- Marvel’s “Avengers: Endgame,” which hits theaters on Friday, will show the remaining superheroes developing a plan to take down Thanos following the events in “Avengers: Infinity War.”
- Tons have stars have appeared in the franchise over the past 11 years.
- Some of the actors, like Robert Downey Jr. and Jeremy Renner, look similar to their characters. Others, like Zoe Saldana and Scarlett Johansson, look different.
- Visit INSIDER.com for more stories.
Marvel’s “Avengers: Endgame” is going to feature battles of epic proportions when it’s released on Friday.
The latest installment of the franchise unites the remaining superheroes from all over the Marvel Cinematic Universe to fight against Thanos once more. Early reviews are largely positive, and fans are gearing up for all the surprises in store.
For now, see what the cast looks like in real life.
Tony Stark becoming Iron Man started everything in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The first “Iron Man” movie hit theaters in 2008.
Robert Downey Jr. did an Iron Man pose at the premiere.
"Endgame" is his 10th Marvel movie appearance.
James "Rhodey" Rhodes is better known as War Machine.
He became paralyzed in "Civil War," but Stark gave him bionic support to help him walk again.
Don Cheadle wore a dark purple outfit to the premiere.
Terrence Howard played Rhodey in "Iron Man" but was replaced by Cheadle in all subsequent films.
Bruce Banner transforms into the Hulk.
He lost his mind briefly in "Thor: Ragnarok" and found it difficult to turn into the green monster in "Infinity War."
Mark Ruffalo had a full beard at the premiere.
He has been playing the Hulk since "The Avengers," having replaced Edward Norton.
Natasha Romanoff is Black Widow.
Emily Blunt almost played Black Widow. In the trailers and teasers for "Endgame," the character sports red hair and the blonde locks from "Infinity War."
Scarlett Johansson has short blonde hair in real life.
She naturally has darker hair.
Steve Rogers, otherwise known as Captain America, gave up his shield at the end of "Civil War."
He went from clean-shaved to bearded in the Marvel movies. In "Endgame," he ditches his facial hair.
Chris Evans sports a cleaner beard than Cap.
He first appeared in "Captain America: The First Avenger."
Bucky Barnes is Captain America's best friend and was formerly known as the Winter Soldier.
He was renamed the White Wolf by the people of Wakanda.
Sebastian Stan's hair is much shorter in real life.
He first appeared in "Captain America: The First Avenger."
Sam Wilson, aka Falcon, is a friend of Captain America's.
He has a jet pack with wings.
Anthony Mackie is normally not covered in tech.
"Infinity War" was his fifth Marvel movie.
T'Challa is king of Wakanda and known as Black Panther.
"Black Panther" was full of hidden details.
Chadwick Boseman wasn't at the premiere, but often wears patterned prints on red carpets.
He first appeared in "Captain America: Civil War."
Shuri is T'Challa's sister and a technological genius.
She was last seen in "Infinity War" and posters for "Endgame" indicated that she didn't survive Thanos' snap.
Letitia Wright sported a sleek hairstyle at the premiere.
She first appeared in "Black Panther."
Okoye is the head of the Dora Milaje in Wakanda.
She's a gifted fighter.
Danai Gurira wore her hair down for the movie premiere.
She shaved her head for the role.
M'Baku leads the Jabari.
He first appeared in "Black Panther."
Winston Duke wasn't present at the premiere, but he traded in the furs for a bow tie at an award show in March.
Fans made the M'Baku Challenge into a hilarious meme.
"Thor" met up with the Guardians of the Galaxy in "Infinity War."
His hammer was destroyed in "Thor: Ragnarok."
Chris Hemsworth wore a dark blue printed suit to the premiere.
He first appeared in "Thor," which hit theaters in 2011.
Loki is Thor's adopted brother.
Loki handed over the tesseract to Thanos in "Infinity War."
Tom Hiddleston has shorter hair and a beard in real life.
He also first appeared in "Thor."
Heimdall stood watch at the Bifröst Bridge when Asgard was still around.
He saved many Asgardians in "Thor: Ragnarok."
Idris Elba wasn't at the premiere, but he has shorter hair.
He first appeared in "Thor."
Wanda Maximoff is the Scarlet Witch.
She and Vision are romantically involved.
Elizabeth Olsen has bangs and a lighter hair color in real life.
She first appeared in a mid-credits scene in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier."
Vision is an AI with an artificial body.
He first appeared in "Avengers: Age of Ultron."
Paul Bettany brings Vision to life.
He originally voiced Tony Stark's AI, which is better know as J.A.R.V.I.S.
Peter Parker attends high school but still helps save the world as Spider-Man.
He first appeared in "Captain America: Civil War."
Tom Holland plays Peter now.
He took over the role from Andrew Garfield who himself took over after Tobey Maguire.
