10 Actors Who Would Make a Great Green Goblin In The MCU

The role of the Green Goblin has been associated with actor Willem Dafoe for years now. This connection is with good reason; he gave perhaps one of the most iconic performances in comic book movie history in 2002’s Spider-Man, reprising his role in 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Though it does not appear that the MCU has any plans to recast the role of Norman Osborn for the universe in which the majority of the franchise takes place, if they were to do so, certain actors would be excellent in bringing their talents to the MCU.

Javier Bardem

Fifteen years after its release, No Country for Old Men is perhaps best remembered for the performance of Javier Bardem as the terrifying Anton Chigurh. As a non-horror movie character scarier than many actual horror movie villains, Chigurh’s methodical relentlessness sticks with viewers, and the character is believable partly because of Bardem’s phenomenal talents in the role.

The ability to captivate and scare audiences is crucial to the role of the Green Goblin, and Bardem would be able to do both exceptionally well.

Giancarlo Esposito

Best known for his villainous characters, Giancarlo Esposito played perhaps one of the most iconic TV villains of all time with his portrayal of Gustavo Fring in Breaking Bad. While this character and several others Esposito has played are more cold and calculating than the Green Goblin, there is no doubt that the skilled actor could bring forth an excellent performance.

He has recently been a part of The Mandalorian as Moff Gideon, but fans would likely not mind seeing him in another live-action Disney project.

Gary Oldman

Throughout his storied career thus far, Gary Oldman has played roles that feature a wide array of personalities and backgrounds. For instance, he played Jim Gordon, one of the most likable main characters in the Dark Knight trilogy, as well as the titular Count in Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

One of the most renowned actors working today, Gary Oldman provides chameleonic, enthralling performances, and it is safe to assume he would do the same with a role as the Green Goblin.

Daniel Dae Kim

Daniel Dae Kim has earned accolades in large part for his television roles, including series like Hawaii Five-O, Lost, and Angel. However, he has recently had more prominent roles in films, such as lending his vocal talents to last year’s Raya and the Last Dragon as Benja.

The actor excellently conveys emotions through his work in ways that make him magnetic to watch. Dae Kim has shown himself to be incredibly charismatic, commanding every scene he is a part of. If he were to play the Green Goblin in the MCU, he would undoubtedly do a phenomenal job.

Ewan McGregor

Throughout his career up to this point, Ewan McGregor has played characters with a multitude of moralities, and he has done so excellently time and time again. He recently showed that he could portray a charismatic villain in his role as Roman Sionis, also known as Black Mask, in Birds of Prey.

The actor is slated to return as Obi-Wan Kenobi in an upcoming Disney+ series, but as with Giancarlo Esposito, fans would almost certainly not complain about seeing Ewan McGregor in more Disney-related projects.

Keith David

Keith David was going to appear in Marvel’s New Warriors, but the project was ultimately canceled, so the actor has not yet been in an MCU property. However, he has lent his talents to many comic book-based television series.

The Green Goblin’s voice adds a lot to the character on-screen. And through many of the most iconic roles performed by Keith David, he has used his incredible voice acting skills for a variety of characters, some of whom are heroic and others that are villainous, like Dr. Facilier in The Princess and the Frog. His fabulous performance in this film gives a more menacing feel to the character, which shows part of what he could bring to a role as the Marvel villain.

Antonio Banderas

Antonio Banderas has been referenced in the MCU before, with Scott Lang naming an ant “Ant-tonio Banderas,” but the actor would have a lot more to offer the franchise if he were to appear in the films. For decades, Banderas has impressed audiences with the characters he has inhabited.

From performances in the Spy Kids franchise to Interview with the Vampire, Banderas adapts excellently to every film he is in. He has shown his abilities extensively, and he would be fantastic if he were to be cast as the Green Goblin.

Michael Shannon

Some of Michael Shannon’s most well-known roles are also some of his most villainous. Playing such characters as General Zod in Man of Steel and Richard Strickland in The Shape of Water, Shannon has displayed his talents for portraying antagonistic characters in captivating ways.

His performances always feel believable, which is what helps to make many of the villains he plays so compelling. If he was in the role of the Green Goblin in the MCU, Michael Shannon would surely bring this same element to his performance.

Cillian Murphy

Cillian Murphy is no stranger to comic book movies, playing the role of Scarecrow in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. More recently, he has been highly regarded for his portrayal of Thomas Shelby in Peaky Blinders.

Shelby is a complicated character, and Murphy shows Thomas’ best and worst traits in a grounded fashion, allowing audiences to observe his complexities in a more realistic way. His ability to communicate these characteristics and his other incredible acting talents would make Murphy a wonderful candidate for the Green Goblin.

John Cho

Though he is perhaps best known for his more comedic roles, such as the titular Harold in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, John Cho has shown a diverse range of genres he can excel in. With riveting performances in films such as Searching, Cho has displayed his acting abilities in a variety of areas.

Many fans have wanted to see him in the MCU for some time, and although a role as the Green Goblin would be very different from what audiences are used to from him, he has the skills to give a phenomenal performance.