10 DC And Marvel Actors Who Made Amazing Physical Transformations For Superhero Roles

Comic book superheroes are often depicted with incredibly unrealistic proportions and muscle structure. But that didn't stop these 10 actors and actresses from achieving something pretty close.

By MarkJulian - Feb 03, 2018 03:02 PM EST

Filed Under: Avengers

Our recent post on Zachary Levi's newfound muscle for his role in Shazam! got us thinking about the numerous otherworldy transformations several Hollywood actresses and actors have undertaken to portray superheroes. Not everyone can be a Jason Momoa, who starts out as a Baywatch lifeguard and then progresses to barbarian warlord roles on Game of Thrones and Conan before ultimately suiting up as Aquaman in Justice League.

No, for a lot of these actors, it seems as if they've never even picked up a dumbbell before being cast as a musclebound superhero that's capable of crushing diamonds just by flexing their biceps.

The little glimpses we've seen of Levi's gym gains are impressive but where does it stack up against some of the other established actors and actresses in the MCU and DCEU? Click through the list below to see our rankings.

10. Zachary Levi

Recently, social media posts for Zachary Levi revealed that the actor is in the midst of one phenomenal transformation. Gone is the skinny sales rep from Chuck. But will Levi pack on enough muscle to convincingly portray the Superman-esque Shazam? Filming has already begun but Levi still has plenty of weeks to put on a few more pounds of lean, protein-packed brawn.

9. Karen Gillan

This one's less of a muscle-based transformation and more of an unimaginable complete metamorphosis. Heading into her role as Nebula in the first Guardians of the Galaxy film, Karen Gillan was best known for playing Amy Pond on Doctor Who. As you can see above, these characters couldn't be any more different.

8. Chris Evans

It should be obvious that Marvel's 3 Chrises would be on the list as Evans, Pratt and Hemsworth all hit the gym incredibly hard for their roles as Captain America, Star-Lord and Thor. However, Evans had a bit of a leg up on his peers, having previously gotten into superhero shape for Fox's first two Fantastic Four movies.

7. Henry Cavill

Cavill was already in pretty good shape having just starred in the mythological fantasy action flick, Immortals. But his physique went from runner to bodybuilder thanks to trainer Mark Twight, who prepared Cavill for his role as Superman in Man of Steel. In the years since that film's release, Cavill has slimmed down a bit but still retained the majority of the muscle he packed on for the role.

6. Gal Gadot

As any longtime CBM reader knows, the #1 comment when Gal Gadot was first announced as WB's choice to play Wonder Woman was that she was too skinny. While she definitely didn't achieve the traditional muscular-athleticism the comic book Amazon princess possesses, Gadot certainly made a significant transformation from her Fast & Furious days.

5. Aaron Taylor-Johnson

As previously mentioned, Chris Evans was already in stellar shape when he was cast as Captain America due to his previous role as the Human Torch in two Fantastic Four films. In Aaron Taylor-Johnson's case, having played Kick-Ass didn't necessarily provide him with a headstart on bulking up to play Quicksilver in Avengers: Age of Ultron. But in looking at the two costumes (if you can call Quicksilver's look a costume) Johnson clearly made significant "gains" to play the deceased Maximoff twin.

4. Paul Rudd

Many comic book fans were skeptical of Marvel's casting of comedic actor Paul Rudd as Ant-Man. Rudd was under even more scrutiny when fans found out he'd be playing the Scott Lang version of the character instead of Henry Pym. All it took was one traditional Marvel shirtless scene to quiet the critics and doubters.

3. Antje Traue

Arguably, the second breakout character in the first DCEU film (behind Henry Cavill's Superman) was Antje Traue's Faora. Zod's henchwoman was a character that even the most derisive critic of the film agreed that they wanted to see more of in future films. For some inexplicable reason, WB has yet to find a way to get her out of the Phantom Zone.

2. Chris Pratt

Chris Pratt went from a chubby, lovable goofball on Parks & Recreation to a kickass, six-pack having space pirate in Guardians of the Galaxy. In a Men's Fitness issue featuring Pratt on the cover, the Jurassic World actor revealed that he trained for five months before filming on the first Guardians film began- working out 4-6 times a week with trainer Duffy Gaver while completing even more workouts on his own.

1. Chris Hemsworth

Hemsworth was a young soap opera actor in Australia when he beat Tom Hiddleston and his younger brother Liam for the role of Thor Odinson. While some MCU fans view the first Thor film as the weakest installment of Marvel Phase 1, there's no denying that Hemsworth made an absolutely incredible physical transformation to bring the Asgardian God of Thunder to life.

