5 Actors Who Played More Than One Role In a Single Franchise!

The announcement that Robert Downey Jr. will be returning to the MCU as Victor Von Doom has stirred heated debate in the fandom over whether it will diminish his iconic role as Tony Stark/Iron Man. Recasting the now Oscar-winning actor in the same franchise just 5 years after his momentous exit is certainly an odd decision. Nevertheless, there have been numerous instances in the past of actors occupying multiple roles in a single film franchise. Here are 5 such instances that were done to varying degrees of success:

1. Djimon Hounsou in the DCEU

Djimon Hounsou has earned a reputation as Hollywood's go-to guy for epic supporting roles, popping up in everything from A Quiet Place Part II to Guardians of the Galaxy. In the now-wrapped DCEU, Hounsou played not one, but two roles — because why limit yourself? He was the Fisherman King in Aquaman and the wizard in the Shazam! films. Of course, most viewers would never know it's him, thanks to the layers of prosthetics he wears. It's like he’s mastered the art of “blink and you’ll miss me — but not really.”

2. Bruce Spence in The Mad Max Franchise

Bruce Spence pulled off a double act in the Mad Max franchise, first appearing as the Gyro Captain in Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior all the way back in 1981, where he piloted a rickety autogyro and stole scenes with his quirky charm. Then he returned in 1985's Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome as the smooth-talking Jedediah the Pilot, because apparently the apocalypse just can’t get enough of his aviation skills. With Spence’s tall, lanky frame and eccentric persona, most fans didn’t realize they were watching the same actor — just another day in the wasteland for Spence!

3. Gemma Chan in the MCU

Gemma Chan was the first to play two different characters in the MCU. Unlike RDJ, who will likely be playing a multiversal variant, Chan held two roles within a single universe in the Marvel world. First, she suited up as the blue-skinned, sharp-shooting Minn-Erva in Captain Marvel. Then, she returned as Sersi in Eternals, trading her blasters for ancient powers and a much warmer complexion. Chan’s versatility, combined with some impressive makeup, made these two characters seem like they were played by completely different actresses.

4. Bruce Campbell in the OG Spider-Man Trilogy

Bruce Campbell is the ultimate easter egg in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, popping up in not one, not two, but three different roles, all with his signature Campbell flair. First, he was the wrestling announcer who christened Peter Parker as "The Amazing Spider-Man" in the first movie. Next, he donned a snazzy suit as the snooty usher who denied Peter entry to Mary Jane's play in Spider-Man 2. Finally, in Spider-Man 3, he returned as the hilariously over-the-top French maître d' trying to help Peter propose. Campbell's cameos are so iconic that some fans even joke he’s the true hero of the series!

5. Andy Serkis in the Star Wars Universe

Finally, perhaps the most impressive example is Andy Serkis in the Star Wars universe. First, Serkis pulled his classic stunt of performing both motion-capture and voice-over with Supreme Leader Snoke in the Sequel films The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. A couple years later, he appeared in his normal human form in the Disney+ series "Andor", where some fans claim he gave the best performance of any actor in Star Wars history. The stark contrast between these two characters is proof that RDJ’s return in the MCU might just work if he puts those Oscar skills to use!