The astounding success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has served as a launchpad for a great many number of actors in Hollywood. A lot of them have gone on to be highly successful in their film careers. But there have been times when an actor’s full potential was overlooked, giving their characters stunted growth and ultimately depriving the fans of a full-blown arc. Quite surprisingly, Hiroyuki Sanada is listed among them.
Currently ruling the television circuit as a promising Emmy contender with his FX series Shōgun, Hiroyuki Sanada is perhaps one of the most famous Japanese performers of the current generation. And the MCU completely wasted his talent in its biggest movie so far, Avengers: Endgame.
Hiroyuki Sanada: Marvel’s lost opportunity?
While it is true that the MCU elevated the careers of several actors who are now regarded as absolute legends, Robert Downey Jr. being the prime example, the franchise has also failed to properly utilize some of the best talents they hired; Laurence Fishburne, Sylvester Stallone, Hiroyuki Sanada – to name but a few.
While Sanada is only recently getting the recognition he deserves in Western media thanks to his stints in John Wick 4 and Shōgun, he has been a staple presence in Hollywood for the past two decades. And each of his appearances is noteworthy, starting from Tom Cruise’s The Last Samurai (2003). Even in Marvel, Avengers: Endgame wasn’t his first rodeo, it was in Hugh Jackman’s The Wolverine as Shingen Yashida.
This has led many to believe that the minimal screen time Sanada received in Endgame was undeserved. In fact, if storied properly, his Yakuza boss character could have carried over to Hawkeye, possibly even making the series more attractive to the viewers.
Fans believe Hiroyuki Sanada would’ve made Hawkeye much better
His excellence in Shōgun has made the Mortal Kombat star a fan favorite, with many rallying for him in some of the biggest franchises in the world. And Marvel fans are beginning to realize how the MCU made a mistake by reducing Sanada to a one-off side character.
Some of them took to X and said:
Fans have every right to be disappointed, as Sanada’s presence in Hawkeye would’ve added another dimension to the show, holding Barton accountable for his time as Ronin. Even in Marvel comics, Sanada’s Endgame character, Akihiko, had more presence than what was shown in the film. Hopefully, Sanada will make a return to the superhero genre in the future, with a role that will actually put his talents to good use.
Hawkeye and Avengers: Endgame can be streamed on Disney+.
