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Court Of Lore
Ep. 78 - Almost MCU Heroes Pt. 2
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On this episode of Meanwhile Back On The Podcast! It's the episode you have all been waiting for, it's part 2 of Almost MCU Heroes, where we tell you which big name stars were on the short lists but didn't quite make the cut for your favourite MCU good guys and big bads. From Thor and Loki to Wanda Maximoff and the Guardians of The Galaxy! All this and so much more on this episode of Meanwhile Back On The Podcast. So don't miss this one!
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Hello everyone, it's Frank McGuire and Jeff Mack and Taco Brown. On this episode of Meanwhile Back on the Podcast, it's the episode you've all been waiting for. It's part two of Almost MCU Heroes, where we tell you which big name stars were on the short list, but didn't quite make the cut for your favorite MCU good guys and big bads. From Thor and Loki to Wanda Maximoff and the Guardians of the Galaxy. All this and so much more on this episode of Meanwhile Back on the Podcast. So stay with us. So, like we said in the opening, this is part two of Almost MCU Heroes. And we're going to sit down and we're going to break down the MCU films and which actors were alternates or potential second choices for the roles that were cast by guys like Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. and Paul Rudd and Elizabeth Olson and Paul Bettney. You know, I said during the intro of the previous episode, Almost MCU Heroes Part One, that this all came about because I was just doing some digging and I found out that Chris Evans turned down the Captain America role four times before he actually took it. So after doing a little bit more digging, a little bit more searching, I found out that Will Smith was actually up for the role of Captain America. And I found that a little shocking. So I started looking deeper. I started doing some more research. And the treasure trove of names that popped up that were considered for other MCU roles was just incredible. We're talking about A-list stars, we're talking about TV stars, we're talking about there was even musicians considered for some of the roles in the MCU. And uh we're sitting down to talk about the second part of that episode, which is gonna deal with the movies that we didn't cover in the first one. And if you didn't listen to the first one, definitely go back and listen to it. We covered Captain America, Iron Man, and the Incredible Hulk. We're kind of going in chronological order here. So uh we're gonna pick up exactly where we left off, which I think is with uh Thor, right, fellas?
SPEAKER_07Mm-hmm. Yeah, Thor.
SPEAKER_01All right, all right, so let's talk about Thor. So we you know, last episode we talked about a few of the directors that were attached to some of the MCU projects. So we'll, you know, we'll kind of do the same thing here. So apparently Sam Raimi was attached to a Thor project in the 1990s. I didn't even know that there was a Thor movie in development in the 1990s. That could have been very interesting given the time of wasn't like like wouldn't that be just on the heels of like the Masters of the Universe movie? No, wait, that was the 80s.
SPEAKER_03That was 80s, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah, that was the 80s. So what would be what would be similar to the to the to the to the tone of Thor in the 90s? Like what could we compare it to? Really nothing. It was just a lot of the nineties was a lot of historical films, like Glory, Last of the Mohicans, and teen comedies, like teen comedies, teen comedies, stoner comedies, yeah, no, for sure. But that's interesting.
SPEAKER_02I I feel like yeah, I feel like with when you hear the word Sam Raimi in like nineties, I feel like it could have been close maybe towards like Spider-Man, because Spider-Man came around like 2001, right? And it makes me think about there was even the animated series going around in the 90s. That's true, and I was had a lot of characters in the Marvel universe, like had Wolverine was in that show, the X-Men, it mixed in with the X-Men. So I just wonder, maybe there could have been like a pretense here for the MCU. They could have probably started back in the day if Sam Raimi were to direct this one and Spider-Man. I don't know.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I think it could have been cool for sure. Okay, so 1990s, who would you guys cast as Thor? 1990s. 1990s.
SPEAKER_02Freddie Prince Jr., because he was the face of the 90s.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I don't know about that.
SPEAKER_05I thought you see that for some reason.
SPEAKER_02That's weird.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, because it's the 90s. He was like Freddy Prince Jr. She was like all the team comedy. Yeah, I could totally see that. Scooby-Doo. No way, man. Sorry, bro. I don't I I don't see that working at all.
SPEAKER_02If you look at the Scooby-Doo movie, it's basically a highlight of who's who in the 90s movie. Like Sarah Michelle Gedler was in that movie. It was Daphne, Freddie Prince Jr.
SPEAKER_01Like those were that's hilarious. That's hilarious.
SPEAKER_02That's all I see. It's just yeah, well, 90s. 90s were a fun time, I guess.
SPEAKER_01I'm gonna I'm gonna go out on a limb, and because it's the 90s, Marvel was really just doing B movies, right? They weren't doing the greatest films. They did the the Punisher films were pretty bad. I don't know if you guys did you guys see the post I put up on Instagram about the Captain America movie from the 90s? From the 90s, yeah. That was bad, dude. That was a bad movie. Ned Beatty is in that movie, and Ned Beatty is like the super accomplished actor, and he's in that movie, and they turn the red skull into an Italian. He's not even German, he's Italian, and the love interest is named Bernie. It's not it's not Peggy. Oh my god, it's just it's just bad, anyways. Okay, 1990s. I'm gonna have to go with Dolph London because if it's a B movie, you could you can totally see Dolph Lundred as Thor. 100%.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, is it a B-rated movie? Yeah, okay.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I can see that as well. Yeah, and it's not because I mentioned Masters of the Universe, that's not why I'm bringing up Dolph Lundred, but that's like the Punisher.
SPEAKER_05I don't I I couldn't see Dolph Lundren doing like a Thor origin story. He's more of like if we like a more developed Thor, even in the 90s, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah, no, I think so too. Um, actually, I mentioned a couple of Dolph London movies just like unsubconsciously. I mentioned Punisher too, so and that would like he was Punisher in the 90s. Yeah, cool. So beyond Sam Raimi, David Goyer was attached to the project in 2004. When did the movie actually debut?
SPEAKER_02What Thor? Thor? I think 2009. Was it or 10?
SPEAKER_052011?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, 2011.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so I think it's 2011 too. Okay, so David Goyer's attached to the project in 2004. That's kind of interesting. So the Thor movie has been in somewhat development limbo since the 90s. Is that what is that what you guys would take away from that? Yeah, sounds like it. It sounds like it was, yeah, for sure. Wow. Wow. Okay. Matt Vaughn, who's a great director, was attached in 2008 or 2005, sorry. And DJ Caruso was attached in consider, or sorry, it was considered in 2008. Uh, and then the eventual director, Kenneth Brana, who I I love Kenneth Brana. I thought Kenneth Brana's Thor was great. Um, you know, I'm one of these guys that's been that complains about the the tone that's been lost from the Star Wars films. You know, that old style of speaking, that that that kind of regal talk. Like that's been taken out of Star Wars. So when it when I got to see it in Thor and in space, I was so stoked, dude. I thought, oh, that this is great. This is what the like like this is the way the Jedi used to talk, and I want to hear them talk like this again. So yeah, I loved it. So yeah, so can but but here but here's the thing Kenneth Branna declined to do the sequel. I don't know why he would uh like I I don't know. I thought the first Thor movie was pretty good, but Patty Jenkins was originally hired to direct the sequel, but negotiations broke down. Really? Yep, yep. And Portman played a pretty big part in that film. I think she could have been uh I think Patty and Portman working on that film together could have been could have been a pretty big asset. All right, Tom Hiddleston jokingly offered to direct, but was turned down due to lack of experience. How do you jokingly offer to direct a movie? Just in passing, you're like at the you know, you're at the craft table and you're like shot, he just shot a shot.
SPEAKER_02He probably was in character as Loki and just like went with it, you know, causing mischief.
SPEAKER_05He took a shot, maybe, but if they said yes, you probably would have like blown up, but who knows?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, but dude, directing action movies is tough. It's not easy, dude. It's not easy for sure. Okay, so here we go for Thor. Daniel Craig was the first choice. James Bond was the first choice for Thor. Daniel Craig's head is too small to be Thor. I'm sorry.
SPEAKER_02It's hard to just say with a serious face, too, right? Like what? It's hard to say Daniel Craig was he'd be a very serious thorough.
SPEAKER_05I don't think he'd fit the MCE, like the the way that everything all the movies come together and everything like that. It just didn't work. It's just like Imagine Daniel Craig in the Avengers movie. It'd be so weird. Uh it'd be weird as hell.
SPEAKER_02It's like seeing Chris Hemsworth as James Bond. Like, Chris Hemsworth can't be James Bond, you know what I mean?
SPEAKER_05I I I could see that later on, not now, but later for sure.
SPEAKER_02You know, yeah, another thing too. Daniel Craig's like old.
SPEAKER_05Not to be rude, but I don't think I could see him as like, you know, especially well, like to be fair, when he came out, he was only what in his early 40s, late 30s when like Thor came out.
