It’s common for Marvel actors to appear in multiple projects, but they don’t often play characters with no connection. However, there is some precedence for this in the MCU, with actors like Alfre Woodard, Patton Oswalt, and Michelle Yeoh appearing in multiple Marvel movies or shows but as different characters.
Typically, there isn’t any explanation given for the visual similarities, as the original role is often minor enough that one isn’t really needed. In other cases, an actor may have one on-screen role in the MCU and another voice-only performance, meaning audiences may not even notice it’s the same performer.
That could change with the MCU’s upcoming movie, Avengers: Doomsday, which will feature Robert Downey Jr.’s comeback, not as Iron Man, but as Doctor Doom. It’s not been revealed whether the two characters will have any relationship, but it seems likely given that it will be hard for the other characters to ignore the physical similarities.
If so, RDJ won’t be the first actor to play two seemingly unconnected characters who are anything but.
Martin Starr Plays The Same Character In The Incredible Hulk & Spider-Man
Martin Starr made his MCU debut in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, playing a college student who gives Bruce computer access in exchange for pizza. He next popped up in Tom Holland’s Spider-Man trilogy, playing Peter’s teacher and Academic Decathalon coach, Roger Harrington. In a recent WIRED video, Starr commented on the characters’ connection:
“Kevin Feige once said that the two characters were connected, but I don’t necessarily understand how that is. I respect his overall view of the MCU world, so I won’t disagree with him. But I played a pizza man in Hulk and then played a teacher, Mr. Harrington, in Spider-Man.”
In a six-year-old Reddit post, Feige confirmed Starr is actually playing the same person in both movies. A user asked, “Martin Starr was both in the Incredible Hulk (very briefly in the computer lab) and in Spider-Man: Homecoming as Peter Parker’s debate coach. Can we ᴀssume these are the same people?” Feige responded with a simple, “I do.”
Our Take On Starr Playing The Same Character In The MCU
Considering Starr’s roles are fairly minor in the wider MCU, Feige confirming the characters are the same is simply a fun Easter egg for fans rather than an Earth-shattering reveal. The continuity checks out, but the movies also make complete sense without knowing Starr plays the same character.
The reveal is akin to Kenneth Choi playing Private Jim Morita in Captain America: The First Avenger and Principal Morita in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Marvel could have simply ignored the similarity between the two characters, and the audience likely wouldn’t have noticed. But for fun, they made Principal Morita Jim’s grandson. Again, the continuity works out, and it’s an added treat for die-hard MCU fans.
I doubt Feige will be rushing forward anytime soon to confirm other seemingly unrelated characters played by the same actor are, in fact, connected, but Robert Downey Jr.’s return will be the ultimate test for Marvel.
Source: WIRED/YouTube, Kevin Feige/Reddit
Martin Starr
- Birthdate
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July 30, 1982
- Birthplace
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Santa Monica, California, USA
- Notable Projects
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Spider-Man: Far From Home, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: No Way Home
