Coronation Street fans have been left stunned after discovering that a villain from the cobbles previously appeared in a major Hollywood film. The actor, Jonathan Howard, made his debut on the ITV soap last year as Carl Webster, the estranged brother of Kevin and Debbie Webster. Since his arrival, Carl has caused significant drama, including an affair with his sister-in-law Abi Webster, a hit-and-run on Tyrone Dobbs, and a multi-car pile-up in Corriedale. He also manipulated his dementia-suffering mother, Debbie, into taking the blame for the crash, leading to her brief imprisonment.
Before joining Coronation Street, Jonathan Howard appeared in various films and TV shows, including World War Z and Downton Abbey. However, it is his role in the 2013 Marvel blockbuster Thor: The Dark World that has caught fans' attention. In the film, Howard played Ian Boothby, a character alongside stars like Chris Hemsworth, Idris Elba, and Christopher Eccleston. The movie grossed over £500 million at the box office.
Fans took to social media to express their surprise. One user on X wrote, "I was today years old when I found out Carl Webster is canon in the MCU...this crossover." Another added, "Wtaf that's CARL!?" A third commented, "How did I never realise that was him?????? I’ve seen Thor: The Dark World so many times!!!!!"
Despite his impressive filmography, Howard recently opened up about the challenges of acting, including constant rejection and unemployment. He told the Mirror, "At one point in my mid-30s I was auditioning constantly and getting rejected three times a week, which was tough. When you do 200 self-tapes and it’s a constant no and you have two years of being unemployed, at some point you’re going to question whether or not you’re suitable for this, whether or not it’s you as an actor that isn’t good enough." He added, "During those times, I was dropped by agents too. It’s mentally challenging. I really had to dig deep, persevere and think ‘is this heartbreak worth it all? Do I want this enough?’"
Coronation Street airs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
