Why Does Being a Marvel Fan Make an MCU Role More Special?

For many actors, joining the MCU is already an exciting career milestone. The films guarantee global visibility and often come with an energetic, supportive environment on set. Chris Hemsworth has openly shared that Taika Waititi helped him fall in love with Thor again after years of growing bored with the role. As reported by Vanity Fair, when the director returned for Thor: Love and Thunder, the collaboration brought a new energy to the set that Hemsworth deeply valued.

But for actors who grew up reading comics or watching animated series, joining the MCU becomes more than a career move. It becomes a childhood dream fulfilled. These actors often bring deeper insight, passion, and personal ideas to their roles. Here are several MCU stars who were longtime Marvel fans before ever stepping in front of the camera.

How Did Tom Holland’s Childhood Love for Spider-Man Shape His Casting?

Before becoming Spider-Man, Tom Holland was known mainly for stage work and his breakout role in The Impossible. Holland has said he was a massive Spider-Man fan as a child. He revealed in reports covered by Fox News and others that he wore Spider-Man costumes, slept on Spider-Man bedsheets, and even dressed as the hero at an adult costume party shortly before auditions began.

Once he heard about the casting call, he begged his agent for a chance. His lifelong attachment to the character made the role even more meaningful when he finally donned the mask in Captain America: Civil War.

Why Was Michael B. Jordan Drawn to Marvel Characters?

Michael B. Jordan first entered the Marvel universe as Johnny Storm before taking on the iconic role of Killmonger. His Marvel fandom started early. He watched the X-Men animated series growing up and told DuJour that he always admired characters like Iceman.

Jordan has spoken about how much it meant to finally play roles that reflected his identity after spending childhood imagining himself as heroes who did not look like him.

How Did Andrew Garfield’s Love for Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man Influence His Journey?

Andrew Garfield was a devoted fan of Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man long before being cast in The Amazing Spider-Man. He has said he idolized Maguire and felt honored to step into the role.

Reuniting with Maguire in Spider-Man: No Way Home became a deeply personal and collaborative experience for him, with Garfield describing the moment to People Magazine as a significant factor in his decision to return, noting he would follow Maguire “to the ends of the Earth.”

How Did Simu Liu’s Online Marvel Fandom Lead to His MCU Breakthrough?

Simu Liu famously tweeted Marvel years before his casting, jokingly asking for an Asian American hero. He has referred to himself as Marvel’s biggest fan and openly celebrated the chance to bring Shang-Chi to life on screen.

Why Did Dave Bautista and Laurence Fishburne Embrace Their MCU Roles?

Dave Bautista grew to love Marvel through the first Iron Man film, which made him a dedicated fan before his Guardians of the Galaxy debut.

Meanwhile, acting legend Laurence Fishburne grew up reading both Marvel and DC comics. He even used his comic knowledge to land early superhero roles and later confirmed to Yahoo Movies (citing Collider) that he approached Marvel Studios directly to express interest, eventually landing the role of Bill Foster in Ant-Man and the Wasp.