SUPERMAN Star Isabela Merced On Joining The DCU As Hawkgirl: It Sounds Like Hot Girl

Recommended For You:

Coca-Cola x Marvel Commercial Brings Iconic Comic Characters To Life In The Coolest Way Possible

DISCLAIMER: ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and... [MORE]

ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

Do you have what it takes to write for us?

Want to contribute?

165 Comments

1 2 3 4 5

ODanil - 2/3/2018, 4:07 PM

That's one of the many movie tropes adressed in this amazing video:

MarkJulian - 2/3/2018, 4:10 PM

@ODanil - Oh man, that first part was hilarious!

KingNomarch - 2/3/2018, 4:30 PM

@ODanil -

HeavyMetal4Life - 2/3/2018, 4:57 PM

@ODanil - Such a hilarious video

MrMartyMarvel - 2/3/2018, 7:11 PM

@ODanil - I wise James still posted here. It'd be wonderful to get to interact with him. (Well, not really because he almost never commented, but he did replay to me once!)

Kevwebsz - 2/3/2018, 4:09 PM

Pratt should be #1. Went from looking like a beer belly having college dude to superhero.

Jordanstine - 2/3/2018, 4:21 PM

@Kevwebsz - agree!

Also, the 1st Thor is a very under appreciated film.

Every single scene with Hemsworth, Hiddleston, and Hopkins all together is hands down, some of the best acting scenes in the whole MCU.

Kevwebsz - 2/3/2018, 4:24 PM

@Jordanstine - That moment when Thor is freaking out on Odin and he gets banished is awesome.

Origame - 2/3/2018, 4:57 PM

@Kevwebsz - Well the number one should be Christian Bale. Remember, the movie he did right before Batman Begins was The Machinist, where he famously lost a ton of weight to the point of weighing 90 lbs. Then put all his weight back on in muscles for Batman.

HeavyMetal4Life - 2/3/2018, 4:57 PM

@Kevwebsz - Totally agree. Pratt is #1

Tonic24k - 2/3/2018, 4:10 PM

Good job ladies and Chris's.

Himura - 2/3/2018, 4:12 PM

Really surprised this isnt on here

1 2 3 4 5

10 DC And Marvel Actors Who Made Amazing Physical Transformations For Superhero Roles

Comic book superheroes are often depicted with incredibly unrealistic proportions and muscle structure. But that didn't stop these 10 actors and actresses from achieving something pretty close.

10. Zachary Levi

9. Karen Gillan

8. Chris Evans

7. Henry Cavill

6. Gal Gadot

5. Aaron Taylor-Johnson

4. Paul Rudd

3. Antje Traue

2. Chris Pratt

1. Chris Hemsworth

SUPERMAN Star Isabela Merced On Joining The DCU As Hawkgirl: "It Sounds Like Hot Girl"

Coca-Cola x Marvel Commercial Brings Iconic Comic Characters To Life In The Coolest Way Possible

TRANSFORMERS ONE: Chris Hemsworth And Scarlett Johansson Assemble The Autobots In First Trailer

ALIENS VS. AVENGERS Comic Book Crossover On The Way From Marvel's SECRET WARS Creative Team

MCU Rumor Roundup: AVENGERS 5 Shoot Date, X-MEN Synopsis, Natalia Tena's Role, & More - Possible SPOILERS

TRANSFORMERS ONE: Chris Hemsworth And Scarlett Johansson Assemble The Autobots In First Trailer

ALIENS VS. AVENGERS Comic Book Crossover On The Way From Marvel's SECRET WARS Creative Team

MCU Rumor Roundup: AVENGERS 5 Shoot Date, X-MEN Synopsis, Natalia Tena's Role, & More - Possible SPOILERS

Coca-Cola x Marvel Commercial Brings Iconic Comic Characters To Life In The Coolest Way Possible

SPIDER-MAN Director Sam Raimi Wants To Helm AVENGERS: SECRET WARS But Hasn't Been Asked...Yet

AVENGERS: SECRET WARS Rumored To Feature A Long-Awaited Reunion For Two MCU Fan-Favorites - SPOILERS

Popular Headlines

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: Every Major Marvel Cameo In The New Trailer - Possible SPOILERS

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: Rob Liefeld Responds To Trailer's Shot At His Apparent Inability To Draw Feet

DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE Rumored To Feature An Appearance From [SPOILER] As [SPOILER]

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: 7 Biggest Easter Eggs, Reveals, And Spoilers In The New Trailer

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: What Happened That Led To Logan "[Letting] Down His Entire World"?

