Noah Romsdal Hallundbæk Sørensen
Before they became household names, several rising stars quietly appeared in early superhero roles.
A new look at classic Marvel and DC films reveals that many of today’s biggest actors first appeared in blink-and-you-miss-them comic-book roles.
Long before becoming household names, they slipped into minor parts that now read like early signs of their future fame.
Revisiting these movies shows just how many performers were already sharpening their screen presence, even in moments most viewers forgot.
Early glimpses
In Batman Begins, Jack Gleeson briefly portrays a young Gotham boy enthralled by Batman.
His short exchanges with the hero offer a gentle contrast to the chilling persona he later embodied as Joffrey Baratheon in Game of Thrones.
At the time, he was only beginning his career.
David Dastmalchian’s first brush with superhero cinema arrived in The Dark Knight, where he appeared as one of Joker’s disguised henchmen.
His tense interrogation scene hinted at the unsettling character work that later defined his performances across Dune, The Suicide Squad and more.
Glen Powell also surfaced early in The Dark Knight Rises, playing a cocky trader caught in Bane’s hostile takeover.
Though the role was small, his charm was already visible, years before he became a leading man.
Unexpected origins
Before becoming Hollywood’s go-to creature performer, Doug Jones appeared mask-free in Batman Returns as the Thin Clown, one of Penguin’s eerie henchmen.
His brief scenes reflected the physical expressiveness he later perfected under heavy prosthetics.
Octavia Spencer made a quick comic appearance in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man, checking Peter Parker into a wrestling match. It was a small moment that preceded her rise to Oscar-winning acclaim.
Rebel Wilson likewise turned up early in Ghost Rider, offering a deadpan interview after a supernatural attack. Her comic instincts were already fully formed.
Future icons
Jenna Ortega’s early MCU moment came in Iron Man 3, playing the vice president’s daughter whose illness drives a key subplot.
The role, though short, showed the poise she would bring to later breakout projects.
Captain America: The First Avenger quietly hosted two rising British stars. Jenna Coleman appeared as Bucky Barnes’ date at the Stark Expo, while Natalie Dormer played an SSR officer whose kiss unsettled Peggy Carter.
Ensemble surprises
Green Lantern assembled Blake Lively, Taika Waititi and Mark Strong before their major career turns, unintentionally gathering several future blockbuster staples in a film remembered more for its flaws than its casting foresight.
Edgar Wright’s Scott Pilgrim vs. the World featured an extraordinary roster of soon-to-be A-listers. Aubrey Plaza, Brie Larson, Kieran Culkin, Bill Hader and Anna Kendrick all delivered memorable moments long before reaching peak fame.
Sources: Screenrant
