15 Actors Who Could Be the Next Wolverine in the MCU
Fans have imagined the clawed mutant arriving in the modern Marvel era for years, and the conversation always circles back to the same question. Which actor has the résumé, the physical credibility, and the screen presence to carry the role through team ups and solo adventures across several projects. It is a role that asks for intense action, gravelly grit, and a voice audiences remember the moment it cuts through the noise.
We took a fresh look at recent action leads, scene stealers from prestige TV, and performers with proven fight choreography on their shoulders. The names below have headlined demanding productions, trained for close quarters combat on camera, or anchored long running series that required stamina and range. Each entry highlights concrete credits, skills, and career notes so you can decide who you think should pick up the mantle next.
Taron Egerton
Taron Egerton built global recognition with leading roles in ‘Kingsman: The Secret Service’ and ‘Rocketman’. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and has moved between large scale action films and character driven dramas on stage and screen.
His work in ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’ included extensive firearms handling and fight choreography under veteran stunt teams. He has also taken on physically demanding shoots outside of the spy series, which reinforced experience with wire work, tactical movement, and long schedule action production.
Alan Ritchson
Alan Ritchson leads the series ‘Reacher’ and performs sustained hand to hand sequences that rely on practical stunt work. His earlier credits include ‘Smallville’ and ‘Blue Mountain State’, and he has carried supporting roles in major studio releases.
He added blockbuster experience with ‘Fast X’ and previously worked on motion capture sets for ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’. Across television seasons and franchise films he has trained with fight coordinators, rehearsed complex beats, and maintained the continuity that long action projects require.
Jensen Ackles
Jensen Ackles spent fifteen seasons on ‘Supernatural’, logging hundreds of hours on set with firearms training and stunt coordination. He later joined ‘The Boys’ as Soldier Boy and worked through military style tactics and close quarters choreography.
He has a parallel career in voice work that includes Batman in ‘Batman The Long Halloween’ and related titles. That portfolio adds familiarity with vocal performance for iconic characters, session discipline, and collaboration with large studio post production teams.
Antony Starr
Antony Starr headlined ‘Banshee’ and brought sustained fight training and weapons work to the screen. He then led multiple seasons of ‘The Boys’ as Homelander, operating at the center of a visual effects heavy production with demanding stunt requirements.
His schedule on those series involved coordination with stunt doubles, wire rigs, and second unit teams for aerial and impact shots. He has worked under showrunners and directors who blend practical action and effects, which translates to efficiency on sets that move fast and shoot large scale sequences.
Dan Stevens
Dan Stevens shifted from period drama to intense action with ‘The Guest’ and trained for fast paced combat scenes and tactical movement. He also led ‘Legion’ and worked through sequences that mixed physical performance with heavy visual effects and stylized blocking.
He has stage experience in London and New York and has carried studio musicals with ‘Beauty and the Beast’. The combination of choreography, precise timing, and repetition through long rehearsal cycles shows stamina that fits action focused production demands.
Dacre Montgomery
Dacre Montgomery broke out with ‘Power Rangers’ and completed a full cast boot camp that covered fight basics and coordinated group action. He found a wide audience in ‘Stranger Things’, where he played an antagonist across large ensemble scenes.
His film and series work put him on sets that required high energy performance, quick resets, and continuity across stunt heavy episodes. He has experience supporting marketing tours for franchise releases and managing the travel and training schedule that comes with them.
Jack O’Connell
Jack O’Connell delivered intense physical work in ‘Starred Up’ and led the survival drama ‘Unbroken’. He has taken on military and survival training modules for roles that needed endurance and credible close quarters movement.
He continued with projects like ‘Trial by Fire’ and ‘The North Water’, which shot in demanding locations and required controlled performance under harsh conditions. Those productions relied on discipline with safety teams and consistent focus under pressure.
Boyd Holbrook
Boyd Holbrook played Donald Pierce in ‘Logan’ and learned tactical weapon handling and team movement for the role. He also anchored true crime drama in ‘Narcos’ and worked on location shoots that required coordination with multilingual crews.
He returned to action with ‘The Predator’ and later appeared in ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’. Across these productions he collaborated with veteran stunt departments and adhered to choreography that balanced aggression with safety for co stars.
Austin Butler
Austin Butler carried the lead in ‘Elvis’ through a rigorous shoot that required months of preparation. He followed that with ‘Dune Part Two’ where he trained for arena style combat scenes and worked within large scale sets and complex costume builds.
He also joined ‘Masters of the Air’ and completed period military training with an ensemble cast. That experience included flight rig work, set piece movement in confined spaces, and long days balancing dialogue and action beats.
Sam Heughan
Sam Heughan has led ‘Outlander’ across multiple seasons that feature sword work, mounted sequences, and battlefield choreography. He prepared with dialect work and physical conditioning to sustain performance through long historical set pieces.
He added modern action with ‘SAS Red Notice’ and appeared in ‘Bloodshot’, gaining familiarity with contemporary weapons training and urban stunt setups. He has managed international location shoots and press schedules that span film and television.
Oliver Jackson-Cohen
Oliver Jackson Cohen drew wide attention with ‘The Invisible Man’, performing through stunt driven sequences that relied on precise marks and effects coordination. He previously worked in ensemble horror with ‘The Haunting of Hill House’ and ‘The Haunting of Bly Manor’.
His roles required reacting to off screen cues and practical effects while maintaining continuity across complex camera setups. That kind of technical focus is useful on sets that combine practical stunts, motion control, and heavy post production.
Taylor Kitsch
Taylor Kitsch portrayed Gambit in ‘X Men Origins Wolverine’ and went through card throwing choreography and staff work for the part. He has taken on military roles in ‘Lone Survivor’ and carried a limited series lead in ‘Waco’.
His credits include large scale shoots like ‘Battleship’ and the period crime drama of ‘True Detective’ season two. Across these projects he trained with tactical advisors, executed controlled car work, and balanced performance between dramatic scenes and action setups.
Glen Powell
Glen Powell trained for intensive flight sequences in ‘Top Gun Maverick’ and learned to manage high G environments for on camera performance. He continued military aviation work with ‘Devotion’ and handled cockpit dialogue while maintaining continuity across aerial coverage.
He returned to event scale filmmaking with ‘Twisters’ and navigated complex effects workflows alongside practical weather rigs. His filmography shows familiarity with rehearsals that integrate safety briefings, technical blocking, and second unit collaboration.
Charlie Hunnam
Charlie Hunnam led ‘Sons of Anarchy’ for seven seasons and trained on motorcycle handling and close quarters fights. He fronted studio action adventures with ‘Pacific Rim’ and ‘King Arthur Legend of the Sword’, both of which required sword work and coordinated melee.
He also appeared in ‘The Gentlemen’ and worked with ensembles that move between comedy and combat within the same scene. Those sets emphasized timing with stunt teams, weapon discipline, and rapid adjustments between rehearsals and takes.
Liam Hemsworth
Liam Hemsworth carried major franchise experience through ‘The Hunger Games’ series and trained in archery and tactical team movement. He led science fiction action in ‘Independence Day Resurgence’ and worked on effects heavy stages.
He stepped into ‘The Witcher’ and prepared for extended sword choreography and physical conditioning across a fantasy series schedule. That work includes collaboration with stunt coordinators on footwork patterns, parry sequences, and safe impact techniques.
Share your pick for the role in the comments and tell us who you want to see take up the claws next.
