While the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Black Mirror Universe couldn't be more different, they're both mind-blowing, layered, expansive worlds that constantly refer back to prior stories. But obviously, Marvel is all about larger-than-life superheroes fighting bad guys, and Netflix's Black Mirror is about technology and the morality of taking these technologies too far.
When you think about these two properties, as popular as they both may be, you probably wouldn't think there would be a lot of crossover between in terms of casting. However, you'd be very wrong. There have been lots of people that started in the MCU and ended up on Black Mirror. There were also some very notable moments where an actor got their start on Black Mirror and ended up being a huge part of the MCU.
So we decided to take a look at every episode of Black Mirror and see which actors have crossed over to become part of both of these properties. To do that, we revisited all six seasons of Black Mirror (so far), along with the interactive movie, Bandersnatch.
For the purpose of this piece, we skipping over folks that would be considered "background actors" because that can become hard to track.
1. Anna Wilson-Jones
Black Mirror S1, E1: "The National Anthem"
MCU: Secret Invasion
Wilson-Jones appeared during "The National Anthem" as the wife of prime minister Michael Callow. In the MCU, she had a background role as a surgeon in an episode of Secret Invasion.
2. Daniel Kaluuya
Black Mirror S1, E2: "Fifteen Million Merits"
MCU: Black Panther, Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse
Kaluuya, who starred in "Fifteen Million Merits," spent his days on a bike, saving money for a woman he fancied. He then went on to Black Panther playing W'Kabi, the head of security for the Border Tribe and husband of Okoye.
Additionally, Kaluuya voiced Hobbie Jones in the Spider-Verse series, which technically is Sony's animated Spider-Verse--but that does have ties to the official MCU as well. And just for a little fun, Kaluuya also played Black Death in Kick-Ass 2, which is an adaptation of a Marvel comic series.
3. Hayley Atwell
Black Mirror S2, E2: "Be Right Back"
MCU: Captain America: The First Avenger, Agents of SHIELD, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant Man, Agent Carter, Avengers: Endgame, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, What If…?
Before Atwell appeared in Black Mirror, she was already well-established in the MCU as Peggy Carter--or Captain Carter in a few instances. She's the secret agent who was alongside Steve Rogers, who was in love with her, went back in time to be with her in Endgame, and probably really messed with the Sacred Timeline.
In Black Mirror, she played Martha, a woman who uses an advanced technological service to reconnect with her late lover.
4. Bryce Dallas Howard
Black Mirror S3, E1: "Nosedive"
MCU: Spider-Man 3
This is a little bit of a reach, but considering that Tobey McGuire reprised his role of Peter Parker in Spider-Man: No Way Home, this can work. In "Nosedive," Bryce Dallas Howard plays the lead character Lacey--who is trying her best to get rated better in real life in order to move to a classier neighborhood--and she goes on a nosedive, like the title suggests. In Spider-Man 3, Howard plays Gwen Stacy, a possible love interest for Peter Parker.
5. Alice Eve
Black Mirror S3, E1: "Nosedive"
MCU: Iron Fist
Eve played influencer Naomi in "Nosedive," but she's been a part of Marvel as well. She played Mary Walker in Iron Fist. Daredevil is part of the MCU thanks to Spider-Man: No Way Home and She-Hulk, and that being said, it means the other Netflix MCU shows are, especially when The Avengers movie is referenced in that series.
6. Michaela Coel
Black Mirror S3, E1: Nosedive, S4, EP1: "USS Callister"
MCU: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Coel first appeared in Nosedive as a ticket attendant at an airport who dinged Lacey for being rude. She's one of the few top-billed actors to appear in multiple episodes of Black Mirror. Coel appeared in "USS Callister" as one of the people trapped on the ship. On the Marvel side of things, she landed the role of Aneka, a member of the Dora Milaje.
7. Wyatt Russell
Black Mirror S3 E2: "Playtest"
MCU: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Thunderbolts
Russell played the lead role of Cooper in the horror-based Black Mirror episode "Playtest." However, he's become a pretty big deal in the MCU lately, taking on the role of the second Captain America, John Walker, in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. He'll be reprising that role in the upcoming movie Thunderbolts under the guise of USAgent.
8. Hannah John-Kamen
Black Mirror S3 E2: "Playtest"
MCU: Ant-Man and the Wasp, Thunderbolts
While "Playtest" primarily focused on Russell's character, John-Kamen played Sonja, Cooper's romantic interest and brief roommate as Cooper travels the globe. John-Kamen first entered the MCU as the empathic antagonist Ghost in Ant-Man and the Wasp, and she'll be returning as that character in Thunderbolts.
