Danielle Solzman
Emilia Clarke is the latest actress to join both the Star Wars and Marvel universes with her casting in Disney’s Secret Invasion series.
Clarke, who previously starred as Qi’ra in Solo: A Star Wars Story, joins the recently announced Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman in the cast. The duo joins Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, and Kingsley Ben-Adir in the series. Jackson and Mendelsohn are both members of the Star Wars and Marvel universe. If you recall, Jackson portrayed Jedi Master Mace Windu during the Star Wars prequels. Mendelsohn appeared as Orson Krennic in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The duo co-starred in Captain Marvel but Jackson has been in the Marvel Universe since appearing as S.H.I.E.LD. director Nick Fury in Iron Man. Variety reported the Emilia Clarke casting news. Kyle Bradstreet is currently set to write and executive produce.
The casting announcement also got me to start thinking about how many people have appeared in both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Star Wars saga. By MCU, I’m focusing on the films since Iron Man kicked things off in 2008. I’m also counting the ABC series: Agents of S.H.I.E.LD., Agent Carter, and Inhumans. Below that list, I will list those actors appearing in both Star Wars and X-Men/Fantastic Four/Daredevil/Elektra/Blade/Non-MCU Spider-Man films.
February 14, 2023: This list is now being updated to include Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
Star Wars and Marvel Cinematic Universe
- Samuel L. Jackson: Mace Windu (Star Wars) and Nick Fury (various Marvel projects)
- Natalie Portman: Padmé Amidala (Star Wars prequels) and Jane Foster (Thor, Thor: The Dark World, Thor: Love and Thunder)
- Richard Armitage: Naboo fighter pilot Tonra (The Force Awakens) and Heinz Kruger (Captain America: The First Avenger)
- Peter Serafinowicz: Darth Maul voice (The Phantom Menace) and Garthan Saal (Guardians of the Galaxy)
- Lupita Nyong’o: Maz Kanata (Sequel trilogy) and Nakia (Black Panther)
- Andy Serkis: Supreme Leader Snoke (Sequel trilogy) and Ulysses Klaue (Avengers: Age of Ultron, Black Panther)
- Mads Mikkelson: Galen Erso (Rogue One) and Kaecillus (Doctor Strange)
- Spencer Wilding: Darth Vader (Rogue One) and Mean Guard (Guardians of the Galaxy)
- Ken Leung: Admiral Statura (The Force Awakens) and Karnak (Inhumans)
- Benicio Del Toro: DJ (The Last Jedi) and Taneleer Tivan/The Collector (Thor: The Dark World, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Infinity War)
- Forest Whitaker: Saw Gerrera (Rogue One, Star Wars Rebels, Andor) and Zuri (Black Panther)
- Jon Favreau: Rio Durant (Solo), The Mandalorian creator, and Happy Hogan (various Marvel projects)
- Ben Mendolsohn: Orson Krennic (Rogue One) and Talos (Captain Marvel, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Secret Invasion)
- Donald Glover: Lando Calrissian (Solo) and Aaron Davis (Spider-Man: Homecoming)
- Paul Bettany: Dryden Vos (Solo) and Jarvis/Vision (various Marvel projects)
- Danny Sapani: Medical Frigate Captain (The Last Jedi) and M’Kathu (Black Panther)
- Hannah John-Kamen: First Order Officer (The Force Awakens) and Ava Starr/Ghost (Ant-Man and the Wasp)
- Ming-Na Wen: Fennac Shand (The Mandalorian, The Bad Batch, The Book of Boba Fett) and Agent Melinda May (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.)
- Taika Waititi: IG-11/director (The Mandalorian) and Korg/director (Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Endgame)
- Peyton Reed: director (The Mandalorian) and director (Ant-Man franchise)
- Thomas E. Sullivan: Co-pilot (The Mandalorian) and Nathaniel Malick (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.)
- Erin Kellyman: Enfys Nest (Solo) and Karli Morgenthau (The Falcon and The Winter Soldier)
- Ben Schwartz: BB-8 (Sequel trilogy) and Lou (M.O.D.O.K.)
- Cailey Fleming: Young Rey (Sequel trilogy) and Young Sylvie/Enchantress (Loki)
- Richard E. Grant: General Pryde (The Rise of Skywalker) and Loki variant (Loki)
- Stellan Skarsgård: Erik Selvig (Thor, Thor: The Dark World, The Avengers) and Luthen Rael (Andor)
- Oscar Isaac: Poe Dameron (Sequel trilogy) and Marc Spector/Moon Knight (Moon Knight) (Also cast as Apocalypse in X-Men: Apocalypse)
- Eugene Cordero: Casey (Loki) and Stoke (The Mandalorian)
- Kumail Nanjiani: Haja Estree (Obi-Wan Kenobi) and Kingo (Eternals)
- Dee Bradley Baker: Rex/Cody/Clone Troopers (Clone Wars, Rebels) and Morris (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings)
- David Pasquesi: Mok Shaiz’s majordomo (The Book of Boba Fett) and Craig Hollis/Mr. Immortal (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law)
- Nick Blood: Kimzi (Andor) and Lance Hunter (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.)
- Matthew Wood: General Grievous/Battle Droids/Bib Fortuna (Prequel Trilogy, The Clone Wars, Rebels, The Book of Boba Fett) and Quantumnauts (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania)
- Katy O’Brian: Comms Officer (The Mandalorian) and Jentorra (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania)
- Emilia Clarke: Qi’ra (Solo) and unknown character (Secret Invasion)
- Harrison Ford: Han Solo (Original Trilogy) and Secretary Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (Captain America: New World Order, Thunderbolts)
Star Wars and Marvel Netflix Series
- Jessica Henwick: Pava (The Force Awakens) and Colleen Wing (Iron Fist, The Defenders, Luke Cage)
- Rosario Dawson: Ahsoka Tano (The Mandalorian, Ahsoka) and Claire Temple (Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Defenders)
- Ebon Moss-Bachrach: Arvel Skeen (Andor) and David Lieberman/Micro (The Punisher)
Star Wars and X-Men/Fantastic Four/Daredevil/Elektra/Blade/Non-MCU Spider-Man
- Ray Park: Darth Maul (The Phantom Menace, The Clone Wars) and Toad (X-Men)
- Donnie Yen: Chirrut (Rogue One) and Snowman (Blade II)
- Terrence Stamp: Chancellor Valorum (The Phantom Menace) and Stick (Elektra)
- Rose Byrne: Dormé (Attack of the Clones) and CIA Agent Moira MacTaggert (X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Apocalypse)
- Felicity Jones: Jyn Erso (Rogue One) and Felicia Hardy/Black Cat (The Amazing Spider-Man 2)
- Riz Ahmed: Bodhi Rook (Rogue One) and Carlton Drake/Riot (Venom, Venom: Let There Be Carnage)
- Woody Harrelson: (Solo) and Cletus Kasady/Carnage (Venom, Venom: Let There Be Carnage)
- Gina Carano: Cara Dune (The Mandalorian) and Angel (Deadpool)