SPEAKER_02Maybe, but I think Chris Hemsworth too has that bulky thing to be like as a god, too, right?
SPEAKER_01Like, I don't think that I definitely think that's why Chris Hemsworth got the role because that was also jacked as fun.
SPEAKER_05It was also good. He didn't have a he wasn't a huge name, right? So like it was like an easy throw-in. Like, not everyone knows who he is. It's hard to like tie him to other roles and stuff. He wasn't typecast in any regard. So I think it was a great choice.
SPEAKER_01Well, the MCU actors didn't get paid a ton on their first movies, right? Like, it wasn't like crazy. I think, I think Robert Downey Jr. was able to command a pretty high price, but he's also, I don't know if you guys know this, but his insurance for the movie was like quadruple what it would normally be because of his past, right? The the producers um in the studio were freaking the fuck out because John Favreau was like holding strong with Robert Downey Jr. He's like, I'm not, he's like, I'm not changing my mind, it's not gonna happen. And we talked about then the last episode, we talked about the the characterization of Tony Stark, and we talked about uh in the last episode, we talked about Robert Downey Jr. and how he perfectly fits into the Tony Stark role, just perfectly. Like he's he's he's it's almost like a cookie cutter, you know what I mean? Insane. Okay, so other Thors, Channing Tatum.
SPEAKER_02I can I can kind of see it, right?
SPEAKER_01It's kind of like I think he's too young. I like I think we come across as just too young.
SPEAKER_02He has that baby name yeah, but he definitely has the body.
SPEAKER_05Step-up days? No, wasn't that like magic mic days?
SPEAKER_02Was it uh 2010s, yeah. Magic Mike came around that time, right?
SPEAKER_01Oh, okay. So it's Magic Mike. Oh my god, they wanted to make a male stripper Thor.
SPEAKER_05And also like the year after 21 Jump Street came out as well.
SPEAKER_01Oh, okay. Maybe they were yeah, dude, Chenny Tatum doing Norse speak, like doing like as guardian, no. That does not work for me at all. Honestly, I was excited for his Gambit movie.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, yeah, I think he could have been a good gambit. I wanted to see that, but we might, we still might.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I think he could get cast as gambit in the future for sure. I think he could do it. Okay, here's here's one WWE wrestler, Paul Levesque, aka Triple H.
SPEAKER_02Could have been his breakout role.
SPEAKER_05I feel like he could fit the role of can head. If he could act, though, yeah.
SPEAKER_01If he could act, I don't I think that's what held everyone held them back. He wouldn't have been an amazing like, dude, he looked like fucking Thor. Like he literally looked like Thor. I'm not surprised he didn't get photographed in a Thor Halloween costume every year. Because if that dude goes to the bar dressed as Thor, that dude is getting laid because he looks exactly like fucking Thor. Not to say that his wife, Stephanie McMahon, isn't hot as balls because well, she was hot as balls, but yeah.
SPEAKER_05But I also think Triple H was a little too old for the role to it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I think he could make that argument too. I think he could definitely make that argument. Tom Hiddleston is on this list, he got cast.
SPEAKER_05He got and he he he uh didn't he try for the role too? He's got uh the tapes.
SPEAKER_01He has a he has a video of him with the hammer. Oh my god, and he looks ridiculous. He looks ridiculous, it's almost like he can't even Thor ever yeah, yeah. So funny, so funny, guys. If you're listening to this, just for the sake of it, if you haven't seen this Tom Hiddleston Thor test video, Google it. You will be laughing your balls off. But you'll also you'll also reflect back on why Tom Hiddleston is the perfect Loki and the worst Thor.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it's almost like watching her player Thor Ragnarok, you know, like for sure.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, but perfect Loki, perfect fucking Loki. Oh my god. Okay, Alexander Skarsgard.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I don't really see it.
SPEAKER_01I could see him as well. He's the closest thing to a Viking out of all these guys.
SPEAKER_05I know, but I see him more as a Loki than a Thor. Okay, right? I I I I feel like he would play a better Loki than a Thor.
SPEAKER_01Okay, all right, that's fair. Okay, I like this one just because he's like super tall and he is he is like Dutch. Joel Kinneman. I love Joel Kinneman, he's great. Yeah, I think he could have done it.
SPEAKER_05He's like he's got he's got the jaw. He's got the jaw, he's got the jaw, and he's got the build too.
SPEAKER_01But I can't picture him with long, like flowing hair. Like, I just I don't think it works for that guy at all. Like, I think if he had long hair, he'd look like he he he escaped from uh an 80s rock band, you know? Like I don't think it would look the same as as it falls on Chris Hemsworth, you know? Yeah, yeah. Oh, and his brother Liam was in for the role too. Liam Liam Hemsworth was also up for the role.
SPEAKER_05Um I'm glad they did not go down that road.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah. Oh, okay, dude. Loki castings, this is great. This is so good. All right. Jim Carrey was the first favorite for the role of Loki. If he wasn't I want to I want a world with a Jim Carrey Loki. I do. Yeah, I guess.
SPEAKER_05I didn't go off like the deep end. I mean, I feel like maybe I could you know he's just gonna channel the Riddler, right? Yeah, that's what it's saying.
SPEAKER_01It's the Riddler or the Mask.
SPEAKER_05One of those.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah. Yeah, it's definitely gonna be one of those. And wasn't and wasn't the mask like the the lore of the mask, wasn't it attached to to like Norse? Like, wasn't it a Nor?
SPEAKER_05I think so, yeah.
SPEAKER_01That's crazy. That's crazy. That's cool, man. That's cool. That would have been really funny. That would have been awesome. Josh Hartnett was up for Loki. Interesting. That's a name you don't hear very often anymore. Yeah, he's yeah, he's not uh he's not around that much anymore, dude. He's he's just doing like independent small things. Well, one, I like I like Josh Hartnett. One of my favorite movies is Lucky Number 7. Oh, fantastic movie. Oh, it's so good, dude. The twist on Lucky Number 7 is so good.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, even the opening to the what's it called? The Texas Shuffle. It's yeah, yeah. The whole movie's good from to beginning to end.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, great movie, great movie. See, we're not just geeks here, guys. We watch other stuff too. Like actually, we should probably start a show about other stuff as well. Other stuff, yeah. Okay, so Josh was rumored for the role. I think Josh could have done a good job. I think he could have done a good job, but I don't think he would have played it with as much mischief. I think he would have been more villainous. And he like the the the banter, the the wit, I don't think the wit would have been there with Josh Hardin. I don't know. Like, obviously, the wit is is is something that happens in the writer's room, but I just don't think Josh could have delivered it.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, it's the the actors still gotta deliver it properly. Like, if they can't, it's no matter how good the writing is, it's gonna look trash.
SPEAKER_02I kind of I think I want to go like back with Jim Carrey. I think you know Jim Carrey would have been nice, maybe with the uh the Sam Raimi 90s film, maybe because it's given the time with the with the mask and stuff like that. Maybe that's why he was favored for the role during Sam Raimi's, you know? Jim Carrey, sorry, explain back there.
SPEAKER_01Um okay, Charlie Cox also auditioned for the role of Loki. Now, I can't compare him, like like I can't take examples from Daredevil and be able to, you know, uh see him in that role, but I can take performances from Boardwalk Empire, and he was a pretty mischievous little motherfucker in that. And I don't know, I think he may have been able to do it. I think he may have been able to do it. But I just, you know, after seeing Tom Hiddleston in it, it's really tough to try and picture anybody else. Yeah. But but yeah. Okay, so selections, boys. Let's uh let's talk about uh alternatives. Okay, so alternative picks, boys. Thor first. So we had Daniel Craig, Channing Tatum, Paul Levesque, Triple H, Charlie Hunnam. Oh, I didn't even talk about Charlie, did I? Charlie Hunnam, Tom Hiddleston, Alexander Skarsgord, and Joel Kinneman. Okay, I'm okay. So before we do this, let's talk about Charlie Hunnam because I think he's actually a good pick for Thor.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I think I think it would have been, especially seeing his role in The Gentleman. I loved him in the gentleman. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01And and he's some like he's got the blonde hair and the blonde facial hair and all that. Like he's he's he definitely physically fits the role for sure. And he's got that Shakespearean, like he can do that Shakespearean shit for sure.
SPEAKER_05Well, did you watch the King Arthur? I mean, uh personally, the movie wasn't amazing, but like acting-wise it was fantastic and it was entertaining.
SPEAKER_01I don't know, man. When I saw when I saw King Arthur shadow boxing in the trailer, I'm just like, no. Just look past it. Just look past it. No, dude. No, no. It's training for just like I'm not. Sorry, sorry, sorry, Taco. Go ahead.
SPEAKER_02I was gonna say he's just training to pull the sword out, you know? There you go.
