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  4. 15 'Mission: Impossible' franchise stars who have also played Marvel or DC characters

15 'Mission: Impossible' franchise stars who have also played Marvel or DC characters

15 'Mission: Impossible' franchise stars who have also played Marvel or DC characters
Hayley Atwell is one of the latest Marvel stars to join the "Mission: Impossible" franchise.Agostino Fabio/MEGA/GC Images
  • There are stars from the "Mission: Impossible" franchise who have also played Marvel or DC characters.
  • Henry Cavill has played a "Mission: Impossible" villain and a DC Comics superhero.

Ving Rhames, who's starred as Luther Stickell in every "Mission: Impossible" film, had a cameo in Marvel's 2017 film "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2."

Ving Rhames, who
On the left: Ving Rhames in "Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One." On the right: Rhames in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2."      Paramount Pictures;

He appeared as the character Charlie-27 toward the end of the film, as a nod to the original lineup of "Guardians of the Galaxy" from 1969.

Henry Czerny first played Kittridge, the director of the Impossible Mission Force (IMF), in the first "Mission: Impossible" film that was released in 1996. Years later, he guest-starred on The CW's "Supergirl."

Henry Czerny first played Kittridge, the director of the Impossible Mission Force (IMF), in the first "Mission: Impossible" film that was released in 1996. Years later, he guest-starred on The CW
On the left: Henry Czerny in "Mission: Impossible." On the right: Czerny on season one of "Supergirl."      Paramount Pictures; The CW

He appeared on two episodes of "Supergirl" as Winslow Schott Sr./Toyman, the father of Supergirl's good friend Winn Schott (played by Jeremy Jordan).

Czerny will return as Kittridge in the seventh "Mission: Impossible" film, "Dead Reckoning Part One," in theaters on July 12.

After playing the villain named Sean Ambrose in "Mission: Impossible II," Dougray Scott starred on The CW series "Batwoman."

After playing the villain named Sean Ambrose in "Mission: Impossible II," Dougray Scott starred on The CW series "Batwoman."
On the left: Dougray Scott in "Mission: Impossible II." On the right Scott on season one of "Batwoman."      Paramount Pictures;

On "Batwoman," he played portrayed Jacob Kane, the father of Kate Kane/Batwoman (Ruby Rose).

After playing a minor role as a henchman named Ulrich in "Mission: Impossible II," Dominic Purcell went on to play Marvel and DC characters.

After playing a minor role as a henchman named Ulrich in "Mission: Impossible II," Dominic Purcell went on to play Marvel and DC characters.
From left: Dominic Purcell in "Mission: Impossible II," "Blade: Trinity," and "Legends of Tomorrow."      Paramount Pictures; New Line Cinema; The CW

He starred as Drake in "Blade: Trinity" and played Mick Rory/Heat Wave as part of The CW's Arrowverse, primarily on the series "Legends of Tomorrow."

Laurence Fishburne's lengthy acting career includes roles in the "Mission: Impossible" film series as well as Marvel and DC projects.

Laurence Fishburne
From left: Laurence Fishburne in "Mission: Impossible III," the Silver Surfer in "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer," Fishburne in "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice," and Fishburne in "Ant-Man and the Wasp."      Paramount Pictures; 20th Century Fox; Warner Bros.; Marvel Studios

He portrayed Theodore Brassel, the director of the IMF, in "Mission: Impossible III."

Fishburne also voiced the Silver Surfer in the 2007 Marvel movie "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer," played Daily Planet editor-in-chief Perry White in "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice," and starred as Dr. Bill Foster in the MCU's "Ant-Man and the Wasp."

Billy Crudup has played characters in the "Mission: Impossible" franchise and the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).

Billy Crudup has played characters in the "Mission: Impossible" franchise and the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).
On the left: Billy Crudup in "Mission: Impossible III." On the right: Crudup in "Justice League."      Paramount Pictures; Warner Bros.

In the third "Mission: Impossible" film, the "Almost Famous" star played an antagonist named Musgrave, who betrayed Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt.

Crudup also played Henry Allen, the father of Barry Allen/The Flash (Ezra Miller) in "Justice League" and "Zack Snyder's Justice League." The character appeared in the 2023 film "The Flash," but was played by Ron Livingston instead of Crudup.

"Mission: Impossible III" star Maggie Q also voiced Princess Diana/Wonder Woman on the animated series "Young Justice."

"Mission: Impossible III" star Maggie Q also voiced Princess Diana/Wonder Woman on the animated series "Young Justice."
On the left: Maggie Q as Zhen in "Mission: Impossible III." On the right: Wonder Woman on the animated series "Young Justice."      Paramount Pictures; Warne

She played Zhen, a member of Ethan's team, in the third "Mission: Impossible" movie.

Eddie Marsan had roles in "Mission: Impossible III" and "Deadpool 2."

