Summary
AlthoughAaron Taylor-Johnsonhas had a star-studded career so far, I’m still disappointed that two major franchises denied him a bigger role by writing him out. After his breakout performance inNowhere Boy,Aaron Taylor-Johnson’sKick-Assappearances helped cement himself as a big name, with the actor having a number of big hits since. He’s been part of a variety of fun projects, as the likes ofBullet TrainandNocturnal Animalsgave him some of his best parts to date, and with plenty more exciting movies in the works, I’m confident Taylor-Johnson’s profile will only continue to grow.
The actor has also flexed his action, drama, and comedy chops on multiple occasions, proving how talented he is. Rumors even circulated aboutTaylor-Johnson being cast as the next James Bond, and while nothing has been confirmed, he remains heavily linked to the franchise. His resume speaks for itself, but despite all the great roles he’s had, I still feel his career could have been even bigger. Having been part of two major action franchises,the sky was the limit for Taylor-Johnson; however, both blockbusters wrote his character out after his first major appearance, which I’m still upset about.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s Kick-Ass Return Is Impossible After His $1.4 Billion Superhero Role
Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s career only got bigger since Kick-Ass, and it’s now difficult to imagine him playing Dave again after plenty of action roles.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson Starred In Godzilla & Avengers 2 But Never Returned
Taylor-Johnson Could Have Been A Major Part Of Both Blockbuster Franchises
Despite featuring inGodzilla (2014)andAvengers: Age of Ultron, Taylor-Johnson’s characters never appeared again in either franchise. Taylor-Johnson made his Monsterverse debut in 2014’sGodzillaalongside Bryan Cranston and Elizabeth Olsen, where he played one of the film’s main protagonists, Ford Brody. Despite its divisive initial reception,Godzillaaged to become one of the best Monsterverse movies, which would suggest the actor may be welcomed back. Unfortunately, Taylor-Johnson still hasn’t reprised his role over a decade later, and I’m starting to believe the actor may never return, which is a massive missed opportunity for the cinematic series.
Ironically, Taylor-Johnson’s official Marvel debut came in the same year when he once again appeared alongside Elizabeth Olsen, this time inCaptain America: The Winter Soldier. While this was only a brief post-credit cameo, he played a much bigger role as Pietro Maximoff AKA Quicksilver in 2015’sAvengers: Age of Ultron, but his time in the MCU didn’t last long. Whereas Olsen’s character would go on to become one of the biggest characters in Marvel’s Cinematic Universe,Pietro was killed off during his first full appearance, seemingly shutting the door on his return for good.
Avengers: Age of Ultronis Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s highest-grossing movie, making $1.4 billion worldwide.
Given Quicksilver is a beloved character, I was devastated to see him written out, especially as it denied Taylor-Johnson a potentially great role going forward. I still feel as though he could have been a huge asset to both franchises, making it all the more baffling that neither managed to bring him back.
How Aaron Taylor-Johnson Could Have Returned In The MCU & The Monsterverse
Wandavision Could Have Brought Him Back In The MCU & His Character Is Still Alive In The Monsterverse
Even thoughGodzillaandAvengers: Age of Ultronwrote off Taylor-Johnson’s characters, both franchises had opportunities to bring the actor back. WhileGodzilla’s movies often have rotational casts and don’t necessarily follow each other directly, the fact that Ford Brody remained alive means there is still hope that he can return. Finding the right circumstances may be difficult, butFord could still show up alongside his wife Elle in a future installment of the Monsterverseto help flesh out the timeline, especially as the character was briefly mentioned at the beginning ofGodzilla: King of Monsters.
In theory, Marvel should have a tougher time bringing back Taylor-Johnson’s Pietro, but their ongoing Multiverse saga means it might not be too challenging.
In theory, Marvel should have a tougher time bringing back Taylor-Johnson’s Pietro, but their ongoing Multiverse saga means it might not be too challenging. The franchise already had a golden chance to feature the actor a few years back, which I can’t believe they wasted, asTaylor-Johnson was considered for a return in 2021’sWandaVision. Pietro did appear in the show but was played by Evan Peters, who portrayed the character in 20th Century Fox’sX-Menfilms, While this was still a fun cameo, Taylor-Johnson would have fit far better given he’d already appeared in the MCU.
Thankfully, I don’t think it’s impossible for the actor to reprise his role in the future, considering several former Marvel actors showed up inDeadpool & Wolverineafter a long absence from playing their respective characters. These cameos highlighted that the ongoing multiverse allows for almost anyone to return, even dead characters. However, with Taylor-Johnson landing another superhero-based gig, I’m a little less confident about him coming back.
Will Kraven The Hunter Be Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s Next Franchise?
The Marvel Villain Has Big Potential Given His Spider-Man Connection
His time in the MCU may not have proven too fruitful, butTaylor-Johnson will star in his own superhero movie asKraven the Hunter. Although he is a Marvel character, Kraven’s movie will take place in Sony’s universe, alongside the likes ofVenom,Morbius, andMadame Web. While Sony’s previous live-action outings have left a lot to be desired,Kraven the Hunterdoes have a few promising signs and could be a major franchise going forward for the actor.Marvel’s Spider-Man 2utilized the villain perfectly and showed how entertaining he can be, which the upcoming movie will hopefully repeat.
I am a little worried that Sony will continue making some of Spider-Man’s villains more anti-hero types as it has done previously in its live-action universe, but ifKraven the Huntercan lean into the character’s more vicious side, I’m optimistic the movie can work.Aaron-Taylor-Johnson’s28 Years Latercastingalongside his role inNosferatugives him other big projects to fall back on, but Kraven has the most franchise potentially - especially if he crosses over into the MCU - meaning the actor may have finally found his big blockbuster series, and I hope it delivers.
Kraven the Hunter
Kraven the Hunter explores the origin story of Sergei Kravinoff, known as Kraven, as he navigates his tumultuous relationship with his father, Nikolai. This path of vengeance sets Kraven on a journey to become a formidable hunter with a reputation for fearsome brutality.
