The 411 Top 5 05.02.08: Week 111

Posted by Trevor Snyder on 05.02.2008

The Top 5 Superhero Dream Castings

Today is the day...the day that most of America will find out if the casting of Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man/Tony Stark is as dead-on perfect as it seems on paper (I say most of America because some were lucky enough to check out the sneak preview screenings on Thursday night). Downey Jr.'s casting went over relatively well among the comic fan community, which is pretty surprising...usually, comic fans are very hard to please, and can't wait to complain about which actors are chosen to portray their favorite characters.

Of course, this is usually because we almost have a better idea (at least in our opinion) of who should be getting these roles. In the spirit of that, this week we decided to offer up our takes on which actors should be starring in the comic-book movies of tomorrow, with a look at:


THE TOP 5 SUPERHERO DREAM CASTINGS



Trevor Snyder

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Johnny Depp as Frank Einstein (Madman): Robert Rodriguez has been trying to get a movie of Madman - Mike Allred's jazzy take on the superhero book – off the ground for years. Last I heard, it's currently in pre-production, with Rodriguez on board as producer. Here's hoping he calls in a favor from his buddy Depp and casts him as resurrected ex-assassin Frank Einstein. Depp is probably the only actor who could pull off the sheer insanity and goofiness of this property and still have it be marketable.

Henry Cavill as Nightwing: This is one that I'll have a tough time explaining, because even I'm not sure why I had the idea. All I know is, when I watch Cavill as Charles Brandon on Showtime's The Tudors, I can totally see him as a grown-up Dick Grayson, eager to leave his past as Robin behind but still dedicated to all that Bruce Wayne taught him. Plus, according to the IMDB Cavill auditioned for the role of Batman in Batman Begins, so maybe getting cast in a Nightwing movie would somewhat make up for losing out.

Harry Connick Jr. as Gambit: The current conventional wisdom for most X-Men fans is that Josh Holloway would be the perfect Gambit. I won't dispute that too much…I agree that Holloway would probably do a pretty damn good job with the role. However, I think our own Shawn S. Lealos has come up with an even better bit of casting for Holloway later in this column, and I myself have an alternate bit of Gambit casting I'd like to suggest. Seriously, check out last year's Bug, and you'll see that Connick can certainly get himself into the right physical shape to pull off a superhero role. Plus, he definitely oozes the lady-killer charisma (or so I've heard), and as an actual native of New Orleans, he wouldn't even have to fake the accent.

THE TOP 5

5. Guy Pearce as Daredevil

Somewhere out there, there exists an alternate reality – a reality where the producers of the Daredevil movie actually listened to the fans' overwhelming cries that Pearce would be the perfect Man Without Fear. In this reality, Ben Affleck never came anywhere near the project and, lo and behold, the movie did not completely suck. Man, I wish I lived in that universe. Still, as the upcoming Incredible Hulk movie shows, it's never too late to make up for your mistakes. This is another franchise that is begging to be re-booted, under more talented guidance this time (sorry, Mark Steven Johnson, but that means you're out). And maybe we could finally have Pearce rocking it out as Matt Murdock. How great would that be?

4. Brendan Fraser as Superman

Brandon Routh was excellent as Superman, and I'm eager to see him continue on in the role for at least a couple more movies. But, let's say someone decided to make an alternate Superman movie, one not tied into the same universe as the current series (and no, I'm not talking about that lame Justice League movie, either). In a less serious, perhaps more cartoony and over-the-top Superman film, I think Fraser would be the perfect match for the role. He's a big, intimidating guy, but also showed in Bedazzled that he can pull off the dweebish nerd qualities that his scenes as Clark Kent would require. If you wanted a Superman movie that was just all about having fun, then Fraser would be your Kryptonian.

3. Bradley Cooper as Guy Gardner (Green Lantern)

I mentioned in a previous Top 5 that I'd really like to see the Green Lantern universe finally brought to the big screen – and from what I understand DC is currently working on making that happen. Now, I'm not sure who I'd like to see as Hal Jordan (although Brimfield has a pretty good suggestion right below me), but I know who would make the perfect Guy Gardner if the producers decided to bring the character in for the sequels. Most folks probably know Cooper for his work on Alias or his turn as the douchy "Sack" in Wedding Crashers. But, to truly understand my choice, one would have to look at Cooper's work on the criminally short lived Fox series Kitchen Confidential. On that show, Cooper managed to deftly juggle being a complete asshole and a likable character – which would be extremely important in bringing the cocky, arrogant Gardner to life.

2. Christopher Meloni as The Punisher

OK, this one comes with a disclaimer: Thomas Jane should still be playing The Punisher. For all the problems that flick had (and, oh, there were many), Jane wasn't one of them. Jane is a certified fanboy himself, and pretty much every interview he gave after that film, in regards to the sequel, showed that he himself recognized what they had gotten wrong the first time, and he was willing to work hard to correct those mistakes and finally make the Punisher film fans have been waiting for. Unfortunately, Lionsgate was apparently not as willing as Jane, and so he ended up walking away from the project (which was apparently quite the heartbreaker for him, but you have to respect his decision to leave rather than make another poor film). The jury is still out on his replacement, Ray Stevenson, but from what I've seen of him I'm pretty skeptical. Personally, I think a more natural choice would have been Meloni. Check out some of the painted covers Tim Bradstreet has done for Garth Ennis' "Punisher" run…some of them even look like Meloni! Besides that, Meloni obviously has the right mixture of intense bad-ass-ness and dedication to justice, as he shows all the time on Law & Order: SVU. Maybe if this new Punisher flick sucks, they'll reboot it yet again and we can finally see this as a reality.