SPEAKER_01There you go. Okay, and uh yeah, so and Joel Kinneman. So, okay, so pick your alternative. Taco, go.
SPEAKER_02Uh, I mean I'm I'm across between China Tatum and Charlie Hudman. I feel like if it's Charlie Hudman on like China Tatum's body, like Charlie Hudman's face on Tatum's body, I feel like that would have been a good mix. But yeah, I think Charlie Hudman could if he like if he got his physique bigger, broader, I think he could probably pull it off. I think he could have pulled it off.
SPEAKER_01Okay, good call. Jeff, who are you going for?
SPEAKER_05Probably Charlie Hunnum or Joel Kinneman.
SPEAKER_01Okay. I'm I'm saying Charlie Hunnam. I think Charlie Hunnum could have done it, and I definitely think that dude definitely would have like killed it in the gym getting prepared for the role. I just I don't know. I I I have a good feel about that guy. And I and and I've heard a lot of interviews with him, like long-form interviews, and he just seems like a really good dude. He just seems like a really, really good person. So okay, Loki. What is your alternative for Loki? We had Jim Carrey, Josh Hartnett, and Charlie Cox.
SPEAKER_02I mean, I'm gonna sculpt and just say Jim Carrey for sure, 100%.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, I'm saying Jim Carrey as well. Yeah, I'm gonna say Tom Hiddleston if it wasn't Tom Hiddleston.
unknownWhat?
SPEAKER_05I can't pick, man. Come on, like I don't feel like none of these, none of these could none of these can top the same role or the the performance of Tom Hiddleston's low-key. You can say that with all of the I feel like with like with all the but this one is the hardest, I think, to pick. Because even like the runner-ups here, I don't I don't know. If I had to against Jim Gary, I just I can't see heart literature cox.
SPEAKER_01Okay. Alright. Okay, so there's um okay, so c so so we um they have one role here from the sequel, Malachith. I love Malekith in the comics. He's actually one of my favorite villains. He's he's he's insane. He's like this dark elf guy. Um, and I thought Christopher Eccleston did a good job, but the guy that they have here for this role, I think, would have been incredible. Mad Mads Michelson.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_01As Malachith. I think Mads Michelson could have killed Malekath for sure.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, for sure.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, the ultimate bad guy, one of the like top tier five people you want on the screen.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. But the problem with Malaith in the Thor Dark World movie, just he wasn't, I don't know, he wasn't fully flushed out. Like, and plus it didn't make him look as cool he cool as he does in the comic. Like he's he he's two-toned, like he's in and his yeah, he just didn't look cool enough. I don't know. He was like a he was like a space elf. He wasn't even like an elf elf, he was like a space elf.
SPEAKER_02I think it just comes down to the problem with the dark world not being able to figure out its tone, to be honest. I I actually I can't even say because I never really watched the dark world, but I just figured um because around the time of the Walden uh this release, I felt like after there was like um the Star Trek uh Star Trek sequel came out, it was like this dark tone. I felt like everyone was trying to go for this like darker tone that didn't need to be there for like superhero or like sci-fi fantasy movies in that time.
SPEAKER_01Mads Michelson was in a Star Trek film?
SPEAKER_02No, no, I'm just saying um when it comes to uh like just uh the the movie the Thor of the Dark World in general, like why it just like like what the problem with the like with yeah okay, gotcha, gotcha. Yeah, I was just pretty much trying to say that I think the problem with the the Thor of the Dark World was just uh it was one of those Thor movies that didn't really catch its tone. Like it didn't really understand what it kind of wanted to be. I feel like it was just either wanted to be dark or like Shakespearean kind of steel, right? And it was just like the way the the timing of all the other movies are coming out. At the same time, it was like all these uh dark sci fi uh movies, right? Like um Star Trek into darkness is coming out. I think even Skyfall was coming out at that time, and I think it was because of the Dark Knight, made made all these like dark edgy edgy tones, right? So I felt like That's where and then Thor it didn't fit for Thor. I think you know that's where they went to the world.
SPEAKER_01That's interesting. That's interesting. I didn't even consider like the landscape of cinema at that time. Um, where they were going for that darker story. Um, were you a fan of Thor of the Dark World, Jeff? Not at all. No?
SPEAKER_04No.
SPEAKER_01Well, what was your major problem with it?
SPEAKER_05Um, well, I've blacked out most of that movie, so I don't remember. Um I don't know, you just it was neither here nor there for me. I feel like it was kind of all over the place. The story wasn't really well thought out. Um I don't know, the the Dark Elves, they just it seems so bland. Okay. You know, like I they really didn't really didn't push the push them hard enough, in my opinion. I feel like like I didn't even really consider them bad guys. I don't know. The whole thing to me was kind of just meh. And I I thought Natalie Portman's performance was not that good in that okay in that movie as well.
SPEAKER_02I don't know.
SPEAKER_01Were you moved by the Freya, the the Freya funeral? I thought that was spectacular as far as the way it was shot and produced. And what'd you think of that part?
SPEAKER_05I mean, good good part from what I remember, but like I said, I blacked out most of that movie.
SPEAKER_01Gotcha, gotcha.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, I I couldn't even give you a time by time like play of what the hell happened. I don't remember. To be honest, I remember yeah.
SPEAKER_02I didn't even watch the movie, I just watched like YouTube videos about it and just figure out from that. Like it's it's it's also the ported movie can-wise because it the features in Infinities don't do, right?
SPEAKER_01So yeah, you should watch it, dude. It's got some it's got some good scenes, like especially between Thor and Loki.
SPEAKER_05Steve only MCs or some shit.
SPEAKER_01I can't remember. And honestly, I think it's I think it's Tom Hiddleston's best performance as far as his emotional beats go. Because he loses his mother. Yeah, you guys you guys should really watch that.
SPEAKER_05I should probably watch it again. I have watched it like twice, but I honestly don't remember it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_01Alright, well, well, let's not try and bore the people that are listening to us by talking about Thor the Dark World. Let's uh let's move on to more exciting things. Um, the Avengers. This is the one I really wanted to talk about. Alright. John Favreau was originally attached to direct the film. How much do you think the film would have changed if John Favreau was in the director seat over Josh Whedon? I don't think that much.
SPEAKER_02Uh I feel like it would have probably been less comedic, maybe.
SPEAKER_07Okay.
SPEAKER_02But when I like it's hard, I feel like it was the movie was perfect for kind of Josh Wheedon, to be honest. I think only Josh Wheaton could have probably pulled it off. John Favreau, I think, right, maybe could have.
SPEAKER_05I think uh Agent Colson should be thankful to Josh Wheedon for making his character that memorable. That's true. Without Josh Whedon, like because Josh loves doing that. He builds up a secondary character, like something out of nowhere, really makes you like him, and then fucking takes him out.
SPEAKER_01And then except the Russian family and uh except the Russian family and Justice League. Except for that.
SPEAKER_05That was just he that was terrible.
SPEAKER_07Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Uh we yeah, we talked about Whedon last episode too. We were talking about Trachtenberg and the whole fucking mess that's going on over at uh Warner Brothers and and uh Mutant Enemy now. Um by the way, Joss, amazing name for your production company. I love it. I think that's one of the best names in the business. But uh feel sorry for what you're going through. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Err, oh yeah, yeah. But great name, right? Mutant Enemy. So cool, so cool. Um, okay, so we talked about this last episode, but it's in this section again, so we'll go over it. So Edward Norton was set to reprise his role in Avengers, but negotiations broke down and then Mark Ruffalo uh kind of stepped in. So Mark Ruffalo took over um the role of the Hulk. That's when we first get introduced to the Mark Ruff, Bruce Banner, and the Mark Ruffalo Hulk. But like I said in episode one, or sorry, MCU almost MCU Heroes Part One, Joaquin Phoenix was actually rumored to play Bruce Banner, the Incredible Hulk. Um, and I think we went over that in the first episode. We thought it would be kind of cool, but uh, but yeah. Uh okay. So moving on, Agent Maria Hill. Side character, but still some very interesting casting choices. Uh Amanda Pete was considered. Um not seen Amanda Pete in that role. No. No, that really doesn't get me too excited. Um here's here's one that does get me excited. Marina Bacharin. Yes. I could have seen Marina Bacharin in that role.
SPEAKER_02For sure.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I think she would have been really cool. Um, the other one that I've gotten that that that really grew grabbed my attention was Mar Mary Elizabeth Winstead. I think I think honestly, they kind of look alike. Is you know, Colby Smalders and and and uh Winstead, they kind of look alike. Wouldn't you agree? Not really. No?
SPEAKER_02I think they have a different face structure. When I say like chin?
