10 Actors From Classic Hollywood Who Could Have Played Superheroes

7. Spider-Man/ James Dean

Spider Dean James Dean was one of the most enigmatic of all screen legends. He only appeared in three movies before dying in a car crash at only 24 years old but each one has become a classic and he earned significant awards recognition for all three. He specialized in portraying teenage angst and although he might be a little too charismatic for the role, he would be the best choice to play the most significant teenage superhero, Spider-Man. Dean would have to dial down his traditional persona, something he never did in his brief career but which shouldn't give him too much trouble. Although he played disenchanted youth to near-perfection, Peter Parker is more of a lonely nerd than an angry rebel but either way, Dean would likely give a memorable performance. His interpretation would probably be different from both Tobey McGuire and Andrew Garfield's outings as he would probably be more moody and withdrawn than both. Still, in an era where "dark" superhero movies are all the rage, James Dean would probably fit right in.
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I love movies, literature, history, music and the NBA. I love all things nerdy including but not limited to Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, and Firefly. My artistic idols are Dylan, Dostoevsky, and Malick and my goal in life is to become like Bernard Black from Black Books. When I die, I hope to turn into the space baby from 2001: A Space Odyssey.