Chris Evans makes a villainous turn in The Gray Man--what other Avengers actors could also play a villain in future installments of the franchise?

The Gray Man depicts Captain America actor Chris Evans in a light in which many viewers have never seen him before, as a conniving and maniacal villain. Seeing Evans play against his type proves to be remarkably fun for audiences, getting viewers excited for a potential sequel to Netflix's action thriller.

With the possibility for a Gray Man sequel seeming quite high, viewers are left to wonder who could play the next major antagonist of the franchise. After Evans's exciting turn, there are plenty of other actors from the Marvel Cinematic Universe that could make a terrific next Big Bad for the sequel.

Samuel L. Jackson has been an integral part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe from the very beginning, first appearing as Colonel Nick Fury in the post-credit scene of Iron Man. He continues to be a major character, with several appearances confirmed in the next few years of Phase 4, including the immensely exciting Disney+ series Secret Invasion, in which Jackson will be the lead.

Jackson is a seasoned actor with plenty of interesting roles under his belt, many of which have been villainous in nature. Characters like Kingsman's Valentine and Unbreakable's Mr. Glass have become iconic over the years, making Jackson one of Hollywood's best antagonist actors working today. Seeing the actor team up with the Russo Brothers once more for a sequel to The Gray Man would no doubt be extremely exciting.

Dave Bautista's Drax the Destroyer is a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy and a fearsome warrior with a temper. He has appeared in five MCU projects since his debut in Guardians of the Galaxy, most recently showing up in a hilarious cameo in Thor: Love and Thunder alongside his fellow spacefaring teammates.

Dave Bautista's prowess in subtleties does not always bleed through in a character as uncomplicated as Drax, but the actor's other roles, including as the evil henchman Mr. Hinx in Spectre, have truly shown off his skill. It is for this very reason that his conniving villain is one of the highlights in Denis Villeneuve's Dune reboot.

Pom Klementieff joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Guardians of the Galaxy, volume 2 as Mantis, the latest member of the titular team. Since then, she has proven herself to be one of the more entertaining members of the group and is expected to return in several upcoming projects in the franchise.

Though Klementieff's Mantis is wholeheartedly sweet and unintimidating, the actress is capable of portraying far darker characters. Having already made scattered appearances as minor villains in other projects, including Netflix's Thunder Force, Pom Klementieff will also be appearing as a villainous character in the upcoming Mission: Impossible -- Fallout Part One, where she will undoubtedly put her full skill in the spotlight.

Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes, a.k.a. the Winter Soldier, has become a fan-favorite character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Embarking on a journey that has taken him from hero to villain and back to hero, Bucky was last seen in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, where he seems to have fully adopted a new moniker in the White Wolf.

Stan may have stolen hearts as Bucky Barnes, but he is just as capable of breaking them with his less savory characters. Already, he has proven to be able to play both sides of Bucky Barnes, including the murderous assassin that appears in The Winder Soldier. His inclusion in a sequel would also be the perfect follow-up to his Captain America costar's appearance in The Gray Man.

Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye, otherwise known as Clint Barton, is a founding member of the MCU's Avengers and one of the few remaining heroes of that core group. Appearing most recently in his own Disney+ series alongside Hailee Steinfeld's Kate Bishop, Clint is likely reaching the end of his time in the franchise.

It can be easy to forget many of Renner's previous projects prior to joining the MCU, but that would be a disservice to the accomplished actor. His work in films like S.W.A.T. perfectly displays his ability to portray a traitorous secret agent, which would perfectly fit the theme of Netflix's latest action franchise.

Elizabeth Olsen's Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch, has been a standout character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase 4 ever since the debut of her Disney+ series WandaVision. Growing in power and prestige with every appearance, Wanda has become one of the most beloved characters in the sprawling franchise.

Olsen recently debuted the new version of Wanda Maximoff, who is undoubtedly one of the most powerful villains in the MCU. The actress demonstrated a chilling side to her character that would translate well to playing another baddie, who would certainly have terrific chemistry with Ryan Gosling and Ana de Armas's characters in The Gray Man 2.

Sam Wilson has undergone a thrilling journey in the Marvel Cinematic Universe over the last several years. Making the transition from Falcon into the new Captain America in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Anthony Mackie is expected to return once more in the highly-anticipated Captain America 4 sometime in the next few years.

Though many fans know Mackie best for his heroic role in the MCU, the actor has also played his fair share of villains during his career. Appearing as the antagonist of The Gray Man 2 would give him a chance to show his villainous chops to a larger audience, as well as reunite him with the Russo Brothers after working with them on four occasions during his time in the MCU.

Benedict Cumberbatch has starred as the Master of the Mystic Arts, Doctor Stephen Strange, in the MCU since 2016. Most recently appearing in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Cumberbatch is quickly becoming an anchor in the franchise, much in the same way that Robert Downey Jr. was during the Infinity Saga.

Cumberbatch has taken part in several noteworthy projects outside of the MCU, several of which have had an antagonistic angle. Most recently, his performance as the cruel and foul-mouthed Phil Burbank in The Power of the Dog earned the British actor an Academy Award nomination, confirming his sheer talent at playing unsavory characters.

Scarlett Johansson was a focal point of the MCU during the Infinity Saga as Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow. After her death in Avengers: Endgame, Black Widow appeared one final time in her very own self-titled spinoff film, which is largely believed to have officially brought her time in the MCU to an end.

Though often framed as a hero, Scarlett Johansson is certainly capable of taking a more antagonistic approach to future characters. Her career has occasionally taken her down the road of antiheroism, but audiences have yet to see the talented actress in a truly villainous role, which would be a departure from her usual casting and a fun addition to any action franchise.

Robert Downey Jr. is the undisputed protagonist of the MCU's Infinity Saga, kicking off the franchise with 2008's Iron Man and taking his final bow in Avengers: Endgame over ten years later. As Tony Stark, Downey defined the overall tone and direction of the MCU, beginning a franchise that would carry on long after his departure.

Robert Downey Jr. is one of the most successful actors working today and would be an asset to any film in which he took part. The actor has not appeared in many projects since exiting the MCU, but will likely be looking for work that will display another side of his talents after playing a superhero for so long. Taking a role as a villain would play Downey against his type in the same way that The Gray Man has done for Chris Evans. Should a sequel ever happen at Netflix, the filmmakers should certainly consider casting Tony Stark himself as the franchise's next Big Bad.

NEXT: The 10 Biggest Threats Facing The Avengers In Phase 4 & Beyond

Jordan Iacobucci is an avid reader and movie fan, and has been since childhood. Jordan is known among his friends as the Marvel and Star Wars nerd, and even wrote a thirty-page college dissertation about Spider-Man! He is currently obtaining an English degree and lives outside Raleigh, North Carolina with his family. His other interests include working with children, reading, and music.