Matthew McConaughey is a versatile star, and the actor’s skills are now perfect for a major role years after he was first sought by the Marvel Cinematic Universe and passed on the opportunity of joining the franchise. The MCU has expanded a lot in recent years, with the creation of Disney+ allowing for a whole new side of the franchise to grow with TV series, animation, specials, and more. With so many characters joining the franchise in recent years, Marvel has been actively pursuing a few high-profile stars, and McConaughey could be one of those for future MCU movies.

Amid the list of Hollywood stars who have joined the MCU in recent years are the likes of Russel Crowe, Christian Bale, Mahershala Ali, Pedro Pascal, and more. McConaughey entering the MCU would be in line with what Marvel’s casting has been looking for in recent years. Given that McConaughey rejected a role in a major MCU project that was released in 2017, it would take a bit to convince him. However, there is a perfect role that would make up for McConaughey’s past Marvel experience and cast him in a franchise responsible for some of the best MCU movies.

Matthew McConaughey Refused A Role In Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2

The Actor Had A Good Reason For ThatMatthew McConaughey as Mickey in the Gentlemen talking on the phone

McConaughey has yet to join the MCU after refusing a role in 2017’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Speaking to Playboy (via Gizmodo) in 2016, McConaughey explained why he passed on a role in the then yet-to-be-released MCU movie. According to McConaughey, he is a fan of the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie, but the role he was offered felt more like a gimmick than a real part for him, saying, “I like Guardians of the Galaxy, but what I saw was ‘It’s successful, and now we’ve got room to make a colorful part for another big-name actor.'”

The role McConaughey was up for in the MCU was never outright revealed; however, at the time his rejection of the part was made public, it was said that the actor had been offered the main villain role in the film. As such, that would have meant McConaughey was up for the role of Ego — the father of Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord — who ended up being played by another Hollywood legend, Kurt Russell. In the past, McConaughey approached Marvel to play the Hulk, which also did not happen, but a villain role could be what is in his MCU future.

McConaughey Is Perfect For The MCU’s Norman Osborn

Matthew McConaughey would be a great fit for a new version of Norman Osborn. Willem Dafoe returned as his version of the Green Goblin from Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man trilogy in the MCU’s Spider-Man: No Way Home. The actor’s return showed the huge potential of the character in live-action, and with Dafoe’s Green Goblin coming from the multiverse, the door is open for a new actor to play the MCU’s version of Norman Osborn. Having the perfect looks and skills for the role, McConaughey has emerged as one of the fan favorites for the character.

The Wolf of Wall Street and The Dark Tower — the latter of which being the movie McConaughey starred in over Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 — show how perfect he would be as Norman Osborn. The actor can bring out a new side of the character, with a more calm and collected persona that is akin to many versions of the character in Marvel Comics, differing from Dafoe’s manic portrayal of Green Goblin. McConaughey has the gravitas to bring such a major character to life and make Norman Osborn an MCU powerhouse with a silent intensity.

How Norman Osborn Could Fit In The MCU After Spider-Man: No Way Home

A Very Different Version Of The Character Could Appear

Matthew McConaughey as Mickey in the Gentlemen smiling

To differentiate the MCU’s version of Norman Osborn from Dafoe’s Green Goblin, Marvel Studios could take a more unusual approach to the role. Spider-Man: No Way Home’s ending set up a new chapter for Tom Holland’s Peter Parker. With the character out of high school, Peter could start college in Spider-Man 4, meeting and befriending Harry Osborn there. Upon learning of his last name and Harry’s father, Norman, Peter could grow suspicious of the MCU’s Norman Osborn and keep a close eye on him due to Spider-Man’s past with Dafoe’s Green Goblin.

That is the perfect setup for the MCU to subvert expectations. While Norman Osborn is normally a villain, the character could operate as an anti-hero in the MCU. Norman has left his Green Goblin identity behind in favor of donning an Iron Man-like suit of armor and becoming Iron Patriot in the comics before, and the MCU could use that idea to have its version of the character start as Iron Patriot. Norman could become the leader of the Thunderbolts — perhaps retitled to Dark Avengers like is rumored — in the MCU, and Matthew McConaughey would be perfect for that.

Upcoming Marvel Movies
Release Date

Deadpool & Wolverine
July 26, 2024

Captain America: Brave New World
February 14, 2025

Thunderbolts*
May 2, 2025

Fantastic Four
July 25, 2025

Blade
November 7, 2025

Avengers: The Kang Dynasty
May 1, 2026

Avengers: Secret Wars
May 7, 2027