Summary
So far, there have only been three actors who have appeared in live-action projects in all five Phases of theMarvel Cinematic Universe, but another is set to join them in 2025. Over the last 16 years, Marvel Studios' superhero franchise has grown exponentially, adapting dozens of characters from Marvel Comics' rich 85-year history into live-action. With so many characters to play with, it’s easy for some to get lost in the mix, but a few have managed to appear consistently throughout theMCU’s entire history.
While only three live-action actors have appeared in allfive Phases of the MCU, another actor will join this elite club after the premiere of 2025’sThunderbolts*. Of course, others could be included if Marvel’s recent animated stories or the repetition of archive footage are taken into account, including Jeremy Renner and Chris Hemsworth, who appeared in archive footage inEchoandDeadpool & Wolverine, respectively.Only four will have actively taken part in new adventures, however, becoming the most consistent actors in the MCU.
10 Longest-Serving Actors In Marvel & DC Movies
Superhero franchises have taken over modern cinema, allowing actors to play the same role for many years, and some have taken this to the extreme.
Jon Favreau As Happy Hogan
Jon Favreau Has Appeared In 8 Live-Action MCU Projects
Jon Favreau’s recent appearance in 2024’sDeadpool & Wolverineallowed him to join this elite club, as this marked his first appearance in the MCU’s Phase 5. Favreau also holds the title oflongest-serving actor in the MCU, having appeared in eight live-action projects over the entire 16-year span of the franchise, debuting as Harold “Happy” Hogan in 2008’sIron Man. As well as being a permanent fixture in theIron Manfranchise, Favreau has also appeared in all three movies in the MCU’sSpider-Manfranchise andAvengers: Endgame.
Jon Favreau’s appearance inDeadpool & Wolverinesaw him play Happy Hogan in the months prior toAvengers: Infinity War, as Ryan Reynolds' Wade Wilson traveled to Earth-616 in hopes of joining the Avengers, but was denied.
As well as portraying one of the MCU’s most lovable and popular characters, Jon Favreau is also one of the franchise’s most celebrated directors and producers.Favreau directedIron ManandIron Man 2, and was an executive producer on five further MCU movies. His strong relationship with Marvel Studios means it’s likely Happy Hogan will continue to appear in MCU projects for years to come, especially afterMarvel’s animatedWhat If…?seriesfinally saw him receive superpowers of his own, meaning the possibilities are endless.
2008
2010
2013
2017
2019
2021
2024
Don Cheadle As Rhodey’s War Machine & Raava
Don Cheadle Has Appeared In 9 Live-Action MCU Projects
While Jon Favreau has consistently played the same character throughout his MCU, other actors have had the chance to play more than one. Don Cheadle is one of these stars, thoughhe has spent most of his MCU career portraying James “Rhodey” Rhodes, a.k.a. the armored superhero War Machine.Cheadle took over from Terrence Howard, who played Rhodey in 2008’sIron Man, fromIron Man 2onward, and had the honor of suiting up as War Machine, and briefly Iron Patriot, for the first time on-screen.
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Rhodey’s War Machine isn’t the only character than Don Cheadle has portrayed, however, ashe secretly appeared as the shape-shifting Skrull Raava in Phase 5’sSecret Invasion, whose Skrull self was played by Nisha Aaliya. It’s still unclear exactly when Rhodey was replaced by Raava, though popular theories suggest he may have been swapped following his debilitating accident in 2016’sCaptain America: Civil War. IfMarvel Studios’Armor Warsreleases as part of Phase 6, which hasn’t been confirmed, Don Cheadle will extend his MCU streak even further.
2015
2016
2018
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
2023
Tom Hiddleston As Loki & Variants
Tom Hiddleston Has Appeared In 7 Live-Action MCU Projects
Because of his long-running portrayal of the Asgardian God of Mischief, Loki, Tom Hiddleston has become one of the MCU’s most beloved actors. This has been helped by his two incredible redemption arcs.The original version of Loki transformed from the Avengers' original villain into a steadfast hero willing to sacrifice his own life to try and take down the Mad Titan, Thanos, inAvengers: Infinity War. Hiddleston has also portrayed multiple characters, as he starred as several multiversalvariants of Loki in Phases 4 and 5.
Tom Hiddleston originally auditioned for the role of Thor, but has seen far more success portraying Thor’s brother, Loki, opposite Chris Hemsworth.
After escaping from the Avengers duringEndgame’sTime Heist, a new version of Loki found himself investigating the Time Variance Authority. This culminated in him experiencing his second redemption arc, ashe sacrificed his freedom to stand guard over the multiverse, becoming perhaps the most powerful and significant hero in the MCU’s history. Similarly to Don Cheadle, Tom Hiddleston is also expected to extend his streak into Phase 6, as he is speculated to have a key role inAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Wars.
2011
2012
LokiSeason 1
LokiSeason 2
Sebastian Stan As Bucky Barnes’ Winter Soldier
Sebastian Stan Will Have Appeared In 9 Live-Action MCU Projects
Sebastian Stan hasn’t yet starred as James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes in all five Phases of the MCU, but he is set to join this club following his appearance inPhase 5’sThunderbolts*. Stan debuted as Bucky Barnes inCaptain America: The First Avenger, and, after his apparent death, returned as the HYDRA-controlled Winter Soldier in Phase 2.Bucky has since broken free of his brainwashing, but has struggled to come to terms with his experiences as the Winter Soldier, leading to his redemption arc inThe Falcon and the Winter SoldierandThunderbolts*.
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One of the few revealed plot details revealed in Captain America: Brave New World has made Bucky’s absence from the movie a lot harder to stomach.
For most of his MCU history,Bucky Barnes has shared the screen with the MCU’s Captain America, both Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson.Thunderbolts*will set him apart, however, as he is set to join a new team of antiheroes and reformed villains, including Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster and US Agent. If theupcoming Thunderbolts teamreturns in Phase 6, Sebastian Stan could be among the few live-action actors in theMarvel Cinematic Universeto have appeared in all the franchise’s Phases.
2014
2025
Phase 5
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount’s Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
