The Unparalleled Superhero Journey of Aaron Taylor-Johnson Across 3 Spectacular Universes

Certain actors have the ability to excel at portraying specific types of characters, leading to them being repeatedly cast in similar roles across various films. Notable examples in the action genre are Tom Cruise, Jason Statham, and Mark Wahlberg, who have all played the main roles in numerous action movies.

However, in today's movie landscape, where comic book adaptations often exist within their own interconnected universes, it is not common for actors to be cast as multiple superheroes or villains after establishing themselves as a specific character. While there have been instances in the past, such as Chris Evans portraying both the Human Torch and Captain America, and Christian Bale playing Batman and Gorr the God Butcher, it has become increasingly rare. Yet, Aaron Taylor-Johnson has recently taken on the role of a live-action comic book character once again.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson Starred in Kick-Ass and Kick-Ass 2

Aaron Taylor-Johnson Starred in Kick-Ass and Kick-Ass 2

Starting his superhero journey at the age of 20, Taylor-Johnson embarked on his acting career by portraying the character of Dave Lizewski, a meek and submissive high-school student in the 2010 movie Kick-Ass. This film is based on a comic book series published by Image Comics (originally by Marvel) and masterfully penned by Mark Millar.

In the film, Dave is fed up with the criminal activity in New York City and decides to take on a superhero persona. However, he lacks any superpowers and suffers a severe beating from car thieves, which leaves him stabbed and hit by a car. Following life-saving surgery, he is left with metal plates in his body and heightened pain tolerance due to damaged nerve endings. Rather than seeing this as a reason to give up crime-fighting, Dave views it as an opportunity and dubs himself Kick-Ass, believing it gives him an advantage over his adversaries.

Unlike traditional superheroes, Kick-Ass finds himself having to go beyond simply defeating criminals and is forced to kill them, especially after teaming up with Big Daddy and Hit-Girl. Initially, he takes on the mob, led by the ruthless Frank D'Amico. Having successfully defeated Frank and his crime syndicate, Chris, known as the Red Mist and Frank's son, seeks revenge on Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl in the sequel, forming his own army of villains in response to the growing number of superheroes, known as "Justice Forever."

Aaron Taylor-Johnson Appeared in the MCU as Pietro Maximoff

Taylor-Johnson made his grand comeback to the silver screen in 2015, donning an extraordinary suit in the blockbuster movie Avengers: Age of Ultron. Portraying Pietro Maximoff, better known as Quicksilver, it was Taylor-Johnson's inaugural appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In the film, Quicksilver served as a subject for experimentation under the supervision of Wolfgang von Strucker, the leader of Hydra.

Pietro and his twin sister Wanda, who later becomes the Scarlet Witch, were imprisoned by Strucker. They were subjected to experiments involving Loki's scepter, which held the mind stone. As a result, Wanda developed telekinetic abilities while Pietro gained incredible speed. Despite being freed by the Avengers, the twins held a personal grudge against Tony Stark, blaming him for their parents' deaths due to his military-grade weaponry.

Initially, they allied themselves with Ultron in their mission to bring down the Avengers. However, they soon realized Ultron's destructive plans extended far beyond their initial goals. They abandoned the AI villain and actively joined forces with the heroes to thwart Ultron's plan for global devastation. Quicksilver played a pivotal role in the film, proving to be a valuable asset to the Avengers. He aided in the battle against Ultron and heroically saved the people of Sokovia.

Tragically, this marks Quicksilver's sole appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, apart from his post-credit scene in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and his portrayal by Evan Peters in WandaVision. He sacrificed himself, putting others before his own safety, to protect Hawkeye and a child under his care.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson Will Star as Kraven the Hunter

Quicksilver, portrayed by Taylor-Johnson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is an immensely underrated character. With incredible powers and a poignant backstory, he embodies the essence of a true hero. His tragic origins and heart-wrenching demise complete a compelling character arc, subtly conveying the essence of heroism. Although not officially an Avenger, Quicksilver's journey speaks volumes about what it truly means to be a hero.

Taylor-Johnson, who hasn't been a superhero for nine years, will be making a comeback in 2024 as Kraven the Hunter in the highly anticipated Marvel film of the same title. Interestingly, this movie is part of Sony's Spider-Man Universe, even though it is under the Marvel banner. Other notable films in this universe are the Spider-Man Home series, Venom, and Morbius. The distinction between the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the Sony universe is somewhat blurry since both Spider-Man and Venom have appeared in the MCU. Nonetheless, Taylor-Johnson will now venture into his third unique cinematic universe.

Kraven the Hunter will be portrayed by Taylor-Johnson, depicting a Russian teenager who acquires a genetic bond with animals following an encounter with a lion. While Kraven is commonly known as a nemesis of Spider-Man in the comics, it remains uncertain if he will eventually be associated with Tom Holland's portrayal of the superhero, as indicated by the presence of The Rhino in the trailer. Notably, Russell Crowe, a returning Marvel actor, will also join the cast, portraying both Kraven's father and Zeus from Thor: Love and Thunder.

Despite Taylor-Johnson assuming three distinct superhero roles, each character possesses unique attributes. Kick-Ass embodies the essence of an underdog, rebellious teenager, infused with elements of the vengeful Deadpool and the neighborhood vigilante Spider-Man. Quicksilver, a mutant test subject, is driven by the mission to protect his family. On the other hand, Kraven the Hunter is fueled by his desire to hunt down the world's evil and establish himself as a worthy successor to his father.