Zac Efron has previously talked about joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the actor’s comments, as well as new rumors, make the perfect MCU casting choice for the star more likely. Efron has a history with Marvel Studios’ parent company, Disney, having starred as Troy Bolton in the popular High School Musical movie trilogy. Following his work in the musical franchise, Efron started to diversify his acting credits, making a name for himself in raunchy comedies, as well as proving he is a strong dramatic actor, with the emotional The Iron Claw as perhaps the best movie in Efron’s career.
After his time in High School Musical, Efron also became known for turning into one of the Hollywood stars with the most impressive physiques. Based on his popularity, acting skills, and physical prowess, it is shocking that Efron has yet to play a superhero for Marvel or DC. With the MCU’s Multiverse Saga going on and several key characters from Marvel Comics still to be cast in the coming years, there is still plenty of time for the actor to join a project in Marvel’s slate of releases, and Efron even has shown that he would be up for it.
Zac Efron Would Love To Join The MCU
Efron has long been fancast as multiple Marvel characters. The actor was one of the most popular casting choices to play Johnny Storm, aka the Human Torch, in the MCU. While that role ended up going to Stranger Things’ Joseph Quinn in Marvel’s The Fantastic Four, there are still plenty of characters the actor could play. In 2022, Efron responded to requests for him to join the MCU, and while the actor has yet to be a part of the franchise, that does not seem to be due to a lack of desire on his part.
Efron made his love for Marvel very clear, saying, “I’ve been a fan of Marvel since I started walking.” The actor also teased that he would be excited about joining the MCU for the right role, saying, “I would jump at the opportunity.” With Efron’s willingness to become part of the MCU and the fans’ desire for him to get cast as one of Marvel’s biggest heroes, it is surprising that it has yet to happen. However, things could finally change soon.
Efron Is Rumored To Have Had Talks With Marvel
Efron is the latest actor to become part of the MCU’s rumor mill. Recently, a rumor claiming Efron has had talks with Marvel Studios about joining the MCU has started to gain traction. No role was specified in the rumor, simply claiming Efron and Marvel have discussed possibilities. While there has yet to be official confirmation that Efron has been cast in the MCU, if the rumor is true, an official announcement could come at either 2024 San Diego Comic-Con or Disney’s D23.
While Efron joining the MCU, just like any other Marvel rumor, should be taken with a grain of salt, there have been recent cases where Marvel casting rumors panned out. Most notable was the casting process for The Fantastic Four. One of Marvel’s most anticipated projects, the reboot of the Fantastic Four, took quite some time to announce its cast. However, all four main members of the team had been rumored to have been cast months before the official announcement was made by Marvel, which makes Efron’s MCU rumors more interesting.
Zac Efron Would Be The MCU’s Perfect Wolverine
Efron’s latest casting rumors are timely for one of his most popular fan castings to become true. Efron is a strong name to play the MCU’s version of Wolverine when Marvel reboots the X-Men. While Hugh Jackman has become one with the character in live-action, even joining the MCU in this year’s Deadpool & Wolverine, the actor is too old to play Wolverine for the next decade or more. At 36 and in impressive shape, Efron would make for a fantastic Wolverine, with The Iron Claw showing he could nail the physical and emotional aspects of the hero.
In 2022, Efron responded to Wolverine casting rumors. The actor, who co-starred with Hugh Jackman in The Greatest Showman, played off the rumors, as he thought his friend was “still doing that pretty well.” However, Efron once again remarked that he would be open to joining the MCU, answering a question about Marvel looking for a “Zac Efron type” by saying, “Wow, they could just call me.” If the latest rumors are true, Marvel might have done just that, and with Deadpool & Wolverine introducing multiple variants, Zac Efron could very well end up appearing as the MCU’s Wolverine.