Clint Barton earned the name Hawkeye as a master archer.
In "Endgame," he takes on an alter ego named Ronin.
Jeremy Renner generally looks the same in real life, but with fancier outfits.
He was last in "Civil War," but returns in "Endgame."
Doctor Stephen Strange's cape is iconic.
He popped up in "Thor: Ragnarok."
Benedict Cumberbatch plays the mystical neurosurgeon and has shorter hair.
Some fans have compared his cape to "Aladdin's" magic carpet.
Wong is one of Doctor Strange's teachers.
He listens to Beyoncé in "Doctor Strange."
Benedict Wong has longer hair and slightly different facial hair in real life.
He first appeared in "Doctor Strange."
Peter Quill, called Star-Lord, is the son of a human and a celestial being.
He loves his music.
Chris Pratt recently ditched his beard for the "Endgame" premiere.
He first appeared in "Guardians of the Galaxy."
Groot became a sassy teenager in "Infinity War."
Fans are obsessed with teen Groot.
Vin Diesel channeled Groot with a tree-like outfit.
Vin Diesel has voiced Groot since "Guardians of the Galaxy."
Rocket is a genetically-engineered raccoon and besties with Groot.
Rocket and Groot are always together.
Bradley Cooper voices the character.
He first appeared in "Guardians of the Galaxy."
Drax the Destroyer is a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy.
He wanted revenge on Thanos for killing his parents.
Dave Bautista rocks hair and beard in real life.
He first appeared in "Guardians of the Galaxy."
Gamora is one of Thanos' adopted daughters.
Gamora's past was explored in "Infinity War."
Zoe Saldana's natural hair is dark, and of course, she's not green-skinned.
She first appeared in "Guardians of the Galaxy."
Nebula is Gamora's adopted sister and Thanos' adopted daughter.
She takes the Avengers to space in "Endgame."
Karen Gillan undergoes an intense process to transform into Nebula.
She first appeared in "Guardians of the Galaxy."
Mantis has empathic powers.
She can sense emotions.
Pom Klementieff wore her platinum hair down at the premiere.
She was first seen in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2."
The Collector, real name Taneleer Tivan, is an Elder of the Universe.
He was in possession of the reality stone.
Benicio del Toro was absent from the premiere, but his hair is a lot darker in real life.
He was first seen in a mid-credit scene in "Thor."
Thanos got all six Infinity Stones in "Infinity War."
He first appeared in "Guardians of the Galaxy."
Josh Brolin is a lot less intimidating than his large, purple villain.
He did motion-capture for the character, too.
Cull Obsidian is known as Black Dwarf in the comics.
He's one member of the Black Order, also called the Children of Thanos.
Terry Notary plays him.
He has also done motion work for Groot.
Ebony Maw is powerful.
He has the ability to deceive and manipulate those around him.
Tom Vaughan-Lawlor brings the villain to life.
He's an Irish actor.
Proxima Midnight is a brilliant fighter.
In the comics, she's married to Corvus Glaive.
"The Leftover's" actress Carrie Coon plays the villain.
She was recently on "Fargo."
Corvus Glaive leads the Black Order in the comics.
His weapon gives him immortality.
Michael James Shaw transforms into the villain.
He was on "Limitless."
Pepper Potts is the love of Tony Stark's life.
Pepper Potts was absent for a few movies.
Gwyneth Paltrow looks basically the same as Pepper Potts, minus the bangs.
She returns in "Endgame."
Maria Hill, the former director of S.H.I.E.L.D., turned to dust at the end of "Infinity War."
She first appeared in "The Avengers."
Cobie Smulders also has brown hair in real life.
She was last in "Infinity War."
Nick Fury brings the Avengers team together.
He first appeared in the post-credit scene of "Iron Man."
Samuel L. Jackson wears glasses instead of an eye patch.
Jackson signed a nine-movie contract.
Scott Lang, also known as Ant-Man, teamed up with the superheroes in "Civil War."
He was last seen in the end-credits scene in "Ant-Man and the Wasp."
Paul Rudd looks similar to his Marvel character.
Fans can't get over Rudd's ageless appearance.
Hope Van Dyne became the Wasp in the "Ant-Man" sequel.
She turned to dust in "Infinity War."
Evangeline Lilly wore her hair in a short cut at the "Endgame" premiere.
She previously described her superhero suit as "cool," "powerful," and "modern."
Captain Marvel meets the Avengers in "Endgame."
Thor is impressed when he first meets her.
Brie Larson rocks lighter looks in real life.
She made her MCU debut in "Captain Marvel."
Asgardian Valkyrie was a scene-stealer in "Thor: Ragnarok."
She survived Thanos' snap and returns in "Endgame."
Tessa Thompson brings the badass character to life.
She made her Marvel debut in the third "Thor" film.