Eddie Marsan had roles in "Mission: Impossible III" and "Deadpool 2."
On the left: Eddie Marsan in "Mission: Impossible III." On the right: Marsan in "Deadpool 2."      Paramount Pictures; 20th Century Fox

In the third "Mission: Impossible" film, he played Brownway, one of Owen Davian's (Philip Seymour Hoffman) henchmen.

In the 2018 "Deadpool" sequel, Marsan portrayed the villainous headmaster of the Essex House for Mutant Rehabilitation.

Jeremy Renner joined the "Mission: Impossible" franchise and the MCU in the same year.

Jeremy Renner joined the "Mission: Impossible" franchise and the MCU in the same year.
On the left: Jeremy Renner in "Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol." On the right: Renner on "Hawkeye."      Paramount Pictures; Chuck Zlotnick/Marvel Studios

Renner first played William Brandt in "Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol" (2011) and reprised the role in "Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation" (2015).

He made his Marvel debut as Clint Barton/Hawkeye in "Thor" and suited up as the archer for several MCU films.

Renner most recently portrayed the character on the standalone "Hawkeye" series, which was released on Disney+ in 2021.

Tom Hollander, who played the UK Prime Minister in "Rogue Nation," also did voice work for the animated DC Comics show "Harley Quinn."

Tom Hollander, who played the UK Prime Minister in "Rogue Nation," also did voice work for the animated DC Comics show "Harley Quinn."
On the left: Tom Hollander in "Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation." On the right: Alfred on the animated series "Harley Quinn."      Paramount Pictures; Max

On Max's "Harley Quinn," Hollander voiced Alfred and Woke Goon.

In 2018, Angela Bassett played CIA director Erika Sloane in "Mission: Impossible — Fallout" and Queen Ramonda in Marvel's "Black Panther."

In 2018, Angela Bassett played CIA director Erika Sloane in "Mission: Impossible — Fallout" and Queen Ramonda in Marvel
On the left: Angela Bassett in "Mission: Impossible — Fallout." On the right: Bassett in "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever."      Paramount Pictures; Annette Brown

Bassett returned as Ramonda in "Avengers: Endgame" (2019) and "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" (2022).

Henry Cavill has played a "Mission: Impossible" villain and a DC Comics superhero.

Henry Cavill has played a "Mission: Impossible" villain and a DC Comics superhero.
On the left: Henry Cavill in "Mission: Impossible — Fallout." On the right: Cavill in "Man of Steel."      Paramount Pictures; Warner Bros.

In "Fallout," Cavill starred as August Walker. In the DCEU, he made his first appearance as Clark Kent/Superman in the 2013 movie "Man of Steel."

Cavill's "Mission: Impossible" mustache famously caused a problem when he had to film reshoots for "Justice League" while in the middle of production for "Fallout." Because he couldn't shave off his facial hair, the actor's mustache was removed in "Justice League" via a very noticeable CGI job.

Hayley Atwell, who's joining the "Mission: Impossible" franchise as a character named Grace in "Dead Reckoning Part One," is known for her role as Peggy Carter in the MCU.

Hayley Atwell, who
On the left: Hayley Atwell on the set of "Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One." On the right: Atwell in "Captain America: The First Avenger."      Agostino Fabio/MEGA/GC Images; Marvel Studios

Atwell portrayed Peggy in several Marvel films including "Captain America: The First Avenger" and "Captain America: The Winter Soldier."

She also starred on the series "Agent Carter, which ran for two seasons on ABC.

Most recently, Atwell played a variant of Peggy from another universe in "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness."

Pom Klementieff, known for her role as Mantis in the MCU, plays a character named Paris in "Dead Reckoning — Part One."

Pom Klementieff, known for her role as Mantis in the MCU, plays a character named Paris in "Dead Reckoning — Part One."
On the left: Pom Klementieff in "Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One." On the right: Klementieff in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3."      Paramount Pictures; Marvel Studios

"Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One director Christopher McQuarrie told Entertainment Weekly that he cast Klementieff after seeing her performance as the Marvel empath in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2."

In addition to playing Briggs in "Dead Reckoning Part One," Shea Whigham has also played a few Marvel or DC characters.

In addition to playing Briggs in "Dead Reckoning Part One," Shea Whigham has also played a few Marvel or DC characters.
From left: Shea Whigham in an official poster for "Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One," on season one of "Agent Carter," in "Joker," and the animated character George Stacy in "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse."      Paramount Pictures; ABC/Marvel Studios; Warner Bros.; Sony Pictures

He played Roger Dooley on the ABC and Marvel series "Agent Carter." Then in Todd Phillips' 2019 film, Whigham played one of two police detectives questioning people in Gotham about gruesome subway murders committed by Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix).

Most recently, he voiced George Stacy in "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse."


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