9. Wunmi Mosaku
Black Mirror S3 E2: "Playtest," S6 EP 1: "Joan is Awful"
MCU: Loki, Deadpool & Wolverine
Mosaku takes on the role of Katie in "Playtest," and she's Cooper's guide to becoming a test player for an upcoming immersive horror video game. She's Cooper's only point of contact while he plays the game. In Season 6 of Black Mirror, she played the TV version of Joan's lawyer. In Loki and Deadpool & Wolverine, Mosaku plays B-15, one of the most-prominent hunters in the TVA.
10. Ken Yamamura
Black Mirror S3 E2: "Playtest"
MCU: The Wolverine
Before Yamamura took on the role of video-game designer Shou Saito in "Playtest," he was in the second Wolverine solo movie, simply titled The Wolverine, playing the younger version of Yashida. The Wolverine movies are all part of the MCU franchise now, simply because of Deadpool & Wolverine.
11. Gugu Mbatha-Raw
Black Mirror S3 E4: "San Junipero"
MCU: Loki
Mbatha-Raw played Kelly Booth in "San Junipero," the love interest for the character Yorkie, who chased her through the simulated experience that also involved time travel. In the MCU, she had the role of Judge Renslayer, a member of the TVA, who judged whether or not variants were guilty of time crimes.
12. Benedict Wong
Black Mirror: S3 E6: "Hated in the Nation"
MCU: Doctor Strange, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, What If…?, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.
Wong had a major part in the Black Mirror episode "Hated in the Nation," which was a feature-length story. He played NCA agent Shaun Li, who is helping solve the crime of why people are being murdered by robotic bees. Wong is one of the Black Mirror actors who has appeared in multiple MCU projects. Wong plays Sorcerer Supreme Wong, who made his debut in Doctor Strange. As of this writing, Wong has appeared in six MCU movies and two MCU TV shows.
13. Paul G. Raymond
Black Mirror: S4 E1: "USS Callister"
MCU: Deadpool & Wolverine
Raymond had a prominent role on the "USS Callister" episode of Black Mirror, playing Kabir Dudani, one of the people imprisoned on the spaceship. He also popped up in Deadpool & Wolverine as a TVA office agent.
14. Letitia Wright
Black Mirror: S4 E6: "Black Museum"
MCU: Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Wright played the lead role in "Black Museum"--the character Nish--who "stumbled upon" the roadside attraction featuring technological horrors. This was a huge, breakout role for Wright, and one year later, she was featured in Black Panther as the sister of the titular character, Shuri. From there, she appeared in multiple Marvel movies and took over the Black Panther mantle following the death of Chadwick Boseman.
15. Babs Olusanmokun
Black Mirror: S4 E6: "Black Museum"
MCU: The Defenders
Olusanmokun had a predominant role in Act III of "Black Museum," playing Clayton, whose duplicated consciousness was stuck in a cell, being killed over and over again by people visiting the museum. Olusanmokun was also heavily featured on Netflix's The Defenders, playing White Hat, who is one of the Five Fingers of The Hand.
16. Amanda Warren
Black Mirror: S4 E6: "Black Museum"
MCU: Jessica Jones
In "Black Museum," Warren played Nish's mother, Angelica, who overdoses after seeing duplicated consciousness trapped in the museum. Warren also had a brief appearance on the Netflix show Jessica Jones, playing Dr. Gallo.
17. Will Poulter
Black Mirror: "Bandersnatch"
MCU: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Most people forget "Bandersnatch" exists for a couple reasons: It's a standalone Black Mirror episode not included in the main series, and it's an interactive episode where you, the viewer, have to make decisions for the characters. In "Bandersnatch," Poulter plays Colin Ritman. The character is a famous video-game designer who works with the main character, Stefan. Poulter made his debut in the third Guardians of the Galaxy movie as Adam Warlock, a super-powered being created by the Sovereign.
18. Anthony Mackie
Black Mirror S5 EP1: "Striking Vipers"
MCU: Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Brave New World
Kicking off Season 5 of Black Mirror was the episode "Striking Vipers," starring Anthony Mackie as Danny, one of the men who is romantically involved with a friend by way of a video game. By the time this episode came out, Mackie was well-established as an anchor in the MCU, playing The Falcon/Captain America in numerous projects.
19. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
Black Mirror S5 E1: "Striking Vipers"
MCU: Wonder Man
The secondary star of "Striking Vipers" was Abdul-Mateen II, who played Karl. While the actor was firmly established in the DC Universe, playing Black Manta in the two Aquaman movies and Cal Abar in the Watchmen TV series, he will soon make the jump to the MCU. While it hasn't aired at the time of this writing, Adbul-Mateen II will play Simon Williams in the upcoming miniseries Wonder Man. While filming wrapped in April 2024, a release date has not been set yet.