SPEAKER_05I don't know. A little bit maybe? I think the eyes is what like really distinguishes them quite quite well.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I I don't really see her as um I was really uh as a Maria Hill because I don't really see her as a real like action. I don't really see her in action worlds, to be honest, you know? See her more. I don't really see it.
SPEAKER_01I mean God Pilgrim. She was played the Huntress.
SPEAKER_02I mean it's God Pilgrim. She was it was kind of like it was an action movie, it's but she wasn't she was in Harley, the Harley Quinn movie. I didn't like her in uh I didn't like her as uh would she the huntress? Yeah, I didn't like her as a huntress.
SPEAKER_05I don't like her take on the weird huntress.
SPEAKER_01It was a weird movie like the huntress period, man. Yeah, they did that costume, oh, was horrible.
SPEAKER_05Just the way she was acting was just weird. Yeah, yeah. That's what I'm saying.
SPEAKER_02I don't see her as I can I don't see especially from that. Yeah, I think they dodged a little bit for Mary Hell with that one.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, like like like all like all the self-deprecating shit and all that stuff. Yeah, that was that was that was weird. Yep. Okay, this one's big because WandaVision is on television right now or on streaming. Can we even like do we even say television anymore? Is that what we're like, or is it streaming? Maybe you can watch it on television, so I guess television. I don't know. Uh uh, I guess, man. I don't know. But anyways, um, you know, it's it's it's the talk of the town right now. Everybody's talking about it online. Everybody's like dying for the finale to pop off. Uh, I watched the penultimate episode the other day. I thought it was uh I thought it was pretty good. Um I'm enjoying the series, but I do have some criticisms. I really do. Uh I feel like I feel like Disney was the wrong place for this. So, Scarlet Witch. Alright. Okay, so I don't know how to pronounce this woman's first name. Does anybody know how to pronounce her first name?
SPEAKER_02I just lost it.
SPEAKER_01Cersei? Cersei. It's gotta be Cersei. Because I think it's Gaelic. I think it's Gaelic. I think it's like like Irish. Maybe. I haven't no, I can't pronounce it. Okay, I'm gonna go with Cersei, okay? Cersei Ronin. No, I'm gonna go with Cersei. Uh I'm gonna go with Cersei. Okay, and uh well, have you ever have you ever seen how uh Sioban is spelled in Gaelic? Yeah, I have. It's insane, dude. Yeah, it's like S-I-O-B-H-A-N. Yep, it's crazy. If there's a Siobhan out there, please like hit us up on Twitter or Instagram at meanwhile underscore pod. And tell me why your name is spelled that way. Because like if I wanted to sound that out, it would not sound like Siobhan at all. It would be Cyobin or something like that. I turn you into a Lord of the Rings character very, very quickly. Alright. Um Sasha Peterson. Does anybody know? Okay, somebody Google Sasha Peterson. I'm gonna Google Sasha Peterson.
SPEAKER_02She was in a teen show, like a little much music teen show. Uh pretty low liars. Somewhere like that.
SPEAKER_01Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_02So it's yeah. Oh, well, all those chicks are hot, so yeah, definitely, but I don't I don't see it though.
SPEAKER_01Um my god, dude, there's a South American okay, sorry, there's a South African actress with one letter short of Sasha Peterson, and that's what I just got on my on my results. So just like this random woman without an N on the end of her name. Hold on. Wait, maybe maybe it is the South America this South African actress. Maybe it is. I got a different one, oh yeah. Because I'm not finding shit.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that's the one that that's the one I thought it was, to be honest.
SPEAKER_01That's hilarious. Oh, okay. I don't think it was her. Oh, she was an inherent vice.
SPEAKER_05No idea who that is. Huh.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, she's in pretty l okay, she's in pretty low. Oh, yeah, she's also an X-Men first class. Well, it's like a it's like a it's like a background role or some shit. Yeah, okay. I'm not yeah, I'm not feeling her as Scarlet Witch. She's cute and all, but I'm not feeling her as Scarlet Witch.
SPEAKER_02I think the other choice is more interesting.
SPEAKER_01Yep. Okay. Alright, moving on. Um, yeah, I do know what um I I I do know what Cersei Ronin looks like. She would be a better fit than Sasha Peterson, but this is the one I really want to talk about because one of my favorite movies of all time is Mean Girls. I fucking love Mean Girls, dude. Okay, so I am like a freak for satire. I love satire, like you would not believe. I like South Park is my religion, and I love just watching people make fun of everybody. It's just it's just my thing. Um, there's uh there's a series that's been on TBS for a while that's now on HBO Max called Search Party, and it's one of the best satires of millennials I have ever seen in my life. I've been dying laughing watching this show, and it's um it's I think it's I think it was created by uh Aliyah Shockat, who is in um Arrested Development. She plays uh she plays Wednesday. Oh yeah, and this show is so good. Again, we need to start another show called The Other Stuff. But anyways, um, but yes, Mean Girls is one of my favorite movies. I don't care what anybody says. I just think it's I just think it's a phenomenal movie. It's so good. Tina Faye is brilliant, okay? Tina Faye is so brilliant. Um, so Lindsay Lohan audition for the Scarlet Witch.
SPEAKER_02I want to see the audition, to be honest.
SPEAKER_01I just totally I do I do want to see the audition because she's but she okay. In in Mean Girls, she is an accomplished she she she's a great she does a great job. She does a great job in Mean Girls.
SPEAKER_02I mean, it's like one of her only movies that she does a great job in, to be honest. But uh and it's yeah, no, it's it's one of my favorite movies as well. It's like definitely one of those movies that like define a generation, you know.
SPEAKER_01And she and I'm I'm pretty sure she was an actress before she was anything else.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, she was a kid, she was a child actress, she was a uh parent trap.
SPEAKER_01Parent trap, right? Yeah, all right. Okay, her whole life is a train wreck, but I would love to see this audition. I really, really would love to see this audition. And granted, they probably auditioned her because she's probably one of the most high-profile redheads in the world, right?
SPEAKER_02Yes, yeah, that she's worked with Disney before.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, true. Oh, good point. Very good point, Taco.
SPEAKER_05I'm surprised Karen Gillian didn't try out, to be honest.
SPEAKER_01Oh, yes, yeah.
SPEAKER_07That's a good point.
SPEAKER_01But maybe, but maybe they already had her lined up for uh Nebula, maybe.
SPEAKER_05At that time, maybe, I don't know. It's 2020. I guess. But I mean, there's like other pretty high profile redheads too.
SPEAKER_01Like um Yeah, yeah, but Karen, but but but Karen Gillian uh is it yeah, it's Gillian, right? Yeah, Karen Gillian. I don't think she really got her start until closer to when Guardians hit the hit the road. Like when the like like when rubber, yeah, when rubber met the road for the shoe.
SPEAKER_05She was pretty big for Doctor Who fans though. Yeah, but she's unrecognizable in the Nebula. Doctor Who? Bro, she she lasted quite a few seasons with uh uh Matt Smith. Okay, cool, cool. Huge thing. That's where I knew her from. So I was pretty excited when she was casted as Nebula. Okay.
SPEAKER_01Well, I'm not I'm not a Doctor Who fan. Um, ever since I saw the way that community parry did it, I don't think I want to see it. That's all like like like the Delix, like that just looks weird to me.
SPEAKER_05Uh yeah, that's interesting. It's uh it's weird, but I enjoy it. Good show. Yeah, you're awesome. Awesome continuity. They do really well. Yeah, because they're British. Yeah, British the the British TV is the best, yeah, for sure.
SPEAKER_01That's British TV's so good.
SPEAKER_05That's why the that's why we steal like America steals all their stuff and just makes renditions of it.
SPEAKER_01Dude, I'm telling you, if I ever get a series of my own or a film, my script supervisor is gonna be from the UK. I'm telling you that right now. Yeah, because those people are on point, dude. They're on point. Okay, so another show we could talk about other stuff is this show called Episodes. I don't know if you guys have watched that, but it's about these English writers who win a BAFTA award, and then this American producer wants to like adapt to their show for the American market, and they fuck it up like you would not believe. And they get they they they cast they cast isn't that what the Malablanc is? Yes, it's good, man. It is such a good show, so funny, so funny. Um, but yeah, yeah. Okay, so okay, so let's let's cast let's alternately cast some of these Avengers real quick, okay, and then we'll just move down the list again. Um, okay, so who do we start with? Well, we talked about the incredible huck last time we talked. Uh wasn't really a lot of choice for that. Um okay, so let's start with obviously Maria Hill. So the other alternative choices we have were Marie uh Amanda Pete, Marina Baccharin, Jessica Lucas, I don't even know who that is. Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Uh so Taco, who are you picking for your Maria Hill?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, Marina, Marina Bacharin. Baccharin? Yeah, for sure. 100%.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, me too. You're probably picking Winstead, right, Jeff?
SPEAKER_04Yep.
