Could Cillian Murphy Be Marvel’s Next Great Anti-Hero? 3 Potential Roles That Can Change The MCU

Exploring the top three roles Cillian Murphy can take up if he considers joining the MCU. Read on for our take!

By
Koimoi.com Team
- June 9, 2025 | 8:32 PM IST
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Cillian Murphy stepping into the Marvel Cinematic Universe? That’s not just another fancy casting rumor. It’s a potential game-changer. Because if there’s one thing Marvel does well, it’s redemption arcs. And if there’s one actor who could take that emotional blueprint and shred it into something haunting and unforgettable, it’s Murphy.

Let’s talk Loki. Tom Hiddleston’s God of Mischief went from a snarling villain in Thor to a fan-favorite anti-hero in Loki, not because he became “good,” but because the arc felt earned. We watched him wrestle with identity, grief, and loneliness across multiple timelines. His TVA storyline gave us a god stripped of power, forced to confront his worst traits and finally make peace with them. Now imagine Cillian Murphy in a role like that… but even darker.

From Haunted Genius To Anti-Hero: What Role Fits?

Murphy thrives in moral gray zones. His Peaky Blinders character, Tommy Shelby, is ruthless but deeply broken—a war veteran navigating trauma, politics, and power. In Oppenheimer, he played a man who changed the world but drowned in guilt. That’s the energy the MCU needs for a new wave of stories with emotional teeth.

So, who could he play?

• The Beyonder: A cosmic being with godlike powers and no understanding of morality. If Secret Wars is the next endgame, Murphy as the Beyonder, slowly learning what it means to be human, could bring that grand-scale conflict to a beating heart.
• Silver Surfer (Norrin Radd): A tragic figure who sacrifices everything to save his world, only to become the herald of destruction. It’s the ultimate emotional paradox, and Murphy could dig deep into the guilt, detachment, and eventual rebellion.
• Mephisto: If Marvel finally brings this devilish puppet master to the screen, Murphy’s quiet intensity could make him far more chilling than any CGI monster. Think charm, menace, and subtle heartbreak in one red suit.
• Dr Doom: Before Robert Downey Jr. was confirmed to return to the MCU as Dr. Doom, Cillian Murphy was the top choice among fans to play the role. However, ongoing rumors continue to suggest that he could still appear in the MCU as a variant of Dr. Doom/

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Cillian Murphy is still in plans to play a variant of Dr Doom in the next installments of the MCU

Marvel Studios will use him as the big plot twist for the next Avengers installments.

They also want Cillian in the SCARLET WITCH movie.

Source @MarvelSpoiler pic.twitter.com/2B4M8kUNjW

— Marvel Guy (@update_marvel) November 24, 2024

Cillian Murphy Could Be Marvel’s Most Haunting Anti-Hero Since Loki

Marvel is no longer just about battles and portals. It’s about consequences. WandaVision explored grief. Moon Knight tackled identity disorder. And Loki gave us a trickster who finally found purpose by losing everything. With Jonathan Majors’ Kang arc wobbling, Cillian Murphy could anchor the MCU’s next chapter with a philosophical, tragic, and undeniably human role.

Murphy doesn’t need a cape or catchphrases. He just needs space to feel. And if Marvel gives him the right role — one that lets him spiral, burn, and maybe crawl back toward the light, it could easily rival or even eclipse Loki’s iconic arc. Because when Cillian Murphy breaks, audiences listen.

For more such stories, check out Hollywood News

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