20. Pom Klementieff
Black Mirror S5 E1: "Striking Vipers"
MCU: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Thor: Love and Thunder, The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
Klementieff played the role of the Striking Vipers fighter Roxette in the episode, who was controlled by Karl. Klementieff is best known for playing Mantis, who was introduced to the MCU in the second Guardians film.
21. Topher Grace
Black Mirror S5 E2: "Smithereens"
MCU: Spider-Man 3
Grace plays the role of Smithereen CEO Billy Bauer, who realizes his social media site has become addictive and spreads a lot of misinformation. Listen, if we already established that Tobey McGuire is part of the MCU because of Spider-Man: No Way Home, then we have to allow that Topher Grace's role from Spider-Man 3--Eddie Brock/Venom--is also part of the world. No, he's not Tom Hardy, but Grace did briefly take on the role as the man/symbiote in the movie where Peter Parker danced the night away.
22. Angourie Rice
Black Mirror S5 E3: "Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too"
MCU: Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Spider-Man: No Way Home
In "Rachel, Jack, and Ashley Too," Rice plays the titular Rachel, who finds companionship in a toy version of Ashley O. In the MCU, she plays school reporter/Ned Leeds' brief love interest Betty Brant in all three Spider-Man movies. If there are more Spidey flicks, Brant will likely return.
23. Miley Cyrus
Black Mirror S5 E3: "Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too"
MCU: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Cyrus plays the titular pop star in the Black Mirror episode--who plays a poppy version of Nine Inch Nails' "Head Like A Hole"--and she goes into a coma. She's also the voice of Ashley Too, the toy version of herself. And that's right, Cyrus appeared in the MCU, very briefly. At the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, she voiced the character Mainframe.
24. Rob Delaney
Black Mirror S6 E1: "Joan is Awful"
MCU: Deadpool 2, Deadpool & Wolverine
In the very layered episode, Delaney plays Mac--the man Joan is cheating with--who is her ex-boyfriend. Over in the MCU, Delaney plays everyone's favorite member of X-Force, Peter.
25. Salma Hayek
Black Mirror S6 E1: "Joan is Awful"
MCU: The Eternals
Hayek plays both the TV version of Joan and herself in "Joan is Awful." The real version of Hayek teams up with the real Joan in order to get the show pulled off of the air. In the MCU, Hayek played the leader of The Eternals, who arrived on Earth 7,000 years ago.
26. John Hannah
Black Mirror S6 E2: "Loch Henry"
MCU: Agents of SHIELD
Hannah appeared in "Loch Henry," an episode revolving around a duo directing a documentary in the main character's hometown. Hannah also appeared in 27 episodes of ABC's Agents of SHIELD as Holden Radcliffe, a character who was recruited to create the InHumans.
27. Kate Mara
Black Mirror S6 E3: "Beyond The Sea"
MCU: Iron Man 2
Mara took on the "Beyond The Sea" role of Lana Stanfield, whose husband is an astronaut, and on Earth, she spends time with a robotic version of said husband. In the MCU, Mara appeared in Iron Man 2 as US Marshall. The character didn't have a name outside of that. Mara also played Sue Storm in the 2015 Fantastic Four, but that's one of the few Marvel movie outliers that has zero ties to the MCU at all.
28. Zazie Beetz
Black Mirror S6 E4: "Mazey Day"
MCU: Deadpool 2
In "Mazey Day," Beetz plays Bo, a member of the paparazzi, looking for a paycheck and photographing celebrity Mazey Day, who is going through some sort of crisis. She also appeared in the MCU as X-Force member Domino, whose power is "being lucky."
29. Danny Ramirez
Black Mirror S6 E4: "Mazey Day"
MCU: The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Brave New World
Ramirez plays fellow paparazzi member Hector, who is looking for some help from Bo in order to find out more information about Mazey Day. Ramirez first appeared in the MCU in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier as Hector Torres, a member of the military who helps provide The Falcon pivotal information. Torres will move on to become the new Falcon in Captain America: Brave New World.
30. Corey Johnson
Black Mirror S6 E4: "Mazey Day"
MCU: Morbius
Johnson had a brief appearance on "Mazey Day" as Clay, an officer who was also keeping track of the paparazzi and what was going on at the retreat Mazey Day was staying at. On the MCU side of things, Johnson played Mr. Fox in Morbius, a mercenary.
31. Anjana Vasan
Black Mirror S6 E5: "Demon 79"
MCU: Spider-Man: Far From Home
Vasan plays Nida Huq, a saleswoman at a department store, in "Demon 79." She unleashes a demon named Gaap after bleeding on a talesman, and she must kill three people in three days or the world will end. In Spider-Man: Far From Home, she played a reporter from Queens.
