17 Marvel and DC stars who have also played 'Doctor Who' characters

Eccleston portrayed the 9th Doctor in BBC's revival of "Doctor Who," the beloved sci-fi series about a traveling Time Lord.

In 2013, the actor looked unrecognizable in his role as Malekith, a dark elf and main villain of "Thor 2" who planned to spread darkness over the Nine Realms.

Years after starring as the Doctor for three seasons, Tennant played the antagonist named Kilgrave in Netflix's "Jessica Jones."

Kilgrave had the ability to control people's minds and therefore manipulate their behavior.

Mbatha-Raw, who played Ravonna Renslayer in Marvel's "Loki," starred as Tish Jones in "Doctor Who."

In two episodes that aired in 2007, Garfield portrayed a man from Tennessee who hitchhiked his way to New York.

There, in the 1930s during the Great Depression, he met Tennant's character and helped him.

Jones' "Doctor Who" character, Robina Redmond, appeared in an episode that centered on a murder mystery that took place at a 1920s dinner party.

Jones' "TASM 2" character played a minor role in the film, but Marvel fans know that in the comics, Felicia is also known as Black Cat.

Kaluuya played Barclay, a passenger on a London bus that ended up in the desert in the "Doctor Who" special titled "Planet of the Dead."

In 2018's "Black Panther," Kaluuya starred as a member of the Tribal Council and friend of T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman).

She played Mia Bennett in the "Doctor Who" episode titled "The Water of Mars."

Then Chan portrayed a Starforce member named Minn-Erva in 2019's "Captain Marvel." Two years later, she starred as Sersi in Chloé Zhao's "Eternals."

Her character is an immortal who's empathetic toward humans and can manipulate inanimate matter.

Smith took over the role of the Doctor in 2010, following Tennant's exit. He portrayed the 11th Doctor for three seasons.

Smith now plays Milo in "Morbius," which stars Jared Leto as the titular biochemist-turned-antihero.

The British actor told Digital Spy that his "Doctor Who" costar Karen Gillan, who plays Nebula in the MCU, convinced him to take on a role in "Morbius."

"I phoned Karen and said, 'What's it like? Have you had a nice time?' and she's like, 'Yeah, go for it, do it,'" Smith said. "So I did. Good old Kaz. I mean, she's a seasoned pro."

Gillan portrayed the companion to Smith's character on "Doctor Who."

In 2014, the actress made her first appearance as the Marvel character Nebula in "Guardians of the Galaxy."

She's since reprised the role in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2," "Avengers: Infinity War," and "Avengers: Endgame." Gillan is set to return as Nebula in "Thor 4: Love and Thunder" and "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3."

She played a mother who turned out to be the host of a shapeshifting alien prisoner in the season-five premiere of "Doctor Who."

Little is known about Disney+ and Marvel's new show called "Secret Invasion," but it will center on the shape-shifting alien race known as Skrulls.

Jones made his first appearance in the MCU as Dr. Arnim Zola in 2011's "Captain America: The First Avenger."

A year prior, he guest-starred as a villain named the Dream Lord in season five, episode seven of "Doctor Who" titled "Amy's Choice."

McKellen, known for his role as Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto in the "X-Men" films, voiced the Great Intelligence in the "Doctor Who" episode titled "The Snowmen."

In the 2012 Christmas special titled "The Snowmen," Grant played an antagonist named Dr. Simeon.

Prior to that, he played an iteration of the 10th Doctor in a sketch called "Doctor Who and the Curse of Fatal Death" and voiced a version of the 9th Doctor in the animated miniseries "Doctor Who: Scream of the Shalka."

In season one of "Loki," Grant starred as Classic Loki, a variant of Tom Hiddleston's titular character.

Capaldi starred as the 12th Doctor for three seasons.

In "The Suicide Squad," his character was vital in getting the Suicide Squad to a mysterious research facility in Jotunheim. The Thinker was ultimately killed by a giant creature named Starro.

In "Doctor Who," she portrayed a lieutenant from the Combined Galactic Resistance, named Journey Blue.

Ashton will reportedly play an undisclosed antagonist in "The Marvels," which will star Brie Larson as Captain Marvel. The movie is set for release on February 17, 2023.

Wright played a character named Anahson in a 2015 episode of "Doctor Who" titled "Face the Raven."

In 2003, he starred as the Marvel character Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler in "X2: X-Men United," who had the ability to teleport.

Then in 2018, Cumming played King James in a season 11 episode of the "Doctor Who" revival.