Given the massive success of the MCU and its looming presence over almost all facets of pop culture, it’s hard for well-known actors not to be approached with the question of whether they’d join the blockbuster franchise and what role specifically they’d want to play. Adrien Brody
, who has been making the rounds promoting the A24 film The Brutalist, spoke to Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast about how he would be more than willing to explore the idea of joining the MCU. However, Brody said any such discussions would be dependent on whether the filmmaker’s vision for the character was interesting. The actor would specifically say:

“Like I said, if I was presented with an opportunity to play an interesting character with a filmmaker that elevated me and gave me space to do something vastly different in that world, it sounds amazing. You have this wonderful machine [with Marvel]. [They] know all the techniques and tools to stand behind these movies and they’ve done something I think is enormous. People love them. Who wouldn’t want to be part of something beloved? It would take a tone I related to.”

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has grown increasingly more prominent throughout the years as new projects based on the vast catalog of unused characters from Marvel Comics continues to grow. Characters like Wonder Man, The Fantastic Four, and Blade are some of the newest additions to the MCU, each with their own projects on the way. Moreover, there are undoubtedly more heroes and villains still to come, which leaves the door open for all different kinds of fan casting and rampant fan speculation. And Adrien Brody has now found himself ensnared.
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Adrien Brody’s condition for needing an interesting character is unsurprising, and his emphasis on a filmmaker also makes sense, especially given the apprehension other actors have shown in the past about joining the MCU. Marvel Studios has developed a reputation for less of a filmmaker-driven approach and more of an executive-controlled production that can sometimes lead to projects feeling more or less the same. Joaquin Phoenix was one such actor who reportedly rejected the role of Doctor Strange out of fear of feeling unsatisfied with the role.

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In the same Podcast with Horowitz, Brody discussed how he met Christopher Nolan for the role of Joker in his seminal 2008 film The Dark Knight. The actor was sure to state that he “wasn’t close” to getting the role, but it was still one that he felt he was “very suited to.” The actor’s interest in the iconic rogue from Batman mythos and the acclaimed filmmaker may hint at what he could potentially do in the MCU, particularly as a villain. Brody has had some experience with bigger blockbusters, starring in Peter Jackson’s 2005 film King Kong and Nimród Antal’s film Predators, although the actor has stayed in the realm of more character-driven work.
Despite the recent criticisms of Marvel Studios and its poorly received projects over the past few years, it’s clear that the studio is willing to make a course correction. Filmmakers like James Gunn have managed to produce films with his unique vision within the cinematic universe, and should Brody find himself a director who can execute his own take on an exciting character, the possibilities feel endless.