Fox is reportedly working on a movie based on the Silver Surfer, keeping with the studio’s theme of making as many movies as possible before they have to sell to Disney. While it may not seem like a Silver Surfer movie is a good idea, he is a character that a lot of fans have wanted to see on the big screen again, and this could provide an opportunity to really nail the origin behind the herald of Galactus. Of course he’s likely to be brought to life by motion capture, but you still need the right actor to provide the voice and frame of the character, and I think I have a few good suggestions.
1. Benedict Cumberbatch
Benedict Cumberbatch currently has a role in the MCU as Doctor Strange, but that doesn’t necessarily exempt him from doing a Marvel movie with Fox, and I think that he would make an excellent Silver Surfer. Cumberbatch’s unique facial structure and strong cheekbones resemble that of the Silver Surfer’s perfectly, and his body frame would be excellent to base the character around. Not only is he a fantastic actor in physical roles, but Cumberbatch has a deep and imposing voice that he loves to showcase, and I think that this could be the perfect opportunity to exercise that natural gift.
2. Idris Elba
With Idris Elba’s character Heimdall meeting his untimely end in Avengers: Infinity War, it’s possible that he could be opened to another Marvel role, and starring in his own movie could be just the incentive he needs. Elba has a deep voice that could be a key factor in bringing the Silver Surfer to life, and has the kind of muscular build associated with the character. Much like Tom Hardy’s casting in Venom, Elba could change this film from a bomb into a success just by signing on, and he always gives an excellent performance no matter what he stars in.
3. Vin Diesel
Vin Diesel is still to this day one of the biggest and most recognizable stars in Hollywood, so having him play a character like Silver Surfer would make the project an instant success. Not only is his face recognizable however, but his voice his utterly iconic. With Diesel providing the voice and motion capture for the character, the movie is bound to be a hit.
4. Liev Schreiber
While Liev Schreiber may not have the natural look for the character like Vin Diesel does, he makes up for it with his voice. Schreiber has one of the most intimidating voices in the business, and that’s a quality which is a must for Silver Surfer. Of course he’s also a seasoned action star as well, so I have no doubt that he would feel at home doing stunts in a motion capture suit, and his addition to the film would but a newfound buzz around what is likely to be one of Fox’s last Marvel movies.
5. Ving Rhames
Obviously Ving Rhames wouldn’t be able to provide the motion capture for the character, but how utterly awesome would it be for him to do the voice of Silver Surfer? Rhames has perhaps the most memorable voice in all of movies and TV, and lending that to a superhero role would be a dream come true. Having him do the voice of the character with a different person doing the motion capture would be reminiscent of how the Silver Surfer was brought to life in his first movie appearance, and it might just be a formula that works again.
6. Joseph Gordon-Levitt
While Joseph Gordon-Levitt might not be known for an iconic voice, he’s still one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, and having him headline this movie could make a lot of people look forward to it. Fans have wanted to see JGL take on another superhero role since the conclusion of The Dark Knight Rises, and while this isn’t the character everyone wants to see him as, putting him in a Marvel movie could drag people to the box office just the same. He has an excellent frame for the Silver Surfer, and having such a huge star in his prime for a role like this would a dream come true.
7. Liam Hemsworth
Liam Hemsworth has gained immense fame from his roles in the Hunger Games series and Independence Day: Resurgence, as well as being the younger brother of everyone’s favorite Norse god, Chris Hemsworth. While he doesn’t necessarily have an easily distinguishable voice, he does have the kind of muscular build you would expect from Silver Surfer, and could be just the star vehicle this movie needs. Hemsworth is one of the most popular young stars working today, and it’s only a matter of time before he takes a superhero role.
8. Mike Colter
Mike Colter is primarily known for his role as Luke Cage in the MCU, and he has proven himself to be a truly excellent actor through that series. Not only does he have the natural look and build for Silver Surfer, but he has the kind of rich voice you would expect from the character, and his talent as an actor is extremely underrated. While Colter might not be as big of a star as everyone else on this list, I’m supremely confident that he could do as good in the role, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he got it despite already playing a Marvel character.
9. Alexander Skarsgård
It seemed like Alexander Skarsgård was everywhere right after The Legend of Tarzan came out, but he hasn’t really done much since. However, he’s still a big name, and I think that headlining a superhero movie could be beneficial to his career. Skarsgård is obviously built like a Greek god, and with the right script, I think he could be a much better Silver Surfer than we’ve seen in the past.
10. Theo James
Theo James is another actor, much like Skarsgård, who had a string of major success and then just kind of disappeared. While he’s never really starred in his own film, I feel like he’s still popular and talented enough to do so, and Silver Surfer could be the perfect opportunity. James is a young star who is bound to lend his talents to a superhero movie eventually, and I think he’s as cut out to play this role as anyone else is.