Since the subgenre truly took off at the turn of the century, dozens of high-profile actors have appeared in adaptations of comic books. Take Chris Evans, for example. He’s portrayed five comic book characters in total throughout his career, with names like Captain America representing the peak of that actor’s fame. There are countless other examples of actors portraying multiple comic book characters, with one such example beingIdris Elba.
Of course, he’s perhaps most fondly remembered in this regard for his multiple appearances as Heimdall in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But before he ever played that all-seeing and all-hearing figure from Norse mythology, Elba added a comic book name to his filmography that has been thrown a bit too close to the contemporary wayside. Hopefully this list will do it some justice. All that said, this is every comic book adaptation with Idris Elba, ranked.
8Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011)
Ghost Rider Spirit of Vengeance
As the Johnny Blaze version of the fan-favorite anti-hero, Nicolas Cage reprises his role inGhost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance(2011). The first entry came in 2007, with Wes Bentley playing the antagonist, named Blackheart. In the sequel at hand, Johnny Whitworth takes upthe villain mantleas Ray Carrigan, also known as Blackout. As for Idris Elba: he plays Moreau, an original character who never existed in the comics.
Why It’s Last
The appearance from Elba arguably bolsters the overall quality, as Moreau was among the more unique implementations of the adaptation as a whole. Lead actor Nic Cage and supporting performer Ciarán Hinds also received decent praise for their efforts. But really, there’s a particular paucity of quality attached toSpirit of Vengeance. Most fans consider it an unnecessary sequel to a fairly underwhelming film. It was widely panned by critics, as well, and justifiably so.
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7The Losers (2010)
The Losers
Based on the Vertigo Comics series of the same name,The Losers(2010) saw direction under Sylvain White from a script adapted by James Vanderbilt and Peter Berg. It follows a group of commandos who are betrayed by an ally and presumed dead in the jungles of Bolivia. They then join forces with an unknown operative (played by Zoe Saldaña) as they retaliate against their newfound foe.
Why It’s Worth a Watch
Elba is part of the eponymous group, alongside Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Chris Evans, Columbus Short, and Oscar Jaenada. Each member plays a specific part in the team’s operations, with bristling action featured all throughout the plot. The aforementioned actors perform to perfection,sharing tangible chemistrywith each of their co-stars. And while neither critics nor audiences were overly impressed with the film’s quality,The Losersholds up well today if not for its hilarious dialogue alone. The well-shot fighting sequences are an added bonus.
6Thor: The Dark World (2013)
Among the least popular titles ever released within the Marvel Cinematic Universe goes toThor: The Dark World(2013), a sequel with Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, and Tom Hiddleston as the leads. Its plot picks up after the events ofThe Avengers(2012), with Loki standing trial in Asgard for the crimes he committed on earth. But now, he swaps sides, teaming up with his brother to combat the dastardly Dark Elves and save the Nine Realms from destruction.
With surprisingly lackluster action sequences and lines of rather hackneyed dialogue,The Dark Worldis among the lowest-rated MCU movies for a reason. That said: every entry in this game-changing franchise boasts its fair share of qualitative elements. The fight scenes, the character exchanges — these are only underwhelming because the bar was set so high. In the end, it’s still a well-made title with entertaining moments, and its cast shows up to play. That includes Idris Elba.
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5Thor (2011)
Off the bat withThor(2011), it’s worth notingthe star-studded cast. There’s Chris Hemsworth as the God of Thunder, while the actor at hand portrays Heimdall, the all-seeing God who controls the bifröst bridge. But there’s also Natalie Portman as Jane, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Anthony Hopkins as Odin, and Rene Russo as Frigga. They all perform wonderfully under the direction of Kenneth Branagh, with this film spawning several sequels directly.
Of course, every entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is connected in some fashion. ButThorgave audiences the first look at Hawkeye (played by Jeremy Renner) while also giving greater insight into the operations of S.H.I.E.L.D. In other words, this entry helped pave a smooth road for the firstAvengersfilm. And while Elba doesn’t show up as Heimdall in that particular entry, he makes several more appearances within the universe.
As forThor,the project received decent praise upon release, and with a unique juxtaposition of Gods and mortals, it’s also aged with grace.
4Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Marking Elba’s third MCU appearance in just four years,Avengers: Age of Ultron(2015) follows the famous group of superheroes as they fight an artificial intelligence created by Tony Stark and Bruce Banner. Their plan was to complete the former character’s global defense program, only for Ultronto be rendered sentient. Thus, a new villain is born, who believes he must wipe out humanity in order to save the planet.
Though it may pale in comparison to the otherAvengersprojects, this entry nonetheless features all the staples that make these movies so renowned. From charming dialogue and charismatic performances to engaging action sequences and a well-developed plot,Age of Ultronboasts high-quality elements around every corner of production. And while this isn’t the top rung on Idris Elba’s comic book ladder, it is among his most popular films in general.
The Suicide Squad
Supervillains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, Peacemaker and a collection of nutty cons at Belle Reve prison join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X as they are dropped off at the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese.
Although he’s appeared in the MCU far more than its DC counterpart,The Suicide Squad(2021) did mark Idris’s first appearance in the latter. And frankly, the overall product was of a much higher quality than anyone would’ve expected. Granted, James Gunn was at the helm, so it had far more potential than other DCEU films from the onset of production. With a compelling script, all he needed was the right cast to see the product into fruition.
Why It’s So Great
Idris co-stars as Robert DuBois — also known as Bloodsport — alongside Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. They both perform brilliantly, leading other names like John Cena, Joel Kinnaman, (the voice of) Sylvester Stallone, and Pete Davidson as members of the titular team. Of course, Viola Davis also shows up as Amanda Waller — that’s quite the star-studded cast. With hilarious dialogue andwell-shot action sequencesto boot,The Suicide Squadis among the freshest superhero movies in years. It deserves its flowers with this spot on the list.
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2Thor: Ragnarök (2017)
Fans of Norse mythology were likely pleased to seeThor: Ragnarök(2017) on the silver screen due solely to the portrayals of Gods and Goddesses therefrom. From Cate Blanchett as Hel — or Hela, as she’s known in the Marvel Universe — and Anthony Hopkins as Odin to Tom Hiddleston as Loki and Idris Elba as Heimdall, these are all famous performances by world-renowned actors. Of course, Chris Hemsworth provides the titular effort, while other names include Tessa Thompson and Jeff Goldblum.
Thor: Every Appearance in the MCU, Ranked
With Thor: Love and Thunder coming to theaters this summer, let’s take a look at the Asgardian’s appearances throughout the MCU.
As per usual with the MCU movies, each actor performs to sheer perfection. But the same thing can be said for everyone operating from behind the scenes. The teams behind these films for many years had the process down to a science, pumping out high-quality pictures left and right. ButRagnarökprovided audiences with an idiosyncratic atmosphere that can only be found in Asgard. And although some fans took issue with the film’s emphasis on humor, critics widely agreed that it was well-balanced with action in the end. There’s a fair bit of poignance, too.
1Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
infinity war
In Elba’s final MCU appearance,Avengers: Infinity War(2018) saw the Asgardian sentry Heimdall killed off inthe film’s opening scene. This was at the hands of Thanos, an alien warlord from the planet Titan. The primary villain of the franchise as a whole, Thanos was portrayed by Josh Brolin as he gathers the six Infinity Stones to wipe out half of earth’s population. Heimdall was the first of many casualties at the hands of Thanos, with this film tugging at the audience’s heartstrings all throughout its widely compelling plot.
21 Actors Who Have Played Multiple Comic Book Characters
Some of these actors have portrayed as many as five comic book characters total, and they perform brilliantly every step of the way.
Why It’s on Top
For many fans (and even some critics),Infinity Warrepresents the pinnacle of the MCU. Sure, its sequelAvengers: Endgame(2019) featured fantastic fan service, with perhaps the most star-studded cast ever assembled on film. ButInfinity Warboasts a particular poignance and overall intrigue thanks primarily to its game-changing climax.
The movie as a whole finds the perfect balance of action and comedy while also focusing on character: not just their development, but also their dynamics. And while the final scene with Heimdall has since been overshadowed by the death of other popular characters, Elba’s last appearance in the MCU arguably came at the franchise’s peak.
