11 MCU Stars Who’ve Done a Batman Movie (Before Scarlett Johansson)

Scarlett Johansson jumping into The Batman – Part II is shaping up to be one of the biggest power moves in recent comic-book casting. According to reports, she is in final talks to join Matt Reeves’ gritty Gotham, and is about to become only the 12th MCU alum to cross over into a Batman movie. Here are other MCU names that beat her to Gotham.

All MCU stars who’ve featured in a Batman movie listed

Christian Bale

The MCU-to-Gotham way is deeper than most people think. Bale starred as Bruce Wayne in The Dark Knight trilogy. Then he joined the MCU as Gorr the God Butcher in Thor: Love and Thunder.

Michael Keaton

Michael Keaton helped redefine Batman in Tim Burton’s cult-classic era. Years later, he swung into the MCU as the Vulture in Spider-Man. His stint in the MCU film proved he can play both a hero and a villain.

Michelle Pfeiffer

Michelle Pfeiffer, unforgettable as Catwoman, also found a new second life in superhero cinema as Janet van Dyne in the Ant-Man films.

Tom Hardy

Tom Hardy’s another heavyweight in this crossover club. He crushed it as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises. Then he shifted to MCU as Venom. He even appeared as a cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home, confirming that Spidey and Venom are part of the same universe.

J.K. Simmons

J.K. Simmons pulled double duty more directly than most, switching between Commissioner Gordon in DC and J. Jonah Jameson in Marvel’s Spider-Man universe. His role in Justice League may be brief, but he steals the scene with his presence.

Tommy Lee Jones

Tommy Lee Jones, who brought a memorable spin to Two-Face in Batman Forever, later appeared in Captain America: The First Avenger as Colonel Chester Phillips. His role was highly important and lent gravitas to the birth of the MCU’s earliest hero.

Ben Mendelsohn

Ben Mendelsohn, who played the cutthroat businessman John Daggett in The Dark Knight Rises, later won over Marvel fans as Talos, the Skrull leader at the heart of Captain Marvel and Secret Invasion.

Andy Serkis

Andy Serkis plays Alfred Pennyworth in Matt Reeves’ Batman universe, and he’s also made his mark in the MCU as Ulysses Klaue, the evil black-market dealer appearing in Black Panther and Age of Ultron.

Jon Favreau

Jon Favreau, a key figure in building the MCU, actually had a brush with Gotham early on in Batman Forever, way before he became Happy Hogan and helped kick off Marvel’s most successful era.

Laurence Fishburne

Laurence Fishburne, who played Perry White in the DCEU, later joined the Marvel universe as scientist Bill Foster in Ant-Man and the Wasp.

Henry Cavill

Henry Cavill, best known as DC’s Superman, recently surprised fans with a cameo as a Wolverine variant in Deadpool & Wolverine. Even though it was brief, fans are buzzing, wondering if he might be the next Wolverine.