Telly has the wrong vibe for Professor X. Luthor, the Kingpin or even Magneto, but not Charles Xavier.
1960's Marvel Comic Cosmos Phase 1 1962: MGM presents: Fantastic Four The Motion Picture Directed by Robert Wise Reed Richards/Mr Fantastic: Richard Burton Sue Storm/Invisible Girl: Natalie Wood Johnny Storm/Human Torch: Paul Newman Ben Grimm/The Thing: Steve Reeves Dr Doom: Maximilian Schell 1963: The Incredible Hulk Bruce Banner/The Hulk: Marlon Brando/ Reg Park The Leader: Vincent Price 1964: Captain America Steve Rogers: Steve McQueen (seriously.. anyone else?) Baron Zemo: Christopher Lee 1965: Iron Man: The First Avenger Tony Stark/Iron Man: Anthony Quinn Justin Hammer: William Holden Justine Hammer: Audrey Hepburn someone else can do phase 2. In a world that was a bit better than the one we got, Bruce Lee as Spiderman.
I have another actor in mind for Ben Grimm/The Thing (I can picture him, but I can't think of his name or remember any movies he's been in), so I'm going to suggest Dan Blocker (Hoss Cartwright - Bonanza) and for Shazam/Captain Marvel - Peter Lupus.
Captain Marvel's appearance was modeled on Fred MacMurray in the first place, so he seems like the natural choice. Of course, CM actually did appear in a 1941 serial, played by Tom Tyler. That was the first-ever screen adaptation of a comic-book superhero.
30's/40's Kate strikes me as too young for Aunt May, even the "hot Mom" version from the MCU. I'm thinking someone like Beaula Bondi, who made a career out of playing mothers.
@Christopher, I was surprised the day that I discovered Fred MacMurray. Alex Ross really nailed the likeness. Hmm, I know they made a Captain Marvel/Shazam serial in 1940, but I've never watched it. Let's see, whom to cast for a 1940's-era Shazam? Big Red Cheese: MacMurray, natch Billy Batson: George MacFarland, Spanky from Little Rascals Black Adam: Turhan Bey, Turkish actor who got put into a lot of "exotic" roles Dr. Sivana: Alan Ladd Shazam (the wizard): Ed Wynn, as a bumbling type. This is the actor from Mary Poppins who played the dude who liked to laugh.
Tuesday Weld would have made a great Harley Quinn . . . had the character existed in the sixties. And maybe Ricardo Montalban as Namor? He was in an Esther Williams movie so what's another swimming movie? Plus, he's got that whole imperious rex thing down.
Years ago I came up with a list of American actors if Doctor Who had been made in the U.S. This is what I came up with 1st Doctor - Ray Walston 2nd Doctor - Danny Kaye 3rd Doctor - ? 4th Doctor - Gene Wilder 5th Doctor - John Ritter 6th Doctor - ? 7th Doctor - Kevin Kline or Jeff Goldblum. The 1st Master - Vincent Price The 2nd Master - ? I've never been able to come up with actors who were around in the early-70s and mid-80s that best fit the 3rd and 6th Doctors or the 2nd Master.
She should have played her in the show, she already comes off a lot like her in Gilligan's Island, that not happening was a missed opportunity. I would have loved '60s or '70s Christopher Lee as Dr. Doom.
I always thought it would have been great if Lyle Waggoner could have guested on Batman as Superman. He's got that square-jawed hero thing down pat. And then Suzanne Pleshette as Wonder Woman to round out that Justice League core group. Nobody did tough-as-nails while being beautiful better than she did.
Just out of curiosity, Telly Savalas is/was considered a good actor? I admit I didn't watch a lot of his movies, but he doesn't give me the impression of a thespian with a wide range...