Richard Gadd Says He’s Open to Marvel and DCU; But Only on One Condition (EXCLUSIVE)

Richard Gadd has little left to prove after the extraordinary success of "Baby Reindeer." The autobiographical Netflix drama became one of 2024's defining television events, earning widespread critical acclaim and multiple awards, while cementing Gadd as one of the industry's most distinctive writer-performers. Now, the Scottish creator is back in the Emmy conversation, earning a Primetime Emmy nomination for his performance in HBO and BBC's "Half Man," now streaming on Lionsgate Play in India. 

As his profile continues to grow, so do the opportunities. While superhero franchises have become a natural destination for many actors enjoying a career high, Gadd says he would only step into the Marvel Cinematic Universe or the DC Universe if the project genuinely resonates with him.

Speaking exclusively to Variety India, Gadd says he's open to the idea; but not at the cost of his artistic instincts. "I'd love all that DC, Marvel stuff," he says. "But again, it would come back to, does the project really  speak to me and do I think I can do this character justice?"

Related Stories

Richard Gadd And Jamie Bell On ‘Half Man’: ‘We Didn’t Want To Tell Audiences What A ‘Man’ Should Be’ (EXCLUSIVE)

‘Half Man’ Review: Richard Gadd, Jamie Bell Excel In Brutal, Piercing Study of Broken Men

For Gadd, the size of a franchise is never the deciding factor. Instead, every role begins with a simple question: whether he believes he belongs in that story. "I get acting offers all the time and it always has to come down to whether I think I'm right for it and whether I think it's right for me, because I think the artistic processes can come off track if people take them on for the wrong reasons."

The actor says that philosophy extends across every aspect of his career, whether he is writing, acting or developing a new project. "I always want to be pure with my artistic intentions when it comes to acting, writing, everything. It all comes down to whether I think I can do it justice and whether I think the project and me are in a symbiosis that makes sense."

The same mindset also explains why Gadd has no concerns about being typecast following the success of "Baby Reindeer" and his acclaimed performance as Ruben in "Half Man."

"I don't fear typecasting. I mean, I think I wouldn't allow it." Rather than repeating a performance audiences already know him for, Gadd says he would rather wait for something entirely different. "If I get 10 offers and they're all Reuben-esque and they're all big, I wouldn't do that because I knew that I'd be... I'm interested in challenging myself in different ways throughout my life because I think it keeps life interesting."

Richard Gadd describes Ruben as the most demanding role of his acting career, adding that taking creative risks has always been central to his work. "Reuben was a huge challenge, certainly the biggest acting challenge I'd ever done. I thought that's kind of what life's all about, like risking it all." That also means resisting the temptation to revisit familiar territory. "I know that I can't do a Reuben next. I would just have to say no until the right thing came along."

Whether that next opportunity arrives in an intimate character drama, another original television series or a comic book universe, Gadd insists the guiding principle will remain unchanged: choosing roles that challenge him rather than simply capitalising on success.