ATLAS: Jennifer Lopez Learns To "Trust A.I." In Full Trailer For Netflix's Sci-Fi Thriller

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: Rumored New Details About [SPOILER], [SPOILER], And [SPOILER]'s Roles Revealed

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #4 Sees An Unexpected Character Deliver Classic "Great Power" Line - SPOILERS

ATLAS: Jennifer Lopez Learns To "Trust A.I." In Full Trailer For Netflix's Sci-Fi Thriller

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: Rumored New Details About [SPOILER], [SPOILER], And [SPOILER]'s Roles Revealed

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #4 Sees An Unexpected Character Deliver Classic "Great Power" Line - SPOILERS

THE BATMAN Star Zoë Kravitz Makes Her Directorial Debut With BLINK TWICE - Check Out The First Trailer

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: New Statues And Standee Offer Another Look At Wade Wilson And Logan's Costumes

X-MEN Star Famke Janssen Backtracks On DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Claims: "You Never Know..."

Hot Headlines

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Official Trailer Features Ultimate Team-Up & Promises The Wildest MCU Movie Of All-Time!

MAN OF STEEL Director Zack Snyder Says Superman Would Be "Fake" If He Hadn't Killed General Zod

Former X-MEN '97 Showrunner Beau DeMayo Says Show Will Address Mr. Sinister's Racism

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: Every Major Marvel Cameo In The New Trailer - Possible SPOILERS

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: 7 Biggest Easter Eggs, Reveals, And Spoilers In The New Trailer

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

APPLE TV+'s NEUROMANCER Casts Callum Turner As Series Lead Case

DUNE: PART TWO Director Denis Villeneuve Breaks Down The Sequel's Ending And Teases MESSIAH Plans - SPOILERS

Jennifer Lopez Battle An A.I. Simu Liu In New Trailer For Netflix's ATLAS

REBEL MOON: Zack Snyder Says Director's Cuts Are "More Like A Parallel Universe Than An Extended Version"

Daisy Ridley Teases The Different STAR WARS Film That Will Hopefully Be A "New Adventure"

Zack Snyder's Animated Norse Mythology Series TWILIGHT OF THE GODS Will Be Released This Fall

Cartoons & Animated Features

X-MEN '97 Finally Reveals Its True Villain In "Bright Eyes" As We Get A Few Shocking Returns - SPOILERS

X-MEN '97: "Bright Eyes" Unleashes Rogue And Features TWO Huge Marvel Universe Cameos - SPOILERS

X-MEN '97: Rogue Is Out For Revenge In First Clip From Tomorrow's New Episode, "Bright Eyes"

JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS - PART 2 Is Likely To Disappoint Fans Of BATMAN BEYOND - SPOILERS

X-MEN '97: Former Showrunner Beau DeMayo Says Series Will "Touch On" Mr. Sinister's Racism

BIG HERO 6 Producer Reveals Why We STILL Haven't Got A Sequel To Disney Animation's Marvel Movie

Gaming

New DESTINY 2: THE FINAL SHAPE Trailer Takes Us Into The Pale Heart Of The Traveler

GTA 5 Voice Actor Reveals Plans For "Agent Trevor" DLC Before Rockstar Apparently Scrapped It

TALES OF THE SHIRE: A LORD OF THE RINGS GAME Official Announcement Trailer Released

FALLOUT Series Showrunners Strongly Hint Season 2 Will Take Us To An Iconic Location From The Games

Billie Eilish Headlines FORTNITE FESTIVAL Season 3

LaKeith Stanfield To Star In Film Based On EL PASO, ELSEWHERE Vampire Video Game

Anime & Manga

New Trailer For GAROUDEN: THE WAY OF THE LONE WOLF Released Ahead Of Netflix Debut

Netflix's ONE PIECE Finds New Showrunner In PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS' Joe Tracz

DRAGON BALL SUPER Interval Special Announced By Jump While Manga Remains On Indefinite Hiatus

New Teaser And Key Art For Live-Action TRILLION GAME Movie

Netflix's PARASYTE: THE GREY Is Now Streaming; Here's What The Critics Are Saying

MY HERO ACADEMIA Tops X-MEN '97, INVINCIBLE And More In Social Media Engagement

Horror

BLINK TWICE: Channing Tatum Invites You To "Pussy Island" In First Trailer For Zoë Kravitz's Directorial Debut

THE WATCHERS New Trailer Sees Dakota Fanning Terrorised In Ishana Night Shyamalan's Directorial Debut

EVIL DEAD RISE Director Lee Cronin Shares Gruesome New BTS Photos To Mark Movie's One-Year Anniversary

Happy 4/20! Check Out The Red Band Trailer For New Stoner Horror Movie TRIM SEASON

ABIGAIL Spoilers: Find Out What Happens - And Who Shows Up - In New Horror Comedy

TRAP: First Trailer For M. Night Shyamalan's Latest Spoils The Big Twist

Action Movies & TV