Stranger Things Star Reveals the One Dealbreaker for Joining Marvel or DC

So here’s one for anyone keeping score on which beloved TV stars might jump into the Marvel or DC machine next: Dacre Montgomery—yep, Billy from 'Stranger Things'—isn’t saying no… but he’s got one pretty specific caveat.

Superhero Offers? Not If It’s Cookie-Cutter

Montgomery is fresh off the promo circuit for his historical thriller 'Dead Man’s Wire' (more on that in a minute), and someone inevitably asked him if he’s eyeing any superhero gigs. Turns out, he couldn’t care less which cape or cowl he’d put on. The X factor isn’t the character—it’s the director.

He put it pretty bluntly:

'I would be interested in doing anything depending on the director.'

In other words, don’t expect him to show up spouting generic one-liners unless there’s someone interesting calling the shots. He even pointed out that although superhero movies are making a bit of a resurgence, audiences (himself included) are feeling the burnout:

'I feel like there’s a bit of general kind of fatigue around the whole superhero genre.'

And honestly? He’s not wrong. After you’ve seen a dozen interchangeable origin stories, it’s hard to get pumped for yet another.

He’s Got His Eye on Directors, Not Superpowers

Montgomery rattled off a few names that get him excited. Zack Snyder’s 'Watchmen' came up as a personal favorite—not because of superpowers, but because of the movie’s grim, noir stripes. He also likes what Taika Waititi did with the early 'Thor' movies, which, fair enough, actually did break the mold a bit.

For Montgomery, it’s all about directors who actually try something different with these giant franchises, instead of just hitting copy-paste for the nth time.

How Close Has Dacre Gotten?

If you’ve paid attention to fantasy casting rumors, you know his name comes up a lot. Here’s where he almost ended up:

• Johnny Storm (Human Torch) – He was the internet’s fan pick as Marvel rebooted 'Fantastic Four,' but the part went to Joseph Quinn instead.
• Wolverine – Not long after Hugh Jackman retired (for the first time, anyway), fans floated Montgomery as a possible successor, but nothing official ever happened.

So far, it’s all rumor mill stuff, but clearly he’s on Hollywood’s shortlist any time a popular role opens up.

What’s Next for Montgomery?

Right now, Montgomery is actually focused on something pretty far from spandex—the thriller 'Dead Man’s Wire' (directed by Gus Van Sant), which had a limited theatrical release on January 9, 2026. In other words, he’s not exactly rushing to sign up for blue-screen-and-mocap just yet.

To sum up: If you’re hoping to see Billy from 'Stranger Things' blasting lasers out of his eyes, it might happen someday. But only if someone behind the camera is ready to genuinely shake things up—not just add another sequel to the pile.