Fifty Shades Star Jamie Dornan Met With Marvel Studios for Superhero Role

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is filled with a stellar ensemble of actors and directors. The successful superhero franchise has been up and running for over a decade, and it showcased a plethora of debuts from A-list stars. 

The Infinity Saga introduced a wide array of actors and actresses into the Marvel universe such as Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and Scarlett Johansson. After an impressive interconnected slate of movies, the trend continues in Phase 4, with the likes of Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, and Mahershala Ali joining the MCU to further expand the franchise's roster of characters. 

Many would agree that joining the MCU would be a dream come true for any actor. For example, Hidden Figures star Janelle Monáe admitted that it has always been her dream to play the role of the mutant, Storm. 

Meanwhile, Academy-Award winning actress Charlize Theron previously revealed that she hasn't been approached by Marvel Studios about a potential role, hinting that she would be open to join the superhero franchise down the line. 

Now, it looks like another famous actor will look to assemble with the rest of the heroes and villains of the MCU down the line. 

Jamie Dornan to the MCU?

Jamie Dornan, who played Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades franchise, sat down with The New York Times to reveal details about meeting with Marvel Studios. 

Dornan shared that he met with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige to talk about joining the MCU, admitting that he's "more ambitious" while also explaining the motivation behind his decision: 

“I’m more ambitious than I’ve ever let on before. It’s like a necessity to deliver and provide, very caveman-esque: I must succeed for these precious little people. Also, since my dad died, it’s lit this extra fire within me, this extra burner of wanting to succeed.”

Aside from the Fifty Shades franchise, Dornan also portrayed Sheriff Graham Humbert in Once Upon A Time and Paul Spector in The Fall. Other notable projects by the actor include Belfast, Robin Hood, and Anthropoid. 

Jamie Dornan's Role in the MCU (Theory) 

Many would agree that Jamie Dornan had a memorable performance as Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades franchise, and seeing him in the MCU would be a welcome treat for fans. 

It is unknown which role Dornan would portray in the MCU, but a previous interview may shed some light on his interest. Back in October 2020, Dornan and his Synchronic co-star Anthony Mackie, who plays Sam Wilson aka Captain America, sat down with Looper to talk about potentially joining the MCU. 

In the interview, Dornan admitted that he doesn't know much about the Marvel universe, but Mackie proclaimed that his co-star would look good as Gambit. The Fifty Shades of Grey actor chimed in on the fun by jokingly saying if Mackie's pitch was an official offer to play the X-Men character. 

The fun exchange can be seen below: 

Mackie: "You could be Gambit. He's from New Orleans." 

Dornan: "Do you have the power? Was that like an official offer to be Gambit? I might've misread that."

For context, Gambit is a powerful mutant who has the ability to manipulate pure kinetic energy to his desire, and he is also skilled in card-throwing and hand-to-hand combat. 

It remains to be seen if Dornan will fulfill Mackie's wish, but it seems that there are a myriad of Marvel roles for the talented actor. Dornan could easily play any of the key mutants of the X-Men like Cyclops, Ice Man, and even Wolverine. 

Dornan's comments suggest that he is leaning toward playing a Marvel superhero, mainly due to his reference to his kids. Still, the actor proved that he is capable of playing a villain, especially after his impressive performance as Paul Spector in The Fall. Dornan could play villains like Dr. Doom, Magneto, and Galactus. 

Whatever the case, it's already a good sign that Dornan met with Marvel Studios for a potential role, and it will be interesting to find out when he will make his MCU debut.