There's been chatter for years about singer/songwriter Taylor Swift joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Yesterday evening, one scooper went so far as to claim she's had a "good meeting" with Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige to discuss her joining the franchise.
Swift, who has become nothing short of a global phenomenon in recent years, is no stranger to acting and has even stepped behind the camera to direct. With that in mind - and the singer's immense popularity - it's no great shock that Marvel Studios is interested in working with her.
The question now is, who should she play? Many of the MCU's biggest roles have already been cast and, given how successful Swift is as a writer and recording artist, we don't anticipate her signing any nine-picture movie deals!
In this feature, we explore some of the most exciting and realistic possibilities for Swift's MCU role. To check them out, you'll just need to click on the "Next"/"View List" buttons below...
6. Mockingbird
In a roundabout way, Marvel Studios has confirmed that Laura Barton was kinda, sorta the MCU's Mockingbird before retiring from S.H.I.E.L.D service. Retconning that wouldn't be hard and Bobbi Morse could be a fun, action-packed role for Swift.
Created by writer Len Wein and artist Neal Adams, she debuted in Astonishing Tales #6 in 1971. Mockingbird is known for her expertise in hand-to-hand combat, gymnastics, and her use of battle staves. She has a background in biology and was subjected to a super-soldier serum-like treatment, enhancing her abilities.
Perhaps a future Avengers movie with a predominantly female cast (we're still waiting on A-Force...) would be a good place for Swift to debut as the hero?
5. Spiral
Also known as Rita Wayword, Spiral is a supervillain and occasional anti-heroine created by writer Ann Nocenti and artist Art Adams in the pages of 1985's Longshot #1.
A talented stuntwoman, Rita's life drastically changed when she was abducted by the villain Mojo, an extra-dimensional tyrant. He transformed her into Spiral, giving her six arms, advanced combat skills, and extensive knowledge of magic and cybernetics. Eventually finding romance with Longshot, she's a compelling and complex character.
That's exactly what Swift is likely looking for in the MCU and this could be a great supporting role in a future X-Men project. After all, we've seen more than enough of the mutants fighting Magneto at this stage.
4. Tigra
No, we haven't included Tigra here simply because Swift played one of Cats' feline characters (if nothing else, the critically panned musical at least confirmed she'd look the part).
Greer Grant Nelson was. created by writer Tony Isabella and artist Don Perlin, and first appeared as The Cat in The Cat #1 in 1972. She later transformed into Tigra in 1974's Giant-Size Creatures #1, gaining her powers through a science experiment and later transforming into Tigra courtesy of the mystical Cat People.
An Avenger and Defender, she's a force to be reckoned with and Swift's well-known love of cats may well play a factor in her taking on a role like this. Tigra's live-action debut is long overdue (she's a fan favourite for a reason), and casting the singer in this role would put the hero on the map.
3. Lady Deadpool
Yes, Swift donned Ryan Reynolds' actual Deadpool suit one Halloween, but that's not why we've included this character here. Lady Deadpool, also known as Wanda Wilson, is simply a female version of Wade Wilson from another reality.
As she is just a female Deadpool (hence the name), suiting up as this character in Deadpool & Wolverine will see Swift undergo a physical transformation by donning the same prosthetics as Reynolds. She can also show an R-Rated side of herself not seen from the singer on stage.
Rumour has it Blake Lively, Reynolds' wife and an actress in her own right, has nabbed this role. That would be a shame for Swift, but arguably still a win. Lady Deadpool debuted in Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth #7 in 2010 by writer Victor Gischler and artist Rob Liefeld.
2. Moonstone
Most Marvel fans are disappointed that Thunderbolts* doesn't feature anything close to the classic team lineup (instead, it's mostly a mix of characters from Black Widow and The Falcon and The Winter Soldier).
If we do eventually get a version closer to the comics down the line, Dr. Karla Sofen is a must. Created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Frank Robbins, Moonstone first appeared in Captain America #192 in 1975. She'ss a former psychologist who gains her abilities after manipulating and stealing the Moonstone from its original bearer.
She's a powerhouse who can go toe-to-toe with Captain Marvel and while this might be too big of a commitment for Swift, we'd love to see her do something unexpected by sinking her teeth into a bona fide supervillain.
1. Dazzler
Sometimes, the most obvious suggestion is the best one. Rumours have persisted for upwards of a year about Swift playing a Dazzler Variant in Deadpool & Wolverine and we think Marvel Studios would be crazy not to make this happen.
Alison Blaire is a mutant able to convert sound into light energy. Created by writer Tom DeFalco and artist John Romita Jr., she first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #130 in 1980. Initially conceived as a disco singer, her powers allow her to create dazzling light shows, lasers, and explosive energy blasts.
An upcoming series will see Dazzler embark on an Eras Tour-style world tour. Coincidence? We think not. Swift looks the part, sounds the part, and, if this is her MCU role, she'll hopefully get to see some action as the pop star superhero too.