SPEAKER_01Yep, thought so. Jeff has a very unhealthy crush on uh Marie Elizabeth Winstead.
SPEAKER_02I would say the same with Marina Bacharin. She's awesome.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Okay, cool. Uh, we are on to Guardians of the Galaxy, folks. This is a fucking long ass list of Peter Quills. Holy shit. This is nuts. Interesting one, too. Yeah. No, a lot of these are very exciting. Very exciting.
SPEAKER_05Let's just go read the names off.
SPEAKER_01All right. I'm gonna start with the list and then we're gonna pick out the ones that we really want to talk about. Okay, Peter Quill to me is definitely one of the funniest characters in the MCU. He's basically Han Solo, um, to a certain degree for sure. But um a lot more sexualized. Uh no, a lot more overtly sexual and more overtly flirty, um and less confident, like less natural confidence. Like Han Solo would never like you remember when we were first meet him and he's and he's in the vault trying to get the stone, and then he's like, You you've heard of me, right? Star Lord, Star Lord, Han Sola would never do that. No, he wouldn't even give a shit. He wouldn't even give a shit, right?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I like to think we see Han Sola without a shirt, right? We see Bear Quill without a shirt all the time.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, well, no, once, maybe once or twice, right? Yeah, yeah. Well, that's probably because Chris Pratt was like, Hey, can I do a shirtless scene? I just got in all kinds of shape for this shit. Yeah, that's true.
SPEAKER_05Especially since like how he used to look and like Parks and Wreck and everything like that. Yeah, I'm sure he really wanted to show it off. And I don't blame him.
SPEAKER_01I don't blame him at all. I know hey, I applaud the guy. I applaud the guy for that transformation, but he was okay. Parks and rec, he is one of the highlights for sure. Yeah, he's so good, dude. Like, you hear people talk about wanting to be Jim and Pam. I never wanted to be Jim and Pam. I wanted to be fucking Rachel, or sorry, not Rachel. What the hell am I talking about? I wanted to be I wanted to be Andy and uh April. That's what I wanted. I wanted to be Andy and April, not fucking Pam and Jim. They're boring. Andy and April were fantastic, they were great. Um, okay. So Peter Quill, Joel Edgerton, Eddie Redmain, Jensen Accles, Lee Pace, who played uh Ronan, the accuser, Wes Bentley. Wes Bentley, we mentioned him last time too, didn't we? Isn't that the guy that isn't that the guy that played um uh Dexter in uh um Daredevil? I'm not sure. Anyways, no I thought so. Uh okay, Jack, Jack Houston, Cam Gigadet. I have no idea who that fucking guy is. Sullivan Stapleton, Logan Marshall Green, Garrett Headland. Okay, I know Garrett Headlin. Chris Lowell, don't know him. James Marsden, I know him. Jim Sturgis.
SPEAKER_07Oh, weird.
SPEAKER_01No, actually, could have been good. He plays a very kind of similar character in Cloud Atlas. He plays like this Korean. Yeah, but that's not very good. That movie sucked. Fuck you. That move's fantastic. Fucking awful. Coming up on our first episode of other stuff, me and Jeff are gonna debate Cloud Atlas. All right, um, Joseph Gordon Levitt, maybe because like I think he was all jacked from that other movie, right? That Don Don One, like the the Don Juan movie.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, but I still he's too baby boy to be that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Um Aaron Paul. Oh, I love I would love Aaron Paul.
SPEAKER_05Yes, I would love to hear Star Wars call someone a bitch for sure, 100%, to save my time.
SPEAKER_01Totally, dude. Like credits here's okay, here's a very obscure one, but I think he could really fucking pull it off as Michael Rosenbaum.
SPEAKER_05He only tried out for the role because he asked um what's his face to it, because they're good friends.
SPEAKER_07Who?
SPEAKER_05Um direct name. Oh, Gunn? Gunn. They're best friends, they're like really good friends. Seriously, yeah, they're like they're really good friends. So he tried out for a bunch. He always guns always like, yo, do you want to be my thing? And he just gets him to screen, try for everything.
SPEAKER_01How do I get to be best friends with James Gunn? What the fuck, man?
SPEAKER_05Yeah, they're like really good friends. That's why um actually ended up in the uh Guardians uh two. Right. He was uh he was one of the re uh Ravagers, right? Yeah, he has the he's the dude with like the blue ice face looking thing.
SPEAKER_01He was uh that's cool makeup. Yeah, yep.
SPEAKER_05He was with Stallone, that's what it was.
SPEAKER_01Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_05Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Okay, here's my here's one of my absolute favorite picks for this. Glenn Howerton. Now, if you don't know who Glenn Howerton is, you are missing the greatest comedy of all time, which is called It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. It is the best comedy on television by far. So Glenn Howerton places character called Dennis on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and he is just the lowest human being you have ever met in your fucking life. Like he's just oh, he's he's just horrible, horrible, horrible. He has this system of seducing women called the Dennis system, and it's like it's like one of these like pickup artist things, but like the steps are the steps are really devious and very manipulative, and they're just horrible. So I would love to see Glenn Howarton and uh as Star Lord using the Dennis system in space against alien women. That would be fucking hilarious.
SPEAKER_05Against Gomorrah and getting his ass whooped.
SPEAKER_01Oh yes, Gomorrah would whip his ass, yes, for sure. Um, yes, I'd love Glenn Howarton in this role for sure. Okay, I'm I'm very conflicted about who to pick here as far as like because we haven't even mentioned John Krasinski yet, but John Krasinski auditioned for Star Lord. Is John Krasinski gonna audition for every fucking Marvel film? Until he gets his part, I guess. Wow.
SPEAKER_02Like I said, I feel like I said this in the last episode with him in the beard and the superhero costume, he just like he's like a perfect fit for me.
SPEAKER_01Like you put in with the beard and the cause he's so fucking tall, dude. He's like 6'6 or some shit. Yeah. Something with that beard. Just make a Mr. Fantastic and get over it.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, he's the perfect Mr.
SPEAKER_01Fantastic. No, I it's it no, I don't think he's I don't think he's gonna be a good Mr. Fantastic. I think honestly, I want somebody closer to like Dan uh Dan Smith as like Mr. Fantastic. Like I want somebody who looks like science-y. And you know, but John Krasinski should have a place in the MCU. I just don't know where it is yet. But yeah, I love John Krasinski, I think he's great. And whenever I listen to the Office Ladies podcast, shut out Office Ladies, they always yeah, they they they they talk about his height all the time. All the time. But as far as like his comedic, his comedic chops and his and and his and his timing, he would have been a great star lord. He definitely would have been a great star lord. But I can't picture him in that costume for some reason. I'm really having trouble. Yeah making that making it yeah, it's kind of tough.
SPEAKER_02I think because if you always see him like in like the office setting, it's hard to see him in that like space cowboy kind of vibe. You know what I mean?
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Plus, plus, he would be towering over everybody.
SPEAKER_05Are we not talking about also Eddie Redmane? How weird that would be.
SPEAKER_01main would be weird but but he's also yeah he's kind of he well he'd have to he he'd have to bulk up a bit for sure a lot of it a lot of it yeah yeah yeah no for sure yeah so a lot of guys tried out for fucking star lord a lot of guys okay so let's try and pick okay let's do top two because there's a lot of people on this list okay all right Jeff you go first top two uh hard to say for some reason I can see Aaron Paul doing it I don't know why yes Aaron Paul I can see it too I'd like I want gentles in the universe but I don't see him as this character for some Star Lord no I don't think so either he's got the wit he's funny and everything but I think he's just way too too tall and too handsome to be Star Lord Wow what does that say about Chris Praft?
SPEAKER_05Chris Praft's a good looking dude but he's not like he's not like your American man he's not like the man's man okay he's like he's like the average man's man he's still a good looking dude Chris have a very unhealthy man crush on Jensen Ackles I'm just gonna go on record saying that 100% uh so Aaron Paul and I would like to see Rosenbaum try to do that.
SPEAKER_01I would love to see that screen play okay a screen test I would love to see that screen test for that yeah no I I would love to see it too no I think that would have been great okay um yeah I have to go with Aaron Paul. I think Aaron Paul would have been amazing as Star Lord especially like with the hair that he's been rocking as of late like not not bald Jesse look that would look fucking stupid he'd have to have like spiky like maybe a mohawk or something crazy like that. I think that would look really dope. And I'm and I'm kind of struggling between Glenn Horton and Jim Sturgis because I saw Jim Sturgis in Cloud Atlas and he played like this Korean freedom fighter guy and that's like that's kind of how I picture this I don't know but but I think I think that would have worked taco what about you pal who who who are your two choices for Peter Quell so I want to say like Joe Eggerton because I just want to see more of him.
