The comic books have been around for over eight decades, and their world has only been flourishing and expanding since then. The two biggest comic book publishers are the DC Comics and Marvel Comics who have been competing with each other over the decades for the top position. This rivalry has thickened the walls that keep one brand’s imaginary universe separated from the other. There was a brief period in the 1990s when the impregnable walls became a little flexible, and some dream crossover comic books like Marvel vs. DC and many highly rated crossover stories followed such as the Batman/Spider-Man, Superman/Fantastic Four, and the unforgettable JLA/Avengers (honestly, if you have not read that comic book, then you must). However, that is where it all suddenly stopped. There has not been any crossover between DC and Marvel over the last 15 years.
However, when it comes to the cinematic universes, the walls are still very formidable, with one major difference. Characters in the movies are played by real people and not drawn by artists. Then there is the fact that though the characters stay put, the actors playing them stay loyal to the best paying options and there is no limit to that.
This leads to the actors, including some of the highly ranked stars, have managed to switch from DC to Marvel and the other way round. You might see an actor play hero in one Universe and a villain somewhere else or a supporting role in a Marvel film and a leading character in a DC film. They might play characters that are quite similar or extremely different. (Some of them have put on cumbersome prosthetic makeup for Marvel and totally different but equally bulky makeup for DC). Here is a list that is bound to get longer in the future because these cinematic universes are expanding and will feature more characters. Here are some of the most famous examples!
1. Ben Affleck
Batman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League. Daredevil in Daredevil.
2. Halle Berry
Catwoman in Catwoman. Storm in the X-Men franchise.
3. Josh Brolin
Jonah Hex in Jonah Hex. Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War. (And Cable in Deadpool 2.)
4. Michael Keaton
Batman in Batman and Batman Returns. The Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming.
5. Michael Fassbender
Burke in Jonah Hex. Young Magneto in the X-Men franchise.
6. J.K. Simmons
Commissioner Gordon in Justice League. J. Jonah Jameson in the Spider-Man franchise.
7. Angela Bassett
Amanda Waller in Green Lantern. Ramonda in Black Panther.
8. Michelle Pfeiffer
Catwoman in Batman Returns. Janet Van Dyne in Ant-Man and the Wasp.
9. Laurence Fishburne
Perry White in Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Dr. Bill Foster in Ant-Man and the Wasp.
10. Ryan Reynolds
Green Lantern in Green Lantern. Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine et. al.
