The Hawkins, Indiana, to Marvel Cinematic Universe trajectory seems to be a steadily increasing common thread. According to a number of sources within the entertainment industry, Joe Keery—arguably best known within these pages for raising Stranger Things’ Steve Harrington character from an ’80s cliche into a consistent dramatic fulcrum—can be found actively negotiating a major role within the series. As with all Marvel-related casting announcements at the current time, Marvel has so far refused to comment.
The potential entry of Keery is timely, as the MCU is at the cusp of concluding the multiverse storyline. The upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, which will serve as a generational turnaround, is going to give Marvel a fresh start, and the studio is already lining up the next crop of talent to take the franchise forward. The attractiveness of Keery does not lie in the superhero genre but in his capacity to exude comedy, vulnerability, and earned heroism.
Where Joe Keery fits in Marvel’s next phase
Speculation about a possible role for Keery has focused on a handful of characters who not only make sense in terms of Marvel’s storytelling trajectory but who also speak to a very marketable set of strengths on Keery’s part. One character who has perennially been mentioned as a possible role is Richard Rider (Nova), as the show is reportedly in development. His transformation from regular guy to protector of the universe reflects Keery’s most obvious strength—that of a hero who rises from a position of reluctance to a position of quiet power. By contrast, a Nova hero needs to be able to convincingly portray both awe and self-doubt.
Another route that is also presently being explored is that of the mutant universe within the MCU. With Marvel gradually setting the stage for the inclusion of the X-Men, Cannonball, as a representative of the more down-to-earth, character-driven route that Marvel favors, would enable Keery, as he is often referred to transition away from his sarcastic character as Steve Harrington and maintain that warmth that defined the character.
Then, of course, there is the decidedly more speculative aspect of the multiverse. While Joseph Quinn is already the new Johnny Storm in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, in the current format of the MCU, there does exist the possibility of variant appearances. While far from imminent, sources have not dismissed the possibility of Keery showing up in some variant or one-shot role, particularly in the ensemble movies in which Marvel has been known to plant seeds of future stories.
Keery would be the latest addition to a growing roster of Stranger Things cast members in the MCU that now includes David Harbour and Joseph Quinn, underlining an unofficial but obvious pipeline between the Netflix shows and Marvel Studios. It’s not about building any sort of brand, of course. It’s about casting philosophy.
If the deal goes through in early 2026, Keery’s theatrical entrance would likely take place during the build-up to the Avengers: Doomsday era, where Marvel would be introducing new faces among familiar ones. In this way, Keery’s “Unexpected Hero” identity could provide an interesting foil to the impending presence of Doctor Doom, who represents power and distance. For now, all is merely rumor. But if Marvel is truly targeting Joe Keery, this is a sign of a familiar approach: taking a chance on an actor who is best at conveying a sense that heroism is earned.