SPEAKER_02I like him he's uh he's pretty awesome but I don't think he had would have the wit but I wouldn't I I I think it would be an interesting I think it would have been interesting also because yeah I like I love him he's a he's great in a lot of movies but uh of course Aaron Paul like hands down I think he would uh I think he would have got the physique I think he would have been almost perfect for the role he's just awesome and um yeah he was he was he has fantastic acting range I feel like he's very under he's an underrated actor that could be used has a lot of potential for to be used in roles like this yeah yeah yeah no I no no I think he I think he could be really good too okay so when I mentioned Glenn Howerton did you guys know like have you guys seen him in always it's always sunny yeah okay all right so how do you feel about Glenn Howarton as as a Star Lord Jeff too old really yeah well this was back when it was a lot earlier actually you know who I could see fitting in Star Lord in a very like Bill Murray is Han Solo way?
SPEAKER_05Who?
SPEAKER_01Charlie Day I thought it was when you said it's always sunny I'm like Charlie Day is Star Lord but I I don't know I don't I don't think I could see it but it's the same thing as Bill Murray wanting to be Han Solo right like Bill Murray audition for Han Solo like a magic to uh lost it to a dude building furniture and renovating George Lucas's house because he because he's handsome as fuck dude that guy's like that guy's like fucking oh my god that guy's never gotten turned down for sex ever in his life for 100% Harrison Ford yeah never never never never okay but yeah I think I think Charlie Day could oh you know who else could be good Jason Bateman I think he probably would have been too old I would say I don't know Bateman is too dry humor for Star Lord then I yeah it seemed like a dad body you know what I mean I don't see anybody yeah I guess the age thing is yeah I get the I I guess the age thing of Star Lord is important because of because of the dad component um in the story not only with his real dad but with with Yando or Yandu Yandu uh but that but that's the thing with Krasinski he would have been towering over everybody like he would have been bigger than Drax dude I'm sure they can movie magic bro they can fix that I don't know man if they can make the hobbits look small like and Gandalf look like a giant over them they can do anything. I guess I don't know we'll see okay Rocket Raccoon these are these are interesting too um Adam Sandler these are obviously voice act like voice roles Adam Sandler David Tennant I don't see David Tennant doing this I would laugh so hard if that was David Tennant Chartle Copley does anybody know who that is I think he played the alien in uh not the alien but he played the guy turning into an alien in District 9 I think yes yes he did yes yes he did oh okay that's I could I can see it okay I could see that I could hear well I could hear that okay uh Jim Carrey no not for a voice no no okay yeah I would yeah you you like if you're gonna do carry you gotta have the physical the physical acting maybe he would have done the anime like the motion cap for the as a raccoon yeah that might have been good that might have been good so after Jim Carrey we've got uh a very famous name in the world of voice acting H John Benjamin who is Bob from Bobsburgers and Archer insane it's okay I would enjoy that to be honest I think no I I think John Benjamin would have been great yeah um I can't picture him yelling the same way that Bradley Cooper does as Rocket though or like cracking up like the way he laughs and stuff I don't know like I it just doesn't it just doesn't jive with me the names that I think are missing here that would have been amazing Bill Murray and Bill Burr I think Bill Burr would have fucking killed it as Rocket Raccoon. Like if you think about his TV show the animated stuff he does F is for family that guy's voice was made for animation like made for animation and if you had Rocket Raccoon with a Boston accent the whole time that would be that'd be hilarious. Yeah that would have been awesome yeah that would have been awesome well big built by myself yeah I do I love I love fucking Bill Burr love okay so alternative Rocket Raccoon time who are you guys picking Charlotte O'Copley really yeah okay uh what about you Taco I will go with uh John Benjamin because okay yeah I I think he would have just been awesome as just like this asshole you know because he's he's he does it so well right I don't even think he needed to uh yell it as in the rope because he just he's like he's very cold and um smooth with his lines you know what I mean gotcha he gets his points there gotcha alright I'm gonna go this is gonna surprise you guys I'm going with Adam Sandler what the reason hold on the reason I'm going with Adam Sandler is is because I know that he's got a talent for creating voices and he did his own animated his own his own animated film he did eight eight crazy nights yeah eight crazy nights so I think he could have come up with a voice that just would have been insane did you watch impressions what did you watch eight crazy nights yeah I loved it yeah that's a great movie imagine Rocket Sound like Whitey that would have been cool actually that would have that would have been funny that would have been funny but um but yeah no like he he is a he has a talent for coming up with voices and he's a great impressionist um so I think he could have been uh I think he could have I I think he could have been a great alternative Rocket Raccoon and honestly I'm not really sold on Bradley Cooper as Rocket Raccoon to be to be completely frank. Because half the time I don't even realize it is Bradley Cooper. Totally 100% I don't realize it's Bradley Cooper either. Just like nobody realizes Ven Diesel's Groot. Yes yeah right like you know you've got two characters that that that that are essentially completely CGI did Groot have any alternatives? No I don't think so no it was like perfect empty voice.
SPEAKER_04Oh man imagine the screen does all right just say this line I am Groot that would have been great to see hey oh just a bunch of people coming in the room just saying I am Groot for two minutes and then leaving holy shit also are not story there.
SPEAKER_01I am groot that would be great oh man Mike Tyson oh my god sorry Mike if you're listening to this don't come and find me all right please don't you are I doubt you are but anyways okay uh Gamora uh Gamora's interesting um one name here has been in the news quite a bit as of late some coincidence right um I still don't know how I feel about all that uh I'm not gonna get into it now I think we do need to talk about it on a future episode though I think we'll talk about it on either cancel culture or representation um but yeah this is a total total cluster shit shit show it's like total cluster shit show um so the first name is Gina Carano who we all know as Ajax in Deadpool and as Caradun in the Mandalorian um I think this was before she kind of thicked up a bit for the Mandalorian she was I think this when she was at her fighting week I'm pretty sure right yeah and I don't know if you guys have seen her in the ring but she's fucking pretty pretty attractive when she was in the ring dude I don't know but uh I think that wouldn't have been a horrible choice she maybe not she she may maybe she would be in so much trouble if she played Gamora but um I don't know we'll see we'll see um the other one that jumps out at me is uh uh Adrienne uh uh palicki because she played uh Mockingbird in Agents of Shield uh who was well whoever mocking real Bobby uh what's her Bobby Morse Bobby that's it Bobby Morse Adrian Pelicki was Bobby Morris in Agents of Shield and um yeah she was great also in Friday Night Lights she's a fantastic fantastic actress and I think at one point she was up for a Wonder Woman TV series at some some point too uh I heard that rumored um I'm really sad that Olivia Wilde declined uh but I am glad that uh I do love the Gamora that we have I you know I do think um I do think Zoe Saldana is amazing as a Gamora and I really wouldn't change her for anybody at this point I think she's been great so yeah all right so alternative uh to Zoe Saldana for Gamora did you you skip everyone Rachel Nichols oh Rachel Nichols oops my bad I don't remember her what's she in I don't even know who she is yes all right it's Google time bear with us folks I'll sing to you do do do do do do do all right what has she done she's wow she's like a lot of small roles she was in G.I.
SPEAKER_02Joe Rise Cobra she was in Man of the High Castle she was in the five episodes of that oh she was in Titans she played Angela Azrath in Titans who the fuck is that I don't know she was in five episodes though I don't remember in Angela and Titans maybe the one that was the one that was treating Connor Kent possibly I don't remember she was also Martha in the man in the high castle Martha Man in the high castle Martha Martha Martha I I I watch that show so I'm trying to I've only seen the first season so yeah she was she was one of the she was one of the revolutionaries or like like like like one of the freedom fighters oh she played she probably played Scarlet right yeah Scarlet yeah okay I knew it yeah I just took one look at her face and I was like that's Scarlet and she was in Star Trek too yeah Gaia or Gyla Gala oh shit okay she she's in the librarians she's got a she's got a pretty uh she's got a pretty long resume okay well I don't I don't know I'm not feeling her no no I don't know why she got the role maybe she knew somebody I don't know maybe she's best friends with James Gunn too maybe uh but yeah no I like if I was gonna choose an alternative it would be Olivia Wilde for me yeah same um what about you Taco who's your alternative uh I mean I probably would say Olivia Wilde she probably is the one that stands out the most but I don't think she would have been like she's probably would have been better than all the other ones but I don't think she would have been a good Gamora I don't know I don't see her I don't think she's done that many action roles to be honest so I don't really don't know if she could have been that ass kicking alien that we know and love.
