10 Actors Given A Second Chance In Superhero Franchises
4. Jon Favreau
The Failure(s) - Franklin ‘Foggy’ Nelson – Daredevil (2003)
The Second Chance - Harold ‘Happy’ Hogan - Marvel Cinematic Universe (2008-Present)
On the back of the momentous successes of X-Men and Spider-Man, Marvel would’ve been hoping that a film adaptation of Daredevil, one of their most beloved characters, would kickstart a third lucrative film franchise. It wasn’t to be, though they did proceed with a spin-off centered around Jennifer Garner’s Elektra that makes the Ben Affleck-led take on the ‘Man Without Fear’ look like Citizen Kane by comparison.
A director’s cut that added 30 minutes of footage and included darker content was better received, but Daredevil has been confined to cinematic limbo since, reappearing in an epically brilliant (and now tragically cancelled) Netflix series rather than as part of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe.
Jon Favreau was one of the film’s many recognisable supporting faces, but he began to switch his focus almost exclusively to directing soon after, creating a Christmas classic in the form of Elf. It was his direction that initially brought the Marvel Cinematic Universe to life, as he successfully helmed Iron Man and Iron Man 2 before stepping aside for Shane Black to take the chair for Iron Man 3.
Despite parting from Marvel as a director, Favreau has continued his relationship with them as an actor, appearing as Tony Stark’s chauffeur Happy Hogan in four films to date. He will up this number to six with Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home.