There are plenty of questions surrounding Marvel's Disney+ show based on the She-Hulk character, but perhaps most pressing who will be cast in the titular role. Casting is one of the most-widely praised parts of the Marvel Cinematic Universe even among the franchise's greatest detractors. The use of big-name actors like Anthony Mackie, Tom Hiddleston, and Elizabeth Olsen in leading roles for the first of these Disney+/Marvel Studios shows indicates they won't be skimping on the impressive talent that's cropped up throughout their various feature films.
That tradition of snagging top-tier performers will likely continue on to She-Hulk, which will bring the character to live-action for the first time. In the comics, the She-Hulk character starts out as a human lawyer named Jennifer Walters. In the middle of a medical emergency, Walters gets a blood transfusion from her cousin, Bruce Banner, that ensures she survives but gives her the superpowers and green skin color of the Hulk. Whereas the traditional version of the Hulk is a monstrous brute, Walters maintains her human intellect and personality while inhabiting her alter-ego.
It's a part rife with opportunities for clobbering but also chances to deliver comedy, legal-based drama (Walters is a lawyer, after all), and personal confidence. Handling all of those elements in the confines of a broadly appealing Marvel TV show isn't a task just any actor could be up to. However, just because the task is daunting doesn't mean there aren't options on the table for the role of She-Hulk. Here are the best casting choices for the part.
Betty Gilpin
Betty Gilpin is currently one of the stars of one of Netflix's most acclaimed shows, GLOW. With GLOW ending after season 4, Gilpin's schedule is about to open up. If she's searching for a new series to headline, why not take on the role of She-Hulk? Gilpin would be a fine fit for the role and not just because she has experience executing hand-to-hand fight scenes in the confines of a television show. On a practical behind-the-scenes level, Gilpin is familiar with the obligations of portraying a single character over multiple years, the long-term obligations to the role won't be as daunting to someone who just did four years of GLOW.
In terms of the qualities she brings to the role as a performer, Gilpin's best trait is how she's able to emanate an aura of convincing self-confidence that could work well for establishing how Walters is uber self-determined even before she gets those super-powers from her cousin. Plus, if the show ends up being inspired by John Byrne's interpretation of She-Hulk and goes in a more comical direction with the character, Gilpin's chops as a comedic performer could be a boon for the role.
Katheryn Winnick
Much like Betty Gilpin, Katheryn Winnick is also preparing for the imminent end of a TV show she currently stars in. For Winnick, the soon-to-be-concluded program is Vikings which, thanks to the role of Lagertha, has given her extensive experience in the art of brutal fight choreography. Now all too used to playing a ruthless Viking, it would be a cakewalk for Winnick to slip into the role of super-powered hero She-Hulk. Winnick's got experience with both action and genre fare, not to mention a commanding screen presence, so she's clearly nailed down some of the qualities most critical to playing She-Hulk.
Granted, Winnick's body of work is mostly limited to a lead role in Vikings and a smattering of small roles in various pieces of film and television, so it's hard to surmise at this juncture if she can step out of her range beyond the role of Lagertha. However, the MCU has experience with taking pigeonholed actors and giving them a chance to show off a whole new skill set. Who knew Paul Rudd and Chris Pratt would be blockbuster leading men a decade ago? Katheryn Winnick could easily follow in their footsteps if she took on the role of She-Hulk.
Gwendoline Christie
Gwendoline Christie already has plenty of experience dabbling in the Disney franchise empire with her role of Captain Phasma in two of the most recent Star Wars movies. If she's game for a larger role in one of these properties, taking on the part of She-Hulk could be the perfect role for her. Her 6 foot 3 inches tall stature has helped her to work as an intimidating presence in plenty of prior projects. Though like the MCU's Hulk, Christie and any other performer taking on the role would doubtlessly be aided by CGI, Christie's natural height does give her an advantage when it comes to portraying a character meant to be equally as towering as the Hulk.
Christie certainly has the physical qualities to portray She-Hulk but you need more than just brawn to portray someone who typically does her lawyer work while being gigantic and green. Luckily, Christie's earned widespread acclaim for her dramatic chops in more intimate fare like In Fabric, The Personal History of David Copperfield or her assortment of British stage performances, and of course her incredible turn in another huge TV show, Game of Thrones. A key part of She-Hulk's personality is being both a super-powered being and a recognizably human creation and Christie could pull off that dynamic wonderfully.
