When it comes to major media conglomerates, no company has more magic than the Walt Disney Company. The place where we learn to wish and dream as our imagination takes flight, Disney has been a major part of our lives in one way or another. The 21st century featured two major acquisitions for Disney to add to the roster: Star Wars and Marvel. Both media franchises had established themselves as major players in the pop culture lexicon, and now, with Disney at the helm, those opportunities and budgets increased exponentially!

Playing in the Star Wars or Marvel universe is a fun treat for an actor, but to get to do both? It’s like getting to go to Disney! We’re here to talk about the giant list of actors who have had the glory of playing in both worlds. For this list, we are sticking to those films and series that are canonically tied to both franchises. So yes, for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Netflix shows like Daredevil and Jessica Jones are included! The simple fact that this is a hefty list proves that both franchises can pull in mega stars.

1

Richard Armitage

This one might be a bit of a cheat because Richard Armitage‘s presence in the Star Wars universe came in the form of a cameo. In 1999, Armitage made his film debut as an uncredited Naboo fighter pilot in Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace. As it turns out, he originally had a few lines, but they were cut. Though he’s visible in the background, we’ll count it! When it comes to the MCU, Armitage played Heinz Kruger, a top Hydra assassin in Captain America: The First Avenger. Kruger is the operative who infiltrates the facility where the super serum is created and later swallows a cyanide capsule to avoid interrogation.

2

Paul Bettany

Some names on this list have prominent roles in both worlds. One such actor is the incredible Paul Bettany. He began his tenure in the MCU as the voice of J.A.R.V.I.S., the trusty artificial intelligence of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) in Iron Man through Avengers: Age of Ultron. It was in that film that J.A.R.V.I.S. was uploaded into a synthetic vibranium body, putting Bettany on screen as Vision. He brought the beloved role to the small screen in WandaVision. And yes, he will return in the upcoming VisionQuest. Bettany then stepped into a galaxy far, far away as the primary antagonist Dryden Vos in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Vos is a high-ranking, merciless leader in the Crimson Dawn crime syndicate who acts as the primary employer for Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich) and Qi’ra (Emilia Clarke) during their smuggling days.

3

Emilia Clarke

Though her most iconic role came on Game of Thrones, this actress, known for playing Daenerys Targaryen, appeared in a Star Wars film and an MCU series. Clarke played Q’ira in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Q’ira was Han’s childhood best friend and first love from Corellia. She eventually rises in the ranks of the Crimson Dawn, only for her to defeat Dryden Vos in the end. Clarke spent more time on screen as a main character in Secret Invasion. She played adult G’iah, a hardened rebel fighting alongside the extremist faction led by Gravik (Kingsley Ben-Adir). Having the superhuman abilities from the “Harvest” machine, she eventually turned on Gravik and his followers. By the end of the series, G’iah ended up being one of the most powerful beings in the entire MCU. Clarke recently went on record saying that her time in both series, as well as in The Terminator franchise, was “disappointing” because they weren’t “liked.” (At least everything until the end of Game of Thrones was enjoyed by the audience!)

4

Rosario Dawson

Before taking on her most iconic pop culture role of bringing Ahsoka Tano to life, Rosario Dawson had a recurring stint in the MCU Netflix series as Claire Temple. A dedicated medical professional, she first arrived on the scene as an ally to Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) in Daredevil. She continued this role in subsequent connected series within The Defenders. Now to Star Wars, Dawson brought Ahsoka first toThe Mandalorianand then reprised her role inThe Book of Boba Fett. In 2023, she was granted the opportunity to lead her own series,Ahsoka. The iconic character is a Force-sensitive Togruta and formally Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan inThe Clone Wars. Her grand journey on screen has solidified her as one of the most notorious and fan-favorite characters in franchise history.

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