SPEAKER_01I mean she hasn't but it but but but I'm confident she would uh she would definitely dive into the training pretty hard I think but uh but yeah um you know who I think would have been great Tatiana Maslani of course you do shut up she's a great actress um okay yeah do you guys think we would have been canceled if we mentioned do you think anybody would have tried to cancel us if we mentioned Gina Carano Alright Draxa Destroyer uh guess who this is a very logical choice for Drax Jason Momoa the man without a shirt but he declined to do it due to scheduling conflicts Isaiah Mustafa I have no idea who that is somebody look that up oh weird what did you ever watch uh Shadowhunters nope um have you seen it chapter two uh nope oh I'm googling right now it's okay I mean I don't I'm not familiar with him because weird that's a fucking weird choice for tracks dude it is a very weird choice like I've seen him but I and I don't see this the old spice guy oh what yeah yeah okay hold on pause okay be back this fucking thing up what the fuck they were gonna cast the old spice guy in the draft you know I see it I I can see it now now now now that it's the old spice guy I totally can see it no fucking way I could not see that at all that's like the other guy like if you're at the people that don't are like famous for not having a shirt it'll probably be the old spice guy and cheat a little more like you wouldn't stop breaking some panels and look at me no look at you stop and look at me got those infinity stones you want I'm sorry man I cannot I cannot take this anymore the old spice guy to this track oh Jesus Christ okay Frank's dying it's we're gonna have to just come back like three hours later and he's like still laughing oh my god okay bro Brian oh Brian Patrick Wade okay I know this dude yeah he played he played he plays Creole in Agents of Shield yeah he played the absorbing man yeah yeah okay all right so Brian Patrick Wade was the absorbing man in Agents of Shield or Creole and they wanted to cast him as Draxa Destroyer okay and uh here here's a here's a name that's familiar to Guardians fans because this guy played uh one of the uh I can't remember the character's name but Gorath right Korath Korath right korath sorry uh I don't even know how to pronounce this dude's name uh Jamon Hansu I think or Hunsu um yeah he's great he's a fantastic actor uh I uh I've I've seen Amistad about five million times it's definitely one of my favorite films and uh he's in also he's in Wayward Pines the TV series and he's great in Wayward Pines as well uh he's uh uh he's in Aquaman yeah oh right king is he king rico is he really yeah oh I didn't put that together okay so as far as alternatives go I'm picking I'm picking the old spice guy just because I want that guy to have his big book like that would be like crazy right go from old spice commercials to fucking playing Drax the destroyer in a Marvel movie oh that'd be hilarious God man that's insane okay taco who's your who who who's your fave so before I was actually gonna pick Jumon Hansu but now I think I'm gonna like I didn't know what the old spice I didn't was the old spice guy but now that I know it's the old spice guy I'm going well with him because that humor is totally Drax's humor like he could have pulled it off yeah oh my god yeah but you know people write that script for him right but yeah okay anyways um Jeff Jason Momoa okay Jason Momoa okay see I I think Momoa is too slender like like he's like he's built like a shit brickhouse but uh I've seen him in real life and he is huge wait a second I just said shit brickhouse not brick shit house yeah he's built like a brick shit brickhouse oh my god uh right um dude I'm not even finished my beer yet this is hilarious um okay all right yeah okay so Momoa is built like he like he's a huge motherfucker he's huge but huge he's slender he's super slender where Dave Batista is certainly thicker he's wider yeah but Momoa can easily get that thick yeah probably probably but then we probably wouldn't have got Aquaman that thick that's that's true yeah yeah no Batista was the right role Batista made that was great hilarious okay uh next up Ant-Man um Edgar Wright obviously developed the project right uh and then got replaced by Peyton Reed there was a lot of directors considered Adam McKay I think that's the guy from Eastbound and Down isn't it he actually wrote for Ant-Man as well is it Eastbound and Down I don't know I think yeah it is it is uh he did do he did some Eastbound yep yep yep yeah he's like he's like one of the producers he's like partners with uh he's partners with Will Farrell on uh or sorry partners with Danny Danny McBride um well yeah he also directed Step Brothers Talladega Knights Anchorman wow they were leaning into the comedy shit heavy yeah oh yeah fuck okay uh I'm not gonna look up every one of these actors but my but my suspicion is most of these are uh comedy comedy directors yeah um okay so other than Paul Rudd who is the perfect ant man the perfect Scott Lang love that guy love him uh we had Joseph Gordon Levitt and Adrian Brody and Ewan McGregor was shortlisted interesting interesting um okay so if I had to pick an alternative to Scott Lang uh I'm gonna go with you and McGregor.
SPEAKER_05I'm gonna go with Joseph Joseph Gordon Levitt.
SPEAKER_01Okay. Taco uh I don't know I probably wouldn't pick I don't I can't see them I can't see them as Paul Rudd um yeah I can't see them doing it like like I'm like I'm not picking you and McGregor because I could see him doing what Paul Rudd does but but I just I don't know.
SPEAKER_02Yeah I can see probably Joseph Gordon Levitt because Paul Rudd well Scott Lang was like a thief. I can see Joseph Gordon Levitt being that thief kind of character.
SPEAKER_01I get that I don't see the the comedic I can't see the I don't know comedic yeah I get that that totally makes sense to me okay uh wasp is interesting very interesting Emma Stone was considered and so was Rashida Jones from The Office and from Parks and Rec which means that they would have race swapped the character and then probably Michael Douglas wouldn't have been the de me well maybe I don't know but they don't have to race swap she looks she looks close enough to white I guess no she's not no she's definitely not white dude I mean she's quincy jones's daughter I know that but she's light skinned she's light skinned but she's very light skin he's not gonna pass for a white person though Michael Douglas just needs to go to a tanning booth and he's good oh that's true but he does go he do he does get quite tanned doesn't he he does he does get quite tanned uh okay I don't know if no I don't know if anything I'm saying is problematic but I'm a 42 year old white guy so uh I apologize I should just apologize now just apologize now um yeah but okay if I had to choose Emma Stone probably Emma Stone okay yeah uh I'm not choosing anybody but Evangeline Lily sorry that's just that's that's not happening um I fell in love with her during a lot during Lost so yeah Kate Kate oh Kate oh Kate um and you yeah she was kind of she's kind of a I don't know she's a shithead at times but what can you do? Hank Pym had some alternative casting Sean B Pierce Brosnan. Gary Oldman. If I had to pick, I'm going Pierce Brosnan.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, Pierce Brosnan. If I had to pick. Yeah? Yeah.
SPEAKER_02I'll be curious if it was Champine, if you like, would have died in the end of the movie. You know, if you would have survived, maybe. Yeah, that's why not.
SPEAKER_01Nice.
SPEAKER_02I think Gary Oldman would have been interesting. I just I love Gary Oldman.
SPEAKER_01Nice. That would have been funny. Um, okay, Paxton, the the the husband, the stepfather to uh Cassie. Bobby, or no, the guy was he dating, was he stepfather or dating? I can't remember. Anyways, Bob Bobby Canavale is fucking hilarious in that role. He's so good. I really liked him in that role. Yeah. But Patrick Wilson was an alternative. Patrick Wilson was an alternative, and I like Patrick Wilson a lot. I think Patrick Wilson is uh a great actor. Um, but I honestly think Bobby, I I I don't know. I did maybe he could have done that role, but uh I think he could he he fits the dick role. Yeah, that's what I was gonna say.
SPEAKER_05He he can play he can play a good jerk, so I don't feel like he could have done well.
SPEAKER_01That's true, that's true. I think you're yeah, yeah, I think you're right there. Cool. Well, listen, before we move on to Civil War, I'm gonna take a quick break here, and just wanted to tell you guys, if you get a chance, go back and check out some of our previous episodes. We just uploaded uh our first edition of Free as a Nerd, and uh it was just me. And I was talking about The Last Jedi, I was talking about the characterization of Luke Skywalker, and I dropped one hell of an atom bomb of a Snoke and Palpatine theory that uh I'm pretty sure none of you have ever heard before because I've talked to all my Star Wars buddies and they were like, never heard this. How the fuck did you come up with it? And I literally had to like draw a roadmap to them. So um, and I think I'm right. I think I'm right. And if I'm right, everybody is gonna owe Ryan Johnson a lot of apology gigs, okay? Because this changes everything. This, like, if this is if I if I'm right about this, this changes everything. Um, and I don't want to sound conceited or whatever, but but it's like I worked hard on this episode, I really enjoyed recording it, and uh, I think you guys enjoy it. And then other episodes we just uploaded, we've got MC, we got almost MCU Heroes Part 1, so definitely check that one out. And we also have our spoiler hot review of Wonder Woman 1984, uh, which was a lot of fun to record because we couldn't stop laughing. Um, because we just couldn't keep we couldn't stop making fun of the movie. It was just it was it was crazy. It was crazy. Um, you guys did did you guys listen to the review?
SPEAKER_05Oh yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, what what'd you think, Jeff?
SPEAKER_05Pretty spot on.