1. Paul Walker as Captain America

I think there are a lot of people who aren't completely sold on Walker's talents as an actor (heck, I used to be one of them), but I think the guy has been steadily improving over time. And, perhaps more than any other actor currently working, he definitely has the right all-American look for the role. We've already seen him play the goody two-shoes part (check out Pleasantville), we know he can get down and dirty when he has to (Running Scared and the Fast and Furious films), and hey, he's even already been a soldier in a WWII movie (Flags of Our Fathers). And yes, he is a somewhat bankable star. You can make fun of the Snow Dogs guy all you want, but I'm sticking by this one: Walker is the right choice for Steve Rogers.



Owain J. Brimfield

5. Kate Beckinsale as Wonder Woman

I know, I know, it's a horrible bit of obvious casting playing off all the rumors that were doing the rounds a few months back. But you know, Pearl Harbor and Van Helsing memories aside, Beckinsale does have a likeable quality, she's undeniably hot, and has a fair amount of ass-kicking and fantasy/sci-fi experience from the Underworld franchise. Whether or not she'd be accepted playing an American hero is another thing, but hey, it worked for Michelle Ryan! Didn't it? Anyway, talk of a Wonder Woman movie has been circulating for a while and it'd be nice to have something a bit more concrete to look forward to.

4. Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern

Purely a vote to get Fillion starring in as many films as possible as he's one of the most charismatic actors working today. However, he would be a good match for the Lantern in one of the character's more modern-day incarnations. His acting chops are definitely there, and it's really not too much of a stretch to imagine the guy with the amount of power the Lantern wields. Plus, he's one of the few people who could get away without cheesing up Hal Jordan's famous oath.

3. Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool

Ah, too late you say, for Reynolds is already set to portray everyone's favorite mercenary in the upcoming Wolverine movie. And to you I say "pish and tosh", because this is a perfect bit of casting and would easily be my number one choice if it hadn't already been set in stone. I'm quietly confident that his performance and character might even be sufficient to necessitate a spin-off from the spin-off.

2. Adam Baldwin as Deathstroke

I may be bending the rules slightly with Deathstroke's inclusion on a superhero list, but dammit, everyone enjoys a good meaty villain, and Adam Baldwin would certainly make a good meaty villain. There's certainly no doubting Baldwin's capacity to portray a physical and powerful mercenary-type character (viz. Firefly), and although I've not seen anything really compelling featuring the character in print form (never a fan of Teen Titans), it surely wouldn't be too hard to cast him as the secondary bad guy in another superhero's movie.

1. Jake Gyllenhaal as Robin

Possibly the lamest "superhero" in history (*coughAquamancough*), I make no secret of my distaste for Robin. A lot of that stems from Chris O'Donnell's character in The Film That Shall Not Be Named, but really, when the coolest a hero has ever been is being portrayed by Burt Ward, you know you're on to a losing streak. Gyllenhaal would be the perfect choice both to reinvent Robin and to add a new element to the presumably upcoming third new Batman movie - after all, Chris Nolan seems to enjoy employing a heavyweight cast and Jake's sister already has her foot in the door, so why not go the whole hog? Maybe then we could have Robin as something more than a sidekick whose job seems to entail permanently sucking.



Jeremy Thomas

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Emile Hirsch as Robin/Darkwing, Michael Clarke Duncan as Bishop, and Famke Janssen as Black Widow

THE TOP 5

5. Chris Potter as Gambit (Remy LeBeau: X-Men)

Who the hell is Chris Potter, you ask? Some people might remember a syndicated sequel to the Kung Fu TV series called Kung Fu: The Legend Continues. It ran from 1993 to 1997, and featured David Carradine reprising his role as Kwai Chang Caine. The other starring role was Peter Caine, Kwai's son, played by...you guessed it, Chris Potter. Potter's been in several other syndicated series and some film roles, but for the most part has stayed under the radar. I generally love the casting of unknowns as superheroes, because the actor's persona does not overshadow the role in that situation, and Potter has the right look to play everyone's favorite card-tossing Cajun. It doesn't hurt for his inclusion on this list that Gambit is one of my all-time favorite comic book characters, and the fact that he never made it into the X-Men movies is a 100% absolute travesty. Now, the most common question asked when people fantasy-cast Gambit is, "What about the accent?" Certainly, a Cajun accent is difficult to do without overacting it. Worry not, folks...Potter has done voice work in the past. One of his voice roles? You guessed it, Remy LeBeau in X-Men: The Animated Series. If Potter weren't a bit old for the role at this point, he'd be FAR higher on this list.

4. Bruce Willis as Hawkeye (Clint Barton: Avengers, West Coast Avengers)

This one also suffers a wee bit from "too old" complex, as Willis is getting up there in age. However, more recent versions of Hawkeye have been admitted by Marvel's creators to have been modelled on Willis, and it makes perfect sense. Hawkeye, the former criminal who was rehabilitated after several run-ins with Iron Man, is an archer with a smart-mouth and a tendancy to break the rules, though he's always firmly on the side of morality. He ended up forming the classic spin-off team from the Avengers, the West Coast Avengers, along with Iron Man, Wonder Man, Tigra, and his wife Mockingbird. Though the group was never taken very seriously by Marvel or in storylines by the