8 stars who could replace the Avengers cast after ‘Endgame’

‘It needs a leader. I’ve gone for actors who would be fun and different. Robert Downey Jr has a playfulness, and I think Chiwetel Ejiofor. As do Bradley Cooper, Matthew McConaughey and Ryan Gosling.’

‘Henry Golding is a star just waiting for the role that really showcases him. Jack Lowden has a huge interior language, and Donald Glover can do everything. They’ve all got a bit of wit, and you need that or this role can feel po-faced.’

‘I would give Marvel a suitcase of cash to cast Nicolas Cage. Hulk’s a complex character, so it needs someone who has layer upon layer. Cosmo Jarvis [‘Lady Macbeth’] has a very masculine presence, but is incredibly tender. Or Will Poulter has lots going on underneath.’

‘There’s a really obvious way of casting Thor: you get a beefcake. But then where do you go? So I’ve gone for actors who have strength, but other stuff as well: Joe Alwyn, Luke Evans or Stephan James. Or Chris Pine: you’ve got physicality, but he’s really smart. And Marvel likes Chrises!’

‘Top of my list is Florence Pugh, because she’s a movie star and she’s on an incredible roll. But I think Margot Robbie, KiKi Layne or Zazie Beetz are all really fantastic leading actresses who are strong, who have a defined visual style and who are confident. Widow has to be confident.’

‘Hawkeye needs someone ambiguous and unpredictable.
I thought of Rami Malek, Domhnall Gleeson, Cillian Murphy or Oscar Isaac. Malek might go: “I don’t want to play Hawkeye, I want Tony Stark” but it’s an interesting part, and Hawkeye needs to come more centre-stage.’

‘Laura Dern, Rosamund Pike and Mark Rylance are my choices. I just think brilliant women, brilliant men; you want Nick Fury to be amazing. These are all super-clever, vivid actors. Mark Rylance is a genius, and these women, for me, can do no wrong.’

‘Aubrey Plaza, Ruth Wilson, Jodie Comer or Mackenzie Davis all have a sense of fun, and they could all probably kill you in a second. They’re all growing as actors and [building their profiles for] this sort of franchise.’