SPEAKER_01Oh man. Oh man. I felt so did you hear me at the end? I was like, guys, I feel I feel so bad right now. Like I feel horrible. Like, I wanted to feel good about this movie. I wanted to like I think that's one of the most harshest things I've ever said about a film. I said I felt let down. I actually said that. I felt let down. Man, anyways, but listen, don't let that color your, you know, don't let that stop you from listening to the review. There's lots of fresh shit to hear. It's uh it's uh it's a pretty good one. Um, so yeah, so check that out. So let's move on, boys. Let's uh let's get into Civil War because uh pretty sure we don't want to talk about casting for Spider-Man. So um apparently everyone under the age of 25 who wasn't already in the Marvel Universe auditioned for the role. They had everyone from Asa Butterfield to Nat Wolf, uh Timothy Chalamet, who we now know from the Dune trailers, and Saturday Night Live, apparently. Um Liam James made it to the short list. I don't know who the fuck that is. Um, you know who I'm surprised isn't on this list? Is Logan Lerman, the guy that plays Jake, uh that plays uh Jonah on Hunters. Oh yeah. He could have been he could have been a great Peter Parker. He could have been a great Peter Parker, and um, yeah, so Charlie, so I don't know. Um this guy's name isn't Charlie Plummer, it's on this list of Charlie Plumber, it's something else. Uh Isa Butterfield was the guy in Ender's game. Don't know if you guys saw that movie. And he also played Hugo in what? Oh, right. The the Hugo movie. Yeah, I didn't see that. I didn't see that. It was okay. It was interesting. Out of all these guys, I think I'm gonna have to go with Timothy Chalamet if I really had to pick. Um really one I can see doing it. Yeah?
SPEAKER_05Out of this list, he's the only one I can like actually see doing this.
SPEAKER_01Hmm. Interesting. What about you, Taco?
SPEAKER_02To be honest, like I'm not I wasn't familiar with anyone on that on that part of the list, right? I wasn't even I didn't even know who Tom Holland was before he became Spider-Man.
SPEAKER_01So what does it say about me and Jeff that we know these young these young male actors? What the hell?
SPEAKER_02You guys are scouting, I don't know.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, you're just being nice, buddy. You could have said something completely different. This this Liam James kid, I don't know. He's kind of he's kinda look, he looks like uh looks like a cross between Sean Aston and Matt Damon.
SPEAKER_05Oh, that's so weird, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it looks like a cross between Sean Aston and Matt Damon. I don't know if he would have been a good fit. I don't think so either. Sorry, I just saw his picture.
SPEAKER_07That's hilarious.
SPEAKER_05Like what makes Tom Holland work so well is his like his background. Yeah, his acrobatic background really adds to the role. Like the flips and stuff he does for the filming is just like you can't you can't mimic that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, okay. So I think officially, guys, I think I'm going to have to say that nobody gets to pick an alternative here. Because after I look at this list and I think about what Tom Holland brings to the role, just naturally, just as like his innate and inherent abilities. Yeah, we don't nobody's picking an alternative Spider-Man right now. Um, until they give us a better choice, because I don't I don't see one on this list. Moving on. Uh Doctor Strange. This list is pretty long too. Uh it's got some great people on it as well. Okay, so for Doctor Strange, for uh Steven Strange, we've got Oscar Isaac, Matt McConaughey, Ethan Hawk, Jared Leto, Yew McGregor, Jake Gyllenhaal. And they were all reportedly on the short list for this film. So I really like Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange. I think he's a I think he's a great fit. I think he's a great fit. But honestly, if you look at okay, if you look at Jake Gyllenhaal in Far From Home, he's kind of wearing a similar outfit to Doctor Strange as when he's at his like when he's looked when he's doing the Mysterio thing. Right? So he's got a helmet on it. Yeah, he's got a helmet on. But it's it's it's I guess it could be perceived as magic, but it's not magic, it's technology, right? So I think I don't know. I think I think Gyllenhaal would be a good fit for uh I don't know, man.
SPEAKER_05He doesn't have that wise look that Covenant Springs. That's true. Yeah, he's he he's a good actor, he fits a lot of other roles, but I don't know. He doesn't have that like that wise, smart, like like sorcerer look.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah, okay. No, I think that's fair. I think that's fair. Okay. To me, only one on this list I could see doing it. Well, two people Ian McGregor or Oscar Isaac. Really? What about what about Matt McConaughey? He's got that, you know, like in true detective. He played that.
SPEAKER_05Imagine Doctor Strange going, oh rad, oh, rad all. I totally can imagine it.
SPEAKER_01Come on, that's hypecasting. Come on.
SPEAKER_05Well, I mean, he did it to himself.
SPEAKER_01You know, McConaughey's played way more diverse. Yes, I've watched the gentleman. He's fantastic in that. Right, but he's also, but like, like even if you think about even if you think about the detective, like his role in the true like like in true detective. Yeah. Like he's like, like he was already an occult guy, like in that.
SPEAKER_05I think he I think his name was way too big to be in this in the movie.
SPEAKER_01Maybe.
SPEAKER_05He's too too famous to be able to play Doctor Strange. Yeah, but you but you McGregor's pretty famous too. It's true, but Ian McGregor also kind of falls in that type of genre movie. Whereas McConaughey does not fall in that genre. Most people think McConaughey hardcore drama or like chick flick or rom-com.
SPEAKER_01I guess. But he does want to be in the MCU. I don't know if you guys know this, but he but but he wanted to be the Hulk.
SPEAKER_05That would have been an interesting one. He should be Adam Strange.
SPEAKER_01Adam Strange. Adam Warlock, sorry, Adam Warlock. Yes, he should be Adam Warlock. He should be Adam Warlock. Yeah, or or the Sentry. Or yeah, or the Sentry. That'd work too. Yeah, I think he'd be I think he'd be a great fucking sentry for sure. I think that would be a really ideal role for him. Okay, Jeff, so you're picking Oscar Isaacs?
SPEAKER_05Yeah, that or Ian McGregor.
SPEAKER_01Or Ian McGregor. Okay. Taco, who you picking?
SPEAKER_02I mean, I think Matthew McConaughey would have been interesting to talk to Strange. Definitely would have seen. I think that that last confrontation between Dormabu and Strange would have been more interesting as funny as uh Matthew McConaughey. I can see like a Wolf Owatre kind of take on it. Okay. You know what I mean? It's like you don't want Earth, Earth is Fugazy. You know? And just uh yeah, no, definitely think it would have been an interesting choice.
SPEAKER_01Cool. Alright, I think okay, so I think the alternatives for the ancient one are interesting to discuss because we all know what happened there. China basically intervened and didn't want anybody who reflected a Chinese background to play the character because they didn't want the story to be tied to Tibet and they wanted yeah, because they don't recognize Tibet as as a nation. Yeah, so the whole situation there is China has communist rule over Tibet and they don't they don't recognize their independence and they don't even acknowledge their existence really. So the Chinese market is so sorry, the Chinese the Chinese government is very in deep with Disney because they have parks there and Chinese the the Disney markets their films to the Chinese market and they have to take into consideration what the Chinese censors will allow or dis or what sorry what they will allow and what they won't allow. And it's affected a lot of things. It's not only affected Marvel, but it's affected Star Wars as well. John Boyega got minimized on the poster for The Force Awakens because of how Chinese people apparently feel about or the Chinese people or Chinese government, Jeff, that feel about black people.
SPEAKER_05Generally the government, the government also kind of dictates how you feel.
SPEAKER_01Right. Right. Yeah, so John Boyegger got minimized, basically. And there's no there's no logical explanation for that, obviously. It's just the Chinese government being the Chinese government. Yeah. So Morgan Freeman definitely wasn't gonna fucking fly as the Asian one. Um I mean he's played God, so why not? No, well, for us he would, you know. I think I think we'd all get fucking pretty excited about a Morgan Freeman ancient one. Um that's that's one rate like like that's one race swap for a character, I probably would have applauded. I would have like stood up and gave like a standing ovation. Because I I I I fucking love Morgan Freeman, I think he's great. Well, gents, uh, I think that's a wrap on almost MCU Heroes part two. But everybody, come back and we're gonna do uh part three where we're gonna break down alternative casting for Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Spider-Man Homecoming, Thor Ragnarok, Black Panther, and of course Captain Marvel. So be sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram at Miwell underscore pod, and we'll tell you exactly when that episode's gonna be available. To all you guys out there, thank you again for sharing your time with us. We really appreciate all your love and all your support. If you could, we would really appreciate it if you could head over to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser and drop us a review. And as always, if you have any friends or family that as you know, geek out as hard as you do, please tell them about our show. Share a link with them, send them an episode. We would really appreciate it. Hashtag spreading the nerd. Thank you so much again for joining us. I'm Frank McGuire.
SPEAKER_05And I'm Jeff Mack. Peace later.