MCU: 12 Worst Casting Decisions In Marvel Movies

12. Rebecca Hall – Maya Hansen

As one of the best loved storylines in the Iron Man comics, it was important the MCU did the Extremis arc justice. The casting of the talented Rebecca Hall as Maya Hansen – the genius scientist that co-developed the Extremis virus alongside Aldrich Killian – seemed like a step in the right direction. At least at first.

Somewhere in the transition from page to screen though, Maya Hansen devolved from woman worthy of a Nobel Prize to woman so scorned she’s willing to team up with the bad guy to exact revenge against Tony Stark for sleeping with her over a decade earlier and not calling back.

To give Hall her due, her role was vastly reduced. Originally written as the movie’s main villain, it was apparently announced halfway through filming that Maya would be reduced to minor adversary because, according to Marvel, female villain toy sales would be pitiful.

Perhaps Hall just gave up at this point, because it feels like she’s kind of sleepwalking through her performance. Maybe her performance would’ve fared better with her original meatier role, but unfortunately we’ll never know.