Willem Dafoe is an acclaimed actor who has starred in a wide variety of roles, but for us superhero fans, he will always be remembered as the fearsome Green Goblin/Norman Osborn in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man franchise and MCU’s Spider-Man: No Way Home. Dafoe's extraordinary acting skills breathe life into one of Spider-Man's most iconic adversaries, capturing the complex duality of Norman Osborn and his menacing alter ego.
Seeing Dafoe as a villain has been a norm for us, since his unhinged expressions are tailor-made for these kinds of roles. However, what will happen if the actor takes on a superhero role instead? Surely, with his immense talent, Dafoe can easily portray at least one or two good guys out there. Using the AI app Midjourney,
u/x_mas_ape brings us 8 superhero roles that
Willem Dafoe can play in, and they look better than we thought.
#1.
Ant-Man
Source: u/x_mas_ape, Reddit
In this first picture, we have Willem Dafoe replacing Paul Rudd to play Ant-Man in the
Marvel Cinematic Universe. While the 68-year-old is a bit too old to play Scott Lang, he could portray the predecessor, Hank Pym, the pioneer of the Pym Particles, who was also Ant-Man in his younger days. The role is currently played by Michael Douglas, but Dafoe would be a great fit as well.
#2.
Loki
Source: u/x_mas_ape, Reddit
Loki isn’t exactly a hero to begin with, but the Asgardian has undergone a major character development in his own TV series. The arc sees the former villain transform slowly but steadily into a reliable god that his friends can rely on. At the end of Season 2, Loki sacrifices his own freedom for eternity to keep the Sacred Timeline in control, allowing his friends and the whole Multiverse to have free will, making him a true hero.
Such a complicated character in the MCU would be a real challenge for Willem Dafoe, but besides Tom Hiddleston, he’s the only one who’s up for the task. The actor could play an older version of Loki, who still retains his quirky and malevolent self.
#3.
Thor
Source: u/x_mas_ape, Reddit
Likewise, Dafoe could play an older version of Loki’s brother, Thor Odinson. Thor has been through a lot lately in the MCU, and all the tragedies that befell him must have made him weary and tired. Willem Dafoe has what it takes to portray a more mature and wiser Thor, should Marvel include such a variant for the God of Thunder.
#4.
Batman
Source: u/x_mas_ape, Reddit
We have seen various older versions of Batman in recent
Movies, such as Michael Keaton and George Clooney in The Flash (2023). Willem Dafoe could also be a good candidate. His experience in playing the Green Goblin could help him portray the Caped Crusader - who also wields a double identity as both Bruce Wayne and Batman. One is an extroverted and charismatic billionaire, and the other is a terror to every criminal in Gotham.
#5.
The Wolverine
Source: u/x_mas_ape, Reddit
I doubt that anyone can best Hugh Jackman in portraying the iconic mutant, but Willem Dafoe could make a close second. The actor’s hardened look could make him a great Logan, who has been through enough suffering and experiments on his body. Dafoe’s lanky body could prove to be a problem though, because Jackman’s version is completely ripped.
#6.
Doctor Strange
Source: u/x_mas_ape, Reddit
Strangely enough (no pun intended), Willem Dafoe could make a really good Sorcerer Supreme. Both comics and MCU versions of Doctor Strange have been dangling between the thread of sanity and wickedness, with multiple variants of him turning evil in the process. This is somewhat similar to Dafoe’s Green Goblin, making him a perfect contender to replace Benedict Cumberbatch as Strange if needed.
#7.
The Hulk
Source: u/x_mas_ape, Reddit
Willem Dafoe might not be the most muscular guy around, but nothing a little bit of CGI can’t fix. The performer’s wide range of expressions would make him a great contender to play Hulk, an incredibly expressive hero who screams his lungs out all the time. And of course, his experience playing Norman Osborn/Green Goblin could help Dafoe portray Bruce Banner’s double-persona with ease.
#8.
Captain America
Source: u/x_mas_ape, Reddit
And last but not least, who else but your Star-Spangled Man with a Plan? At first glance, Steve Rogers’ righteous personality may seem a bit far-fetched for an actor like Dafoe, but the 68-year-old’s versatility can make up for this. Besides, who wouldn’t want to see good old Dafoe trying himself out in a totally different role than what he’s used to?
What about you? Which superhero role do you think would suit Willem Dafoe’s best? Let us know in the comments.