Every Star Wars Actor In The MCU

As two of the biggest cinematic franchises of all time, there is some overlap between the cast of Star Wars and that of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After Star Wars started in 1977, it quickly became one of cinema's most beloved franchises. With three separate trilogies making up Star Wars' Skywalker Saga and numerous Disney+ series now being created to further build upon the Star Wars mythos, Star Wars remains one of the most successful franchises in all pop culture.

Only one franchise has arguably surpassed the success of Star Wars: the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The MCU's story has changed and grown significantly since it began in 2008 with Iron Man, encompassing a staggering amount of individual superhero outings with one extensive branching narrative. As the MCU continues to introduce new adaptations of beloved Marvel characters - and plans to do so consistently as the coming years reveal no sign of this slowing - even more actors are set to join to ever-swelling ranks of the franchise's colossal cast.

As two of the biggest franchises in the world, Star Wars and the MCU each boast their own impressive casts of characters. The growth of both franchises means there's something of an overlap in actors: many of the stars of the MCU have also appeared in the Star Wars franchise. Here is every actor that has appeared in both Star Wars and the MCU.

Samuel L. Jackson

As Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury was behind the formation of the Avengers in the MCU, he's one of the Marvel franchise's most important characters. As well as playing SHIELD director Nick Fury in the MCU, Samuel L. Jackson appeared in all three movies in George Lucas's Star Wars prequel trilogy as Mace Windu. A revered Jedi master, Mace Windu was a member of the Jedi High Council and one-time Master of the Order. As Windu, Jackson played a key role in all three Star Wars prequels, culminating with Windu's death in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. As Samuel L. Jackson has played key supporting roles in both Star Wars and the MCU, he's one of the most obvious actors to appear in both franchises.

Oscar Isaac

Oscar Isaac is a more recent addition to both franchises, playing the hero Moon Knight in the MCU Disney+ series of the same name and Resistance pilot Poe Dameron in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. In the MCU, Oscar Isaac's Moon Knight is a hero granted his power through his status as the avatar of the Egyptian god Khonshu. In Star Wars, Isaac plays the roguish and courageous Poe Dameron, a Resistance fighter intent on toppling the First Order. The actor's two roles are both major ones, making his place in both franchises one of the more high-profile examples.

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman is another A-list actor to appear in major roles in both Star Wars and the MCU. The part that helped cement Portman's status as a global megastar was that of Padmé Amidala, whose journey from Queen of Naboo to Senator and finally the wife of Anakin Skywalker was a vital element of the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Portman also appeared in the MCU as Jane Foster/Mighty Thor, originally introduced as a love interest for Chris Hemsworth's Thor, with Thor: Love and Thunder seeing her assume the mantle of the hero herself. Portman's roles in Star Wars and the MCU are equally big, so she's another prime example of an actor who has appeared in both franchises.

Andy Serkis

Andy Serkis often appears in roles undetected, primarily because of his penchant for completing many via motion capture and his incredible physical and vocal versatility. Serkis appeared in the MCU as the villain Ulysses Klaue, a South African arms dealer with a powerful Wakandan prosthesis. Serkis also appeared in Star Wars: The Last Jedi as Supreme Leader Snoke, a role that extensively used CGI and motion capture. As a result, it's easy to miss Serkis' role as Star Wars villain Snoke, although his MCU villain is much easier to identify. Both villains have played key roles in their respective franchises, though, making Serkis a key player in both the Star Wars universe and the MCU.

Forest Whitaker

Forest Whitaker is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable stars in Hollywood, so his supporting roles in both franchises were somewhat hard to miss. Whitaker appeared in Black Panther as Zuri, a Wakandan shaman who also serves as an adviser to T'Challa. Forest Whitaker also appeared in Star Wars: Rogue One as Saw Gerrera, a legendary figure in the Rebellion against the Galactic Empire, and a man whose radical tactics made him one of the most feared men in the galaxy. As both Saw Gerrera in Rogue One and Zuri in Black Panther, Whitaker's undeniable screen presence helps him to steal every one of his scenes in both the Star Wars franchise and the MCU despite him only appearing in supporting roles.

