Legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese has voiced his displeasure with superhero movies on several occasions and the internet was alight with controversy. But Scorsese often works with actors frequently and it is interesting to speculate about which actors he would cast if he was put in charge of The Avengers.
Scorsese has worked with talent from multiple generations and in an ideal world, classic collaborators in their prime, such as Paul Newman, could work side by side with more contemporary actors like Leonardo DiCaprio. Though it is unlikely to ever happen, Scorsese's take on the superhero genre would certainly be unique.
At his height, Jack Nicholson was one of the greatest actors of all time. Nicholson starred in innumerable classic movies from the '60s all the way to the '00s. Though the parts he landed changed as he aged, he could always be counted on to perfectly embody any role that he was given.
Nicholson's only collaboration with Scorsese was in his 2006 film The Departed, in which he portrayed the strong-willed mob boss Frank Costello. Nicholson has excelled in parts that put him in leadership roles and he is always believable as an authority figure. In A Few Good Men, Nicholson shined as the authoritative Col. Jessup. As Nick Fury, Nicholson could have brought prestige to the role, similar to the way that Samuel L. Jackson brings his own veteran presence.
Though few of Scorsese's collaborators have had experience in the superhero genre, Michelle Pfeiffer is a rare exception. Pfeiffer not only appeared as Catwoman in Tim Burton's Batman Returns, but she also recently appeared in the MCU as Janet Van Dyne in Ant-Man and the Wasp.
Scorsese worked with Pfeiffer in his romance epic The Age of Innocence, where she portrayed Ellen Olenska. Her performance as Catwoman showed that she had the chops to play an acrobatic comic book character like Black Widow. Her versatility would also serve her in a comic book movie because she is able to play it straight when necessary as well as fit in with the more over-the-top aspects of the stories.
Harvey Keitel has had a long and successful career both with and without his frequent collaborator, Scorsese. Though Keitel often plays mobsters and other criminal characters, he has also portrayed characters on the right side of the law and he is a versatile performer.
The pairing of Scorsese and Keitel is legendary and they have worked together on some of the best films of both of their careers. In contrast to roles like Sport in Taxi Driver, where Keitel plays a smooth-talking villain, the role of Hawkeye would certainly fall to the actor. Hawkeye is essentially a regular guy wrapped up in a world of superheroes, and Keitel excels at playing the affable everyman. Roles like Jacob Fuller in From Dusk Till Dawn have shown the actor as a regular guy who would do anything to protect his children and do what is right.
Joe Pesci could always be counted on to give a stellar performance any time Scorsese called on him. Pesci made a name for himself playing tough guys and mobsters, but what set him apart from the pack was his ability to show his explosive anger on screen.
Aside from playing gangsters, Pesci also played softer characters for Scorsese. His role as Joey in Raging Bull actually showed him as a subordinate to the much more forceful character of Jake LaMotta. Bruce Banner, the soft-spoken scientist, carries a boiling rage within him that comes out as the Hulk. Pesci often plays angry characters and it would sound very natural to hear Bruce Banner's famous quotes like "You wouldn't like me when I'm angry" coming from Pesci's lips.
Before he became Scorsese's newest muse, DiCaprio played a variety of roles that cast him as a hunky hero. He has consistently shown throughout his career that he was a performer with range, as DiCaprio has played both heroes and villains with similar ease.
For Scorsese, he has served a variety of purposes since they first worked together on Gangs of New York. Outside of his work with the famed director, DiCaprio has been given the chance to flex his muscles in action-based films such as Inception and Blood Diamond. As the Norse god, Thor, DiCaprio could have shined in another action role. On top of the role's physical demands, DiCaprio's excellent acting ability would bring more depth to the character.
Robert De Niro has played every type of character from tough gangsters to loving grandfathers. Some of De Niro's best roles have become legendary cinema.
De Niro's collaborations with Scorsese are numerous and together they have stretched the range of the celebrated actor in a variety of directions. As Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull, De Niro played a violent tough-guy, while as Rupert Pupkin in The King of Comedy, he played a sensitive and lonely comedian. Tony Stark is known for his cocky attitude and sharp tongue, two traits that De Niro exhibited in films such as Casino and Cape Fear. De Niro's brilliant performance and line reads would certainly bring Tony Stark to life and elevate the star power of The Avengers.
By the time he worked with Scorsese, Paul Newman was already decades into his celebrated career. His charm and good looks saw him play romantic leads as well as no-nonsense criminals with the same degree of believability and subtle air of humor.
The Color of Money was their only collaboration but it is the previous work of Newman's that helps him stand out as an action star. In Cool Hand Luke Newman plays a charming petty criminal who has a heart of gold and a fist of iron. Similarly, Steve Rogers is both charismatic and tough as nails when the situation calls for it. Newman's all-American good looks and ability to appear tough on-screen would certainly have served him well as Captain America.
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