10 MCU Actors Who Also Appeared in Star Wars

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Both the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and Star Wars are incredibly popular franchises with content across movies, TV shows, comics, and video games. Because of their widespread reach, it’s not surprising that many actors have appeared in projects from both universes.

As a movie fan, it’s always fun spotting actors who’ve jumped between the superhero world and the Star Wars galaxy! Some have been leads in both, which is amazing, but even those with smaller parts in either the Marvel Cinematic Universe or Star Wars still managed to create characters we won’t forget. It just goes to show how these franchises build such lasting impressions – those roles become iconic, and those actors become part of movie history.

Ben Mendelsohn is an Australian actor best known for his role as Director Orson Krennic in the Star Wars film, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. He played the main villain, responsible for overseeing the development of the Death Star. Mendelsohn reprised the role in Season 2 of Andor, set a few years before Rogue One, and also provided the voice for the character in the animated series Star Wars: The Bad Batch.

Ben Mendelsohn plays the character Talos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He first appeared in the 2019 film Captain Marvel, initially seeming like a villain before his true intentions were shown. He later reprised the role in a scene after the credits of Spider-Man: Far From Home and went on to star in the Secret Invasion miniseries.

Stellan Skarsgård is a skilled Swedish actor who became part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) near its beginning. He first appeared as Erik Selvig, a professor of Theoretical Astrophysics, in the film Thor, which launched the MCU’s first phase. He went on to play the same character in The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Thor: Love and Thunder.

Stellan Skarsgård became part of the Star Wars universe in 2022 with his role in the TV series Andor. He plays the character of Rael, who appears to be a simple antique dealer but is secretly a powerful spymaster with a mysterious past. Rael was introduced in Andor and quickly gained popularity with viewers.

Andy Serkis is well-known for his work in major film series, including his role as Gollum in the Lord of the Rings movies. He expanded his presence in big franchises in 2015 by appearing in both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars. However, many viewers didn’t realize he was in Star Wars: The Force Awakens because he played Supreme Leader Snoke using CGI.

Andy Serkis is known for his performance capture and voice work, notably returning for the Star Wars sequels, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. He also played Ulysses Klaue in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – a black-market arms dealer who appeared in Avengers: Age of Ultron, Black Panther, and an episode of the animated series What If…?

Lupita Nyong’o delivered a memorable performance as Maz Kanata, a former pirate and smuggler in the latest Star Wars trilogy. Like Andy Serkis, she physically acted out the role, providing both the motion capture and voice for the CGI character, who first appeared in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and returned in The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker.

Lupita Nyong’o portrays Nakia in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Nakia is a skilled warrior and former member of the Dora Milaje, and she shares a romantic connection with T’Challa. After T’Challa’s father passes away, she assists him in leading Wakanda and later establishes a Wakandan outreach center in California. Nyong’o has played Nakia in both Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Mads Mikkelsen is a popular actor from Denmark who appeared in both the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and Star Wars in 2016. He played the villain Kaecilius in the MCU film Doctor Strange. Kaecilius was a former student of the Ancient One, and he desired to become a master of the mystic arts.

Also in that year, Mads Mikkelsen appeared in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story playing Galen Erso, the father of Jyn. He’s a brilliant scientist, an expert in crystallography and energy. The director, Orson Krennic, compels Erso to finish building the Death Star, but Erso secretly designs a flaw into the powerful space station.

Oscar Isaac became part of the Star Wars universe in 2015, debuting as the skilled X-wing pilot Poe Dameron in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Poe quickly became a popular character, loved for his charisma and impressive flying abilities. Isaac continued to play Poe in Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Oscar Isaac has portrayed several Marvel characters. He officially became part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2022 when he starred as Marc Spector/Moon Knight and Steven Grant/Mr. Knight in the series Moon Knight. Before that, he played En Sabah Nur / Apocalypse in X-Men: Apocalypse and provided the voice for Miguel O’Hara / Spider-Man 2099 in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

Paul Bettany became part of the Star Wars universe in 2018 with his role in Solo: A Star Wars Story. He played Dryden Vos, the leader of the criminal organization Crimson Dawn and the film’s primary villain. Bettany has described Vos as a sophisticated gangster and a sociopath – polite and charming, but capable of ruthless violence.

Paul Bettany has become increasingly important in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), with his involvement starting back in 2008. He originally voiced J.A.R.V.I.S., Tony Stark’s artificial intelligence assistant, in the first Iron Man movie. Later, in Avengers: Age of Ultron, J.A.R.V.I.S.’s consciousness was transferred into a new body made of vibranium and powered by the Mind Stone, creating the character known as Vision.

Pedro Pascal has become a major star recently, largely thanks to his role as Din Djarin, also known as The Mandalorian, in the Disney+ series of the same name. The show centers around a solitary bounty hunter. Pascal will reprise his role in the upcoming film, Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu.

Pedro Pascal, now a globally recognized actor, is joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He’ll first appear in the 2025 film, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, where he plays the brilliant and famous Dr. Reed Richards, also known as Mister Fantastic. Fans can also expect to see him in Avengers: Doomsday, set to release on December 18, 2026.

Samuel L. Jackson is incredibly successful, appearing in some of the most popular movie franchises ever made. He’s known for his role as Mace Windu in the Star Wars prequels – The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith – a powerful Jedi Master who famously uses a purple lightsaber.

Samuel L. Jackson is famous for playing Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Fury, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., first showed up briefly at the end of the first Iron Man movie. He’s become a central figure in the MCU – and in the Marvel comics – and has been in 16 different movies and shows so far.

Natalie Portman became famous for her role as Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars film The Phantom Menace, which she first appeared in back in 1999. She continued playing Padmé in the following two Star Wars prequels, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. Padmé is a key character in the story as Anakin Skywalker’s love interest and the mother of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia.

Natalie Portman plays Dr. Jane Foster in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She first appeared in the 2011 film Thor as the love interest of the God of Thunder, a human scientist who discovers him in New Mexico. Portman reprised her role in Thor: The Dark World and Thor: Love and Thunder.

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2026-05-15 03:41