Rosario Dawson
Unlike the rest of the candidates on this list, Rosario Dawson has already had plenty of experience with the world of Marvel Comics on television. Dawson played the role of Claire Temple across thirty-two episodes of the assorted Marvel/Netflix Defenders shows from 2015 to 2018. Though the shows garnered varying degrees of acclaim and criticism, Dawson's work as Temple, which frequently saw her being a noticeably human anchor among ninjas and super-powered villains, was usually held in high regard by fans and critics alike.
Those Defenders shows may have come to an end but that doesn't mean Dawson's relationship with Marvel has come to an end. Casting experienced Marvel pro Rosario Dawson in the role of She-Hulk would have a number of benefits. Most notably, Dawson's aforementioned ability to be relatable in heightened scenarios would fit well for a superhero whose famous for acting like a normal person even while being an enormous green rage monster. Dawson's commitments to the new USA Network drama Briarpatch may ensure she can't take on this part. But if Disney/Marvel could work around her schedule, Rosario Dawson could be a great pick for the part of She-Hulk.
Stephanie Beatriz
For nearly a decade now, Stephanie Beatriz has received acclaim for her work as fan-favorite Brooklyn Nine-Nine character Rosa Diaz. Beatriz's performance is responsible for some of the most beloved traits of the character, including Rosa's unique depiction of being queer, dry wit and the ability to deliver a throwaway glance full of intimidating power. Partially due to a number of qualities she's consistently displayed in her work on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Beatriz has emerged as a fan-favorite pick for the role of She-Hulk and it's not hard to see why.
In particular, the manner in which Beatriz's performance successfully and poignantly explored Diaz's sexuality could serve as a great training ground for an initial season of She-Hulk where Jennifer Walters must come to terms with and embrace her abilities as She-Hulk. Superpowers being used as a storytelling allegory for sexuality is nothing new. However, if Disney+'s She-Hulk program chooses to frame that character in this manner, placing Beatriz in the titular role could lend it some weight that makes it stand out from the crowd. Plus, if the She-Hulk show opts to go down a comedic route, then Beatriz's extensive experience with the wacky comedy of Brooklyn Nine-Nine could come in extremely handy.
Blake Lively
A recurring feature of the performers mentioned in this piece is the ability to effortlessly drum up a screen presence that just screams authority. If you're looking for an actress whose particularly gifted with that strength, look no further than Blake Lively. Specifically, look no further than Blake Lively as Emily Nelson in A Simple Favor. Whenever she waltzes onto the screen in this movie, Lively radiates the sort of immense self-confidence one usually associates with Cary Grant or George Sanders. Even her character is supposed to be laying low, Lively as Emily Nelson strolls into graveyards with so much assured authority that it's a wonder characters around her don't instinctively kneel in her presence.
It's doubtful Marvel would want to just have Lively do an Emily Nelson clone for the role of She-Hulk but Lively's work in A Simple Favor does demonstrate just how much natural conviction she can muster up in her on-screen work. Such a quality could be just right for the part of She-Hulk and lend the character a sense of assertiveness no computer-generated visual effects wizardry could replicate. Plus, Lively's consistently shown bold post-Gossip Girl career choices, especially in terms of exploring so many different genres. Such a venturesome quality means her take on the character of She-Hulk could be rife with enjoyable surprises that redefine what we expect from Blake Lively as a performer.
Also worth mentioning is that Blake Lively is owed another shot at superhero stardom. Her only prior effort in this realm was with the 2011 Green Lantern. So far, every other member of the Green Lantern cast has gotten another chance at superhero movie redemption. Mark Strong with Shazam, Taika Waititi with Thor: Ragnarok, Peter Sarsgaard with The Batman, Angela Basset with Black Panther and, of course, Ryan Reynolds with Deadpool. Blake Lively's time has come, she could get the same chance for superhero storytelling redemption as her fellow Green Lantern castmates. Maybe She-Hulk is that chance.