There are dozens of productions out there where past, present and future MCU stars collaborate in a variety of genres. Whether it’s a director and actor working together again like Jon Favreau and Scarlett Johansson in The Jungle Book or two stars starring opposite each other, Marvel’s roster contains stars that have their own extensive filmography.
After watching these actors and actresses create iconic characters, it’s hard to view them as anything but their superhero counterparts. These roles came either after or just as our heroes dawned their respective capes and weapons as they waited for the next franchise installment to begin production. When you’ve finished your next MCU binge and need more of your favorite stars, there are plenty of options to dynamic duos onscreen again.
Wind River (2017)
Written and directed by the impressive Taylor Sheridan, Wind River follows an experienced hunter/tracker Corey (Jeremy Renner) as he assists FBI agent Jane Banner (Elizabeth Olson) as they investigate the death of a young Native American woman on a Wyoming reservation. With the same intensity and suspense as his previous works like Sicario and Hell or High Water, this thriller featuring two superhero favorites is darker than any MCU movie.
Olson and Renner once again team up outside the capes and superpowers, paralleling the protective nature of Hawkeye and Wanda from Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain America: Civil War. While Marvel has its fair share of emotional scenes and moments, this 2017 masterpiece demonstrates a full range of acting from both stars.
Just Mercy (2019)
This 2019 drama follows recent law graduate Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) as he works to exonerate death row inmate Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx) from a crime he is innocent of. The finds its basis in real-life attorney Stevenson’s memoir, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. Writer and director Destin Daniel Cretton would go on to helm Marvel’s Shang-Chi in 2021.
Alongside Jordan is Brie Larson as she portrays Eva Ansley, the woman who assisted in advocating for those wrongfully convicted alongside Stevenson. In the MCU, Jordan’s Killmonger is a villain seeking revenge for his injustices but here, steps into the polar opposite with Just Mercy. Larson continues to add strong female characters to her resume that stand up for those who cannot fight for themselves.
Infinitely Polar Bear (2014)
With their relationship struggling, husband Cam (Mark Ruffalo), who suffers from Bipolar Disorder, agrees to take full responsibility for their two high-energy daughters while wife Maggie (Zoe Saldana) goes to graduate school in New York. This Indie dramedy allows these MCU actors to explore proper family and relationship values as their superhero characters are deterred from having one, the other, or both in their storylines.
Ruffalo and Saldana team up as a married couple instead of fighting Thanos and the world ending. Ruffalo still battles emotional switches here with Cam as he does with Hulk, while Saldana embraces a healthier family and career atmosphere than her MCU heroine Gamora does. Infinitely Polar Bear is an excellent pick for viewers wanting to see fan-favorite MCU characters outside their green make-up.
Men in Black: International (2019)
When a mole in the MIB organization threatens its agents, veteran Agent H (Chris Hemsworth) and rookie Agent M (Tessa Thompson) team up to save the agency and the world from alien villains. Thor and Valkyrie are back at fighting off space threats this time as black suits instead of super suits.
Like in the MCU, Thompson plays a character to balance our Hemsworth, and audiences can find the same appealing banter from each character in this 2019 action-comedy. While critics weren’t fans of this revamp of the franchise, audiences were thrilled to see their favorite Asgardians back in action together.
The Devil All the Time (2020)
A dark crime drama, The Devil All the Time follows the tale of Arvin (Tom Holland) as he tried to protect his loved ones from sinister individuals infiltrating his backwoods town. Putting the pieces of each crime narrative together his Deputy Lee Bodecker (Sebastian Stan). A stark opposition to Marvel’s friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, Holland steps into a protective role as questions the intentions of newcomers into his hometown.
A clean-cut looking deputy in the film, Stan provides another opposite character from fan-favorite Bucky. While 2020 Netflix film maintains an R-rating for violence, language, sexual content, and more, adult Marvel fans enjoyed the intense acting range provided by their MCU heroes.
I Saw the Light (2015)
Top-notch casting from Marvel regulars like Tom Hiddleston and Elizabeth Olsen was not enough to please critics and audiences with this 2015 biographic story of Hank Williams. Following the music career and rise to fame of Williams (Hiddleston), I Saw the Light details the troubles of fame caused him and the downfall of his marriage to Audrey Williams (Olsen).
It’s difficult to imagine a marriage between Loki and Scarlet Witch, but this film made it happen outside the MCU. Viewers were disappointed in the failure to depict the life of the country music legend, but commended Hiddleston and Olsen for valiant attempts to revive the two-hour-long film. Marvel fans can revisit this film if only to admire the vocal accent range of both actors and to hear Hiddleston’s singing in action.
Jojo Rabbit (2019)
A young German boy named Jojo (Roman Griffin Davis) who’s imaginary friend happens to be Adolf Hitler (Taika Waititi) discovers his mother (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) in their home during World War II. Critically acclaimed, this 2019 dramedy features a Marvel veteran Black Widow and newcomer fan-favorite sidekick Korg.
Waititi would win the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay and Johansson would be nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting role. Waititi’s playful nature shines here as well as in his Marvel filmography as Korg, director of Thor: Ragnarokand writer/director for Thor: Love and Thunder. Viewers enjoyed a style of almost co-parenting from two MCU favorites that is worth revisiting any time.
Onward (2020)
With voices provided by Chris Pratt and Tom Holland, Disney’s Onward follows two elf brothers as they race to spend one last day with their father before a magical spell wears off. Nominated for Best Animated Feature, this 2020 film brings the heart and bond of family to the screen courtesy of a couple of superheroes.
Even though their characters met for the first time in Avengers: Infinity War the chemistry between Holland and Pratt is realistic of siblings provides a Marvel-esque comedy level to Disney’s animation. MCU fans of all ages can enjoy this film when they want a taste of their favorite actors when they don’t need to save the world.
Kong: Skull Island (2017)
From Marvel movie magic to monster movie magic, Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston, and Samuel L. Jackson face off against the largest cinematic creatures in history: King Kong. A scientific expedition leads tracker James Conrad (Hiddleston), photographer Mason Weaver (Larson), and military general Preston Packard (Jackson) to skull island where their mission takes a drastic turn.
Instead of providing backup to the Avengers as Nick Fury, Jackson takes on the villainous role in Kong: Skull Island while Hiddleston, the usual villain as Loki turns hero alongside Larson. An action-packed adventure with Marvel-level visuals, this 2017 movie is perfect to add to the watch list after an MCU binge.
