For the past year or so, Marvel Studios has gotten really ambitious with its casting. The studio that was once vehemently opposed to hiringRobert Downey Jr.to play Iron Man and turned to decidedly lower key actors likeChris HemsworthandChris Evansto fill the roles of some of its cornerstone heroes now has the clout to go afterreallybig names, and they’re getting them. Seven years ago, if you told meRobert Redford,Mark Ruffalo,JamesSpader,Michael Douglas, andBen Kingsleywould be members of the Marvel Cinematic Universe ensemble, I’d have told you you were crazy. And yet here we are, and Marvel’s showing no signs of slowing down.
Even though it eventually didn’t work out, perhaps the big turning point was when the studio entered negotiations withJoaquin Phoenixto lead itsDoctor Strangemovie. That signaled that not only was Marvel aiming very high in casting from here on out, but esteemed actors of Phoenix’s caliber were entertaining the idea very seriously.Strangedidn’t get Phoenix, but it does haveTilda Swinton,Chiwetel Ejiofor,Rachel McAdams, andBenedict Cumberbatch—that’s a formidable cast any way you slice it.
And so it comes as little surprise that Marvel Studios is again aiming high in finding its villain for the sequelGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, although like Phoenix, this is another exciting casting that wasn’t meant to be. PerVariety, Oscar winnerMatthew McConaugheywas offered the villain role in writer/directorJames Gunn’s follow-up, but the actor ultimately passed. The search for the part remains ongoing, however, and a decision will likely be made in the coming weeks as we move closer to the film’s February 2016 production start-date.
It’s unclear what character McConaughey was being sought for—the film just added newcomerPom Klementieffin a key mystery role—but one has to wonder if it’s a character that was already heavily referenced in the firstGuardians. Gunn has said that the sequelwill answer the question of who Peter Quill’s father is, and it’s impossible to look at an actor like McConaughey and not instantly envision that swagger connecting withChris Pratt’s portrayal of Quinn. Could theGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2villain be Star-Lord’s dad? We have no idea, but the potential casting of McConaughey certainly raises that question.
It’s unclear why McConaughey passed, but the guy can do pretty much whatever he wants right now so it’s hard to blame him. He most recently wrappedGary Ross’ (The Hunger Games) Civil War dramaFree State of Jonesand is currently filmingSyrianadirectorStephen Gaghan’s long-awaited follow-upGold, so it appears he’s keen on tackling difficult adult dramas for the time-being.
Expect more casting announcements forGuardians 2soon. The film also starsZoe Saldana,Dave Bautista,Karen Gillan,Benicio Del Toro, and the voices ofBradley CooperandVin Diesel.Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2opens in theaters on July 17, 2025.
