Byung-hun Lee as Danny Rand/Iron Fist
Appropriate Credentials:
I Saw the Devil,
GI Joe: Rise of Cobra
Byung-hun Lee is a master martial artist, and as I found out in viewing
I Saw the Devil one hell of an actor. The final scene of that film as he walks down the road away from what he's just done is absolutely riveting with fantastic emotion. While I understand the biggest criticism is that Danny Rand is Caucasian and Lee is South Korean, it's something that I think is relatively permissible, as it would be great to see a good actor take on a great role. It would add ethnic diversity to the superhero world (and could feature some cool scenes of Rand facing off against the criminal underworld in Chinatown).
Shemar Moore as Luke Cage
Appropriate Credentials:
Criminal Minds
While I can't stand the television show (over-dramatic and riddled with plot holes almost every episode), Shemar impresses because he might be the only character that disregards a previous stereotype. He doesn't play the role as "only black man on the team," he plays him as the most capable member (athletically) and really draws some great emotion from fairly subpar scripts. In essence, Moore has the presence needed for Cage and the acting ability to work with any kind of script, elevating it to a better level through delivery.
Ryan Gosling as Matt Murdock/Daredevil
Appropriate Credentials:
Drive,
Half Nelson,
Crazy, Stupid Love,
Blue Valentine
Gosling's Daredevil would be a combination of many of his roles, and his ability to swing moods effectively and really drive home the tone of a movie (his performance in
Drive is what made it such an uneasy, nauseating, and awesome film) is key for Murdock. And Gosling is no stranger to a little romance.
Stana Katic as Natasha Romanov/Black Widow
Appropriate Credentials:
Castle,
Stiletto,
The Spirit
Sensationally sexy and incredibly underused, Katic finally gets her time to shine in
Castle with Nathan Fillion. She has moments of brilliance opposite the
Firefly star and has the ability and range to really blow some people away.
Amber Heard as Tandy Bowen/Dagger
Appropriate Credentials:
Drive Angry,
Never Back Down,
The Rum Diary
Could it really be anyone else? Heard packs a lot of sensibility into her acting, though she's never really been "challenged" by a role (in my opinion). I feel she's got a lot of surprises up her sleeve and I've love to see her bring her energy to Dagger.
Joel Edgerton as Marc Spector/Moon Knight
Appropriate Credentials:
Warrior,
Smokin' Aces
Complicated, dark, and crazy, Marc Spector would be a sensational role for any actor, but he also commands someone large, strong, and commandeering; a role which Edgerton easily wins based off his performance in
Warrior. Give this man a cape!
Kevin McKidd as Frank Castle/The Punisher
Appropriate Credentials:
Rome,
Dog Soldiers,
Trainspotting
Ironically enough, McKidd's co-star Ray Stevenson in
Rome portrayed Frank Castle (quite well, I'll add) in
Punisher: War Zone, but I've always been more impressed by McKidd's brute strength and rage coming from that show (one of my all time favorites) and I think he could finally bring a brutal and haunted Frank Castle to screen.