Paul Bettany

A celebrated British character actor, Paul Bettany first started out in the MCU with a voice role as JARVIS, Tony Stark's robotic butler. It wasn't until Avengers: Age of Ultron that Bettany appeared on-screen as Vision, a powerful synthezoid made from vibranium and brought to life using the Mind Stone. Bettany also appeared in the Star Wars prequel movie Solo as Dryden Vos, a ruthless and powerful crime lord. Bettany's continued role as Vision in the MCU was more successful than his appearance in the maligned Star Wars spin-off prequel, but he nevertheless has made canonical appearances in both franchises.

Kumail Nanjiani

One of the most recent actors to join the ranks of those appearing in both Star Wars and the MCU is Kumail Nanjiani. The Pakistani-born American comedian appeared in Eternals as Kingo, and then made an appearance in Obi-Wan Kenobi as Haja, a con-man who pretends to be Force-sensitive. Nanjiani's efforts in Eternals were cited as one of the film's highlights, and though his Obi-Wan Kenobi role was relatively minor, he has made appearances in both franchises.

Taika Waititi

Celebrated director Taika Waititi has also appeared in both the MCU and the Star Wars franchise. As well as directing Thor: Ragnarok, Waititi voiced Korg, Thor's Kronan companion, and the comedy that Korg brings to the Thor movies helped to make Ragnarok one of the most popular entries into the MCU. Waititi also lends his voice to a character in The Mandalorian, the bounty-hunting droid IG-11, who is later reprogrammed to help Din Djarin to protect Grogu. Waititi's knack for comedy makes both IG-11 and Korg some of their respective franchise's funniest characters, making the actor's roles even more prominent even though his face isn't seen in either Star Wars or the MCU.

Mads Mikkelsen

One of the most celebrated dramatic actors of his generation, Mads Mikkelsen also makes appearances in both the Star Wars universe and the MCU. In Rogue One, Mikkelsen appeared as Galen Erso, a man coerced by the Galactic Empire to create the Death Star, leading to his installment of the weakness that the Rebellion later exploits to destroy it. Mikkelsen also appeared as Doctor Strange's villain, Kaecilius, the leader of a band of sorcerer zealots who opt to follow Dormammu. Mikkelsen's Star Wars and MCU roles were memorable but seemingly one-off, as he has yet to reappear in either franchise.

Ben Mendelsohn

Though he's almost unrecognizable in one of his roles, Ben Mendelsohn appears in both Star Wars and the MCU, with roles in Rogue One and Captain Marvel. Mendelsohn's role in Captain Marvel sees him undergo a significant transformation to appear as Talos, a member of the shape-shifting Skrull race. Though he takes on several disguises and spends much of the film wearing extensive prosthetics, his distinctive voice makes him unmistakable. Mendelsohn also played the villainous Director Krennic in Rogue One, the Imperial officer overseeing the construction of the Death Star and the one responsible for bringing in Galen Erso to design the station. Although Mendelsohn has yet to make further significant appearances in either franchise, his memorable roles in both Star Wars and the MCU speak for themselves.

Lupita Nyong'o

Though one of her roles is easy to miss, Lupita Nyong'o has also had roles in both Star Wars and the MCU. Nyong'o starred in Black Panther as Nakia, a Wakandan warrior, a former member of the Dora Milaje, and T'Challa's love interest. She also voiced the character of Maz Kanata in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, a former pirate and smuggler who helps Rey and Finn to find the Resistance. Nyong'o briefly reprised the role in a minor capacity for the two subsequent Star Wars sequel trilogy movies. Nyong'o is also set to reprise the role of Nakia for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, meaning that her roles in both Star Wars and the MCU are ongoing.

Donald Glover

Musical artist and actor Donald Glover has also appeared in both Star Wars and the MCU, boasting roles in both Solo: A Star Wars Story and Spider-Man: Homecoming. Though Glover's role in the MCU was nothing more than a cameo, it was an exciting one because he appeared as Aaron Davis (A.K.A. Prowler) and referred to his nephew, Miles Morales. Glover also appeared as Lando Calrissian in Solo, taking over Billy Dee Williams' role for the prequel. Despite Solo's negative reception, Glover's performance was praised, meaning that his roles in both Star Wars and the MCU have been particularly exciting for the franchises' respective futures.

Rosario Dawson

Rosario Dawson has also appeared in Marvel and Star Wars shows: as Claire Temple in Netflix's Defenders saga and as Ahsoka Tano in the Star Wars Disney+ shows. Though the status of Netflix's Marvel shows in the MCU is unconfirmed, the MCU's Daredevil acting as a continuation will likely canonize Dawson's Claire Temple. Dawson's live-action Ahsoka has appeared in The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and will also star in her own show, Ahsoka, in 2023.

