James Marsden appears in the sequel of the 2020 film âSonic the Hedgehogâ as Tom Wachowski, who befriends Sonic. âSonic the Hedgehog 2â releases on April 8. It is based on the video game franchise published by Sega. Marsden has been a part of some of the greatest films such as âThe Notebookâ, âEnchantedâ, and â27 Dressesâ, among others.
The actor has starred in films as a prince as well as a superhero. Let’s take a look at some of his previous work in amazing acting roles in films and television series.
Enchanted (2007)
Banished by an evil queen, Princess Giselle (portrayed by Amy Adams, âArrivalâ) from a fairy-tale world lands in modern Manhattan. There, the music, magic and “happily ever after” are sorely lacking where she is adrift in this strange new place. This is until a divorce lawyer (Patrick Dempsey, âGreyâs Anatomyâ, âBridget Jonesâs Babyâ) comes to her aid. Giselle begins to fall for her flawed benefactor. However, the storybook romance gets complicated when a prince from her world comes to rescue her.
James Marsden took on the role of Prince Edward in this 2007 film. Marsden starred in âEnchantedâ alongside Idina Menzel (âFrozenâ, âGleeâ), Timothy Spall (âMr. Turnerâ, âSpencerâ), Rachel Covey (âDuane Hopwoodâ), Susan Sarandon (âThelma & Louiseâ, âDead Man Walkingâ), Kevin Lima (âTarzanâ, âAladdinâ), Julie Andrews (âThe Sound of Musicâ, âMary Poppinsâ, âThe Princess Diariesâ), among others. A sequel to this film called âDisenchantedâ is in the works with no release dates yet.
Watch âEnchantedâ on: Disney+
27 Dresses (2008)
Katherine Heigl is a perennial bridesmaid Jane in â27 Dressesâ who always put the needs of others before her own. She becomes the go-to gal whenever someone needs help with wedding plans. But when Jane’s younger sister Tess (Malin Akerman, âWatchmenâ) snags the man (Edward Burns) she secretly loves, Jane finds herself questioning her role as a wedding junkie. She does this for the first time in her life!Â
Meanwhile, James Marsden is a handsome reporter who sees Katherine Heiglâs characterâs unusual story as his ticket off the bridal beat. Judy Greer (âHalloween Killsâ, â13 Going On 30â), Peyton List (âCobra Kaiâ), Melora Hardin (â17 Againâ, âThe Officeâ), and Krysten Ritter (âJessica Jonesâ, âBreaking Bad), among others.
Find â27 Dressesâ on: HBO Max
The Best of Me (2014)
Based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks, in âThe Best of Meâ, James Marsden portrays Dawson, the high-school sweetheart of Amanda (portrayed by Michelle Monaghan, âMission Impossible IIIâ, âTrue Detectiveâ), who have a bittersweet reunion when they return to their hometown for the funeral of a mutual, beloved friend. They see each other again after twenty years of being apart.
This reunion reignites the love they have never forgotten. However, the high-school sweethearts soon discover that the forces that drove them apart when they were younger pose even more threats today in the 2014 film with Luke Bracey (âLittle Fires Everywhereâ), Liana Liberato, Gerald McRaney (âNCIS: Los Angelesâ), Sean Bridgers (âThe Thing About Pamâ), and Robby Rasmussen (âWestworldâ), among others.
Find âThe Best of Meâ on: Amazon | Netflix
The Notebook (2004)
In one of the most popular romance movies, âThe Notebookâ, Marsden takes on the role of a leadâs love interest. Adapted from âThe Notebookâ, in 1940s South Carolina, a mill worker Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling, âLa La Landâ, âDriveâ) and rich girl Allie (Rachel McAdams, âMean Girlsâ, âSherlock Holmesâ) are desperately in love but Allieâs parents don’t approve. Noah goes off to serve in World War II. This seems to mark the end of their love affair.
In the interim, Allie becomes involved with another man (James Marsden), but Noah returns to their small town years later. Noah is back on the cusp of Allie’s marriage. Upon his arrival, it soon becomes clear that their romance is anything but over. The 2004 film also stars James Garner (âThe Rockford Filesâ, âMaverickâ), Gena Rowlands (âA Woman Under the Influenceâ, âOpening Nightâ), Joan Allen (âFace/Offâ, âThe Bourne Supremacyâ), Kevin Connolly (âEntourageâ), and Matthew Barry, among others.
Find âThe Notebookâ on:Â Netflix
Hairspray (2007)
In the 2007 film âHairsprayâ helmed by Adam Shankman, Marsden took on the role of Corny Collins, the host of The Corny Collins Show, with politically progressive attitudes. According to TV tropes, the star beat out his X-Men co-stars Joey McIntyre and Hugh Jackman for the role. This film is set in 1960s Baltimore, wherein dance-loving teen Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) auditions for a spot on “The Corny Collins Show” and wins, becoming an overnight celebrity.
