10 Actors Given A Second Chance In Superhero Franchises
8. Danny Huston
The Failure(s) - William Stryker – X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
The Second Chance - Erich Ludendorff – Wonder Woman (2017)
Danny Huston is one of those actors who has a familiar face, but who most would struggle to name if prompted. The son of esteemed director John Huston and half-brother of actress Anjelica Huston, his career has seen him work with the likes of Martin Scorsese (The Aviator), Alfonso Cuaron (Children Of Men) and Ridley Scott (Robin Hood), always in supporting roles.
The part of Colonel William Stryker was played to perfection by Brian Cox in X-Men 2, widely regarded as one of the best comic adaptations of all time. Cox was keen to return to the role in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, hoping that de-aging technology could allow him to play a younger version of the character. In retrospect, he’s probably glad that he didn’t in the end given the frosty reception received by the film, where Huston took on the part (which was very one dimensionally written) instead.
Stryker has since popped up again in the recent prequel trilogy, this time played by Josh Helman. Huston’s appearance has therefore been retconned, but he was able to take on the meatier role of General Erich Ludendorff (a real person, interestingly enough) in Wonder Woman, the film that reversed the cycle of critical failures that DC had experienced in their efforts to create their own cinematic universe to rival Marvels.