Benicio Del Toro

Though both were relatively minor supporting roles, Benicio Del Toro has also appeared in both the Star Wars franchise and the MCU. Del Toro played The Collector in Guardians of the Galaxy - a role he briefly reprised for Avengers: Infinity War - and he also appeared in Star Wars: The Last Jedi as DJ, an underworld codebreaker enlisted by Finn and Rose to support their attempts to save the Resistance. Though Benicio Del Toro's Star Wars character was significantly underdeveloped in The Last Jedi, his role in the MCU as the quirky and untrustworthy Collector was decidedly more memorable.

Erin Kellyman

Despite Erin Kellyman's list of credits being relatively short compared to many of her MCU and Star Wars co-stars, she has still made major appearances in both franchises. Kellyman was featured in Solo as Enfys Nest, a Resistance fighter with a particular hatred for the Crimson Dawn syndicate. Kellyman went on to star in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier as Karli Morgenthau, the leader of the Flag-Smashers enhanced with the super soldier serum. Kellyman's stand-out roles in both the MCU and Star Wars have proved pivotal for her career, introducing her to a global audience with two unforgettable characters.

Jon Favreau

As well as being a prominent director for both franchises, Jon Favreau has had roles in both Star Wars and the MCU. Favreau first appeared in the MCU as Happy Hogan, Tony Stark's friend and driver (later promoted to Iron Man's head of security). His recurring MCU role is memorable as Happy Hogan has delivered several excellent moments of levity within the franchise. Favreau has also lent his voice to a character in the Star Wars franchise, Mandalorian warrior Pre Vizsla in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Favreau then created The Mandalorian, making him one of the most active participants in both Star Wars and the MCU.

Richard E. Grant

Legendary actor Richard E. Grant has popped up in supporting roles in both Star Wars and the MCU, appearing in both Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Loki. Richard E. Grant's Star Wars character, General Pryde, appears in the final entry in the Skywalker Saga as the commanding officer of the Final Order, the fleet of star destroyers commissioned by Emperor Palpatine. Grant also notably appeared in the Disney+ series Loki as a variant of the titular trickster known as Classic Loki. Though both roles were relatively short-lived for an actor of Grant's reputation, his distinctive talent helped to make both Pryde and Classic Loki memorable characters within their respective franchises.

Simu Liu

The star of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Simu Liu, has also appeared in the Star Wars franchise. Though his MCU role as Shang-Chi is far more easily identifiable, Liu also lent his voice to Lah Zhima in an episode of the animated Star Wars anthology series Star Wars: Visions. Though Star Wars: Visions exists outside the Star Wars franchise's main canon, Liu's voice role makes him a part of both franchises.

Jessica Henwick

Though Jessica Henwick's role in the MCU is somewhat debatable, she has appeared in both Marvel and Star Wars properties. Henwick appeared in Star Wars: The Force Awakens as Jessika Pava, a Resistance fighter pilot, in what proved to be a relatively small but memorable role. Henwick also starred in the Netflix Marvel series Iron Fist as Colleen Wing. Though Disney has yet to fully confirm Iron Fist as MCU canon, the MCU's Daredevil being a continuation implies that Henwick's appearance as Wing can at least be considered MCU-adjacent.

Other Star Wars Actors In The MCU

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As well as the many prominent roles filled by actors that have appeared in both franchises, Star Wars and the MCU also share actors from more minor roles. Hannah John-Kamen, who played the antagonist Ghost in Ant-Man and the Wasp, also briefly appeared as an unnamed First Order officer in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Cailey Fleming also appeared in The Force Awakens as Young Rey, and she also played the younger version of Sylvie in Loki. Renowned British comic and actor Peter Serafinowicz appeared in a cameo in Guardians of the Galaxy and also provided the voice for Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. Richard Armitage appeared as a Hydra assassin in Captain America: The First Avenger and can be spotted as a guard in the background of The Phantom Menace. Finally, the legendary Clancy Brown has lent his voice to both franchises - as Surtur in Thor: Ragnarok and Savage Opress in Star Wars: The Clone Wars - making him one of the most notable but easy-to-miss actors to appear in both Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.