She becomes a trendsetter in dance, fun and fashion. Perhaps her new status as a teen sensation is enough to topple Corny’s reigning dance queen and bring racial integration to the show in this movie also starring John Travolta (âGreaseâ, âPulp Fictionâ), Zac Efron (âHigh School Musicalâ, âThe Greatest Showmanâ), Adam Shankman (âA Walk to Rememberâ, âStep Upâ), Michelle Pfeiffer (âScarfaceâ, âBatman Returnsâ), Queen Latifah, Amanda Bynes (âSheâs the Manâ, âEasy Aâ), Christopher Walken (âCatch Me If You Canâ, âPulp Fictionâ), Brittany Snow (âPitch Perfectâ), and more!
Stream âHairsprayâ on: Netflix
X-Men
James Marsden has been a part of the popular X-Men franchise as well. The actor starred in âX-Menâ (2000), âX2: X-Men Unitedâ (2003), âX-Men: The Last Standâ (2006), âX-Men: Days of the Future Pastâ (2014) as Scott Summers/Cyclops alongside Hugh Jackman (âThe Greatest Showmanâ), Rebecca Romijin (âFeme Fataleâ), Patrick Stewart (âStar Trek: Picardâ), Famke Janssen (âHow To Get Away With Murderâ, âThe Blacklistâ), Ian McKellen (âThe Hobbitâ, âThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ringâ and Halle Berry (âMonsterâs Ballâ, âJohn Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellumâ, âDie Another Dayâ).
Stream the aforementioned titles, HERE: âX-Menâ | âX2: X-Men Unitedâ | âX-Men: The Last Standâ | âX-Men: Days of the Future Pastâ
Superman Returns (2006)
James Marsden portrayed Richard White in the 2006 film âBatman Returnsâ, wherein Lex Luthor plots to destroy the Man of Steel once and for all. Superman (Brandon Routh, âLegends of Tomorrowâ) returns after a long absence to a much-changed world, but Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth, âBefore I Wakeâ) has moved on with her life. Society has learned to survive without him but Superman must find a way to reconnect with her.
He must find his place in a world that may no longer need him starring Parker Posey (âLost in Spaceâ), and Sam Huntington (âBeing Humanâ, âGood Girlsâ). Frank Langella (âFrost/Nixonâ, âRobot & Frankâ), Kal Penn (âDesignated Survivorâ), and Eva Marie Saint (âExodusâ), among others.
Find âSuperman Returnsâ on: Netflix | HBO Max | Apple iTunes | YouTube | Amazon | Vudu | DIRECTV
Dead to Me (2019)
âDead to Meâ is a Netflix series wherein Jen’s (Christina Applegate, (âMarried⊠with Childrenâ, âBad Momsâ) husband recently died in a hit-and-run. The sardonic widow is determined to solve the crime, on the other hand, optimistic free spirit Judy (Linda Cardellini, âFreaks and Geeksâ, âGreen Bookâ) has recently suffered a tragic loss of her own, and these ladies meet at a support group. Despite their polar-opposite personalities, they become unlikely friends as the duo bond over bottles of wine and a shared affinity for “The Facts of Lifeâ.
Judy tries to shield Jen from a shocking secret. This secret could destroy her life as she knows it in this dark comedy which sees Marsden in the role of Judyâs husband. âDead to Meâ explores the weirdly funny sides of grief, loss and forgiveness featuring a cast that includes Luke Roessler (âIt Chapter Twoâ), Natalie Morales (âSanta Clarita Dietâ), Sam McCarthy (âCondorâ), Steve Howey (âShamelessâ), Valerie Mahaffey (âIf I Were Youâ), Katey Sagal, Brandon Scott (âChannel Zeroâ), among others.
Stream âDead to Meâ on: Netflix
Westworld (2016)
âWestworldâ isn’t your typical amusement park, it is intended for rich vacationers. The futuristic park is looked after by robotic “hosts”. It allows its visitors to live out their fantasies through artificial consciousness. No matter how illicit the fantasy may be, there are no consequences for the park’s guests. It allows for any wish to be indulged.
The TV Series is based on the 1973 Michael Crichton movie of the same name and features an all-star cast including Evan Rachel Wood (âTrue Bloodâ), Jeffrey Wright (âThe Batmanâ, âNo Time To Dieâ), Thandiwe Newton (âMission: Impossible 2â, âThe Pursuit of Happinessâ), Ed Harris (âThe Truman Showâ, âApollo 13â), Ben Barnes (âShadow and Boneâ, âThe Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspianâ), Tessa Thompson (âMen in Black: Internationalâ, âThor: Ragnarokâ)and James Marsden as Teddy Flood.
Watch âWestworldâ on: HBO Max
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Feature Image Via Pop Sugar.