be the juggernaut it is today. That world will always be the house that Robert built.

Ryan Reynolds As Deadpool

When Reynolds was first cast as Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, fans were ecstatic. The quick sarcasm and dark humor of Reynolds were a perfect fit for the popular character. 

Too bad the movie didn’t do either one of them any justice.

Luckily, Reynolds fell so in love with the character that he didn’t stop until a real movie was made. The collaboration with Tim Miller turned out to be a giant success, and Deadpool became the highest earning R-rated movie in International box office history.

What makes the pairing even greater is the underground style in which the film was made. The gritty tone of the film, paired with its underdog status, made it the perfect Deadpool vehicle.

Ron Perlman as Hellboy

Hellboy has become one of Dark Horse Comics’ best selling characters of all time, and the movie adaptation was beloved by fans of the series.

One of the main reasons for this is the incredible casting of Ron Perlman in the title role. Not only was Perlman one of the only actors who could pull of the large, cigar-smoking look of Hellboy, but he also had the rough attitude to pull the character off.

The comic version of Hellboy may have seemed a little thinner, but much of Mignola’s art comes off that way. Just one look at Perlman, even out of costume, and it’s easy to see why he was the number one choice for this role.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan as The Comedian

Jeffrey Dean Morgan is now recognized by most comic fans for his portrayal of Negan on The Walking Dead. He plays the role to near-perfection, but the actor took on another iconic comic villain who has a personality very similar to Negan’s.

The Comedian was a featured character of the celebrated graphic novel, The Watchmen. When Zack Snyder adapted the film in 2008, Morgan was an obvious choice to play The Comedian.

The actor, as displayed on The Walking Dead, is great at making you feel uncomfortable with a smile on his face. JDM is one of the only actors who can pull off that kind of happy-go-evil attitude, and it’s hard to imagine The Comedian or Negan being played by anyone else.

JK Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson

C’mon, could J. Jonah Jameson have been played by anyone else? 

JK Simmons brought the Parker-bashing newspaper editor to life in the Sam Raimi Spider-Man trilogy, and he did so with some of the best deliveries in comic movie history.

From the hair and cigars, to the raspy screams at Peter Parker, Simmons made comic book fans cry with laughter in every scene. Those films were some of the best super hero movies of all time, but Jameson managed to steal the show each and every time.

There are lots of great actors who have played in comic movies, so there’s probably some of your favorites that didn’t make the cut. Comment below and share your perfect comic movie castings!