After the strength of The Avengers, a Justice League movie is definitely happening. Or is it?
Geekscape’s own Uncanny Shawn Madden argues that a Justice League movie won’t work now, but let me offer a few points in the film’s favor:
1-No Need For Origin Stories
In 2008, my non-geek friends couldn’t have picked Iron Man out of a lineup. The insignia of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, on the other hand, are known all over the world. Even my immigrant grandparents know DC’s Trinity (though to be fair, all immigrants know Superman, the ultimate refugee).
Marvel needed 4 set-up movies, DC doesn’t. Everyone knows Batman and Superman’s origin stories (or orphan stories). For better or worse, the American public still has the idea of a Green Lantern ring fresh in their minds.
2-Years of Groundwork
Warner Brothers has already been running the best Justice League ad campaign for over 20 years: cartoons.
In 1992, Bruce Timm gave us Batman: The Animated Series and a nonstop series of quality TV shows and features since, including this year’s epic Justice League: DOOM. Even before that, we had Super Friends. In fact, DC superheroes have been on celluloid for over 70 years.
Kids today know who the Justice League is- and so do the kids of yesterday.
3-Smart Audiences
People are familiar with the concept of different actors playing the same part. No one freaked out when they replaced Aunt Viv on Fresh Prince or even Darrin on Bewitched. There have been 6 official James Bonds!
The audience is OK with new actors, as long as they’re the right actors. So who are the right actors for a Justice League movie? Here are some options:
The Big Three
ARMIE HAMMER as SUPERMAN
He has the build, the eyes, the commanding presence. And that fantastic booming voice! Hammer has already played a dual role as the Winklevoss twins in The Social Network, preparing him for playing Clark Kent. But who wants to see Supes act mild-mannered in a League flick anyway?
SAM WORTHINGTON as BATMAN
We already know Worthington can handle action- he’s been a terminator and a demi-god. But the actor can also handle intense emotion. Check out the measured fury he brought to his performance as a frustrated cop in last year’s indie Texas Killing Fields.
AISHA TYLER as WONDER WOMAN
Few actresses have the beauty, the body, and the talent to be remotely credible as the world’s premiere superheroine. Peruse Tyler’s body of work and you’ll see such varied performances as a sarcastic spy on Archer and a mutilated Somalian model in Nip/Tuck. Peruse her body and you’ll see an athletic 6-foot beauty who would have no trouble playing the Amazon warrior.
For some other Wonder Women, check out this classic Geekscape article.
The League
MICHAEL ROSENBAUM as THE FLASH
Not only does Rosenbaum look the part- he’s already played The Flash on 56 episodes of the Justice League cartoon series, where he stressed Wally West’s humor and perseverance.
ROGER R. CROSS as JOHN STEWART
Cross has already shown he can be a team player as able field team leader Curtis on 24. He has just the right gravity and self-control to play the ex-Marine wielder of the Green Lantern’s light.
KATE MARA as HAWKGIRL
Mara is a hardworking actress with a great range who would look amazing in the costume. And what other actress can you name with mace experience under their belt, as Mara got in last year’s Ironclad?
KEEGAN MICHAEL KEY as MARTIAN MANHUNTER
When most people think of Martian Manhunter, they hear the bass timbre of Carl Lumbly’s voice. But Key, who shows his chameleonic abilities on his own sketch show Key and Peele, with his tall, wiry frame, would be a good fit for both J’onzz’s human and original martian forms and was born to perform the motion capture necessary to portray the shapeshifting alien.
The Alternates:
NORA ZEHETNER as ZATANNA
Zehetner is a dead ringer for the pixie prestidigitarian, and you can see her dangerous side as a femme fatale in the 2005 high school neo-noir thriller Brick.
MICHAEL CUDLITZ as GUY GARDNER
It’s a short leap from gruff cop to gruff space cop for a veteran actor like Cudlitz, who is used to dealing with those that worship evil’s might day-in and day-out on TNT’s Southland.
MANDY MOORE as BLACK CANARY
We know Moore has the pipes and the proper hair color (Canary is really a brunette too). She also has the nerd cred, recently portraying Lois Lane in the “Death and Return of Superman” Internet short.
The Villains:
HUGH LAURIE as BRAINIAC
It’s only been a few weeks, and I already miss Laurie’s brilliant but misanthropic performance as House, M.D. Imagine how deliciously evil he could be as the malevolent android.
ROBERT JOHN BURKE as METALLO
Burke has already been part machine in Robocop 3, but for a truly interesting villain, check out his nihilistic turn as an immortal monster in No Such Thing.
JASON MOMOA as VANDAL SAVAGE
Speaking of immortal, Savage’s strength and intellect make him a formidable foe for the entire League. Momoa was a barbarian twice last year, but he brought extra depth to his role as Khal Drogo on Game of Thrones.
RON PERLMAN as SOLOMON GRUNDY
Who else could play the empowered zombie? Perlman could bring pathos and power to a mostly silent role, just as he did in 1981’s Quest for Fire. As a bonus, who doesn’t want to see Hellboy punch Superman?
JOSH PENCE as BIZARRO
OK, Superman’s warped mirror image might be a hard sell to general audiences, but if they do go with Bizarro, here’s the perfect casting. Pence has already played Armie Hammer’s evil twin as the body double for Tyler Winklevoss in The Social Network.