The list of stars who have worked together with James Gunn and appeared in both his Marvel and DC projects continues to grow unabated.
A considerable amount of actors have appeared in James Gunn’s Marvel and DC films and the list will continue to grow with upcoming films such as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. With Gunn’s transition from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to the DC Universe and back again in recent years, the director has brought quite a few actors along with him. Because of this, it’s always a lot of fun to single out those in Gunn’s inner circle, whether the actors’ roles are significant or not. Many of these actors have been friends with the established director/producer for years, having starred in previous films independent of Gunn’s work for Marvel and DC. Similarly, some actors impressed Gunn so much that they were cast in subsequent projects. While some actors are family members and have become dedicated to Gunn’s work, one casting came completely by accident.
All actors who have starred in both Marvel and DC films by James Gunn
1. Sean Gunn is among the actors who have starred in both Marvel and DC James Gunn films
Brother to James Gunn, Sean Gunn has the rare honor of playing multiple characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as well as the DC Extended Universe. In the movies of Guardians of the Galaxy, Sean plays the role of Kraglin, one of the few Ravagers who survived the mutiny against Yondu and remained loyal, eventually inheriting his hissing arrow and joining the Guardians. He also motion captured every appearance of Rocket Raccoon in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In The Suicide SquadSean similarly plays the incarcerated Calendar Man, while also doing motion capture for the creepy Weasel.
2. Pom Klementieff
Although she is best known for playing Mantis in the films of the Guardians of the Galaxy of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Pom Klementieff also had a secret cameo in The Suicide Squad, at the request of James Gunn. During the bar scene, where the team awaits the arrival of the Thinker, we can see Klementieff in the background, as one of the dancers on stage. Similarly, Dave Bautista (who plays Drax in Marvel, opposite Mantis) was also originally set to have a cameo, though plans reportedly fell through due to other commitments.
3. Michael Rooker is among the actors who have starred in both Marvel and DC James Gunn films
Having starred in several of Gunn’s feature films since 2006, Michael Rooker is one of the best-known actors who has frequently collaborated with the Marvel and DC director. In the MCU, Rooker played Captain Ravager Yondu Udonta, the pirate who raised Peter Quill’s Star-Lord in the films of the Guardians of the Galaxy. He also played the mercenary Savant in The Suicide Squadhaving been captured by Task Force X and later assassinated by Amanda Waller, after attempting to escape the trap set for the diversion team on Corto Maltese.
4. Nathan Fillion
Another actor who is close friends with Gunn, Nathan Fillion, appears in a number of films such as Slither And Super – Watch Out Crime!!!. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Fillion voiced the big blue alien prisoner who threatened Quill in the Kyln before Rocket and Groot intervened. Additionally, Fillion also had a brief live-action role in The Suicide Squad as The Detachable Kid, brandishing his floating arms that he could control in a ridiculously autonomous way.
5. Sylvester Stallone is among the actors who have starred in both Marvel and DC James Gunn films
A former Ravager allied to Rooker’s Yondu, Sylvester Stallone played Stakar Ogord in an MCU cameo seen in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. In The Suicide Squad from DC, the iconic actor, best known for playing Rocky Balboa, was the hilarious voice of Nanaue, otherwise known as the dim-witted King Shark. As lovable as he is bloodthirsty, this iteration of King Shark is one of James Gunn’s biggest contributions to the DC Universe thus far and the character has been elevated so much more thanks to Stallone providing the voice of him.
6.Elizabeth Ludlow
Elizabeth Ludlow had a brief role as “Easik Mother” in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. She then had a bigger role in Peacemakers from DC as Keeya, wife of Leota Adebayo (daughter of Amanda Waller). James Gunn ironically revealed that he had no idea he’d already cast and worked with Ludlow on a Marvel project, due to the extensive makeup she wore as the alien mother.
7. Chukwudi Iwuji is among the actors who starred in both Marvel and DC James Gunn films
Chukwudi Iwuji played Clemson Murn of Peacemakers and will soon play the High Evolutionary in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Seeking to create a perfect society through genetic experimentation, the High Evolutionary is one of Marvel’s major villains. James Gunn was very impressed with Iwuji on the set of Peacemakers: “After working with him on Peacemaker I wasn’t about to let go of one of the best actors I’ve ever worked with so I gave him the role that most of Hollywood’s famous actors wanted“. Therefore, it will be very exciting to see Iwuiji in the MCU in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
8. Terence Rosemore
Terence Rosemore has played three different characters in Gunn’s superhero films, having small parts in The Suicide Squad and in several projects of Guardians of the Galaxy. Rosemore plays a foreman in The Suicide Squadwhile, as far as the Marvel Cinematic Universe is concerned, the actor plays Narblik in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and the alien Gurb in Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special.
9. Daniela Melchior is among the actors who have starred in both Marvel and DC James Gunn films
Although Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has yet to release, the Super Bowl 2023 trailer confirmed that Daniela Melchior will play a role in the upcoming film. In The Suicide SquadMelchior portrayed Ratcatcher-2 as one of the few members of Task Force X who actually survived the film. While it’s not entirely known what his role will be in the MCU, it appears that he will be a guard or assistant at a facility where the Guardians have apparently been incarcerated.
10. Flula Borg
After playing Javelin in The Suicide Squad from DC, Flula Borg had a minor role as part of the diversion team, which was quickly slaughtered in the film’s first act. However, she gave her javelin to Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn, who used it to great effect against the film’s latest villain, Starro. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Flula Borg can be seen briefly in Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Specialsin the role of a bartender who interacts with Mantis and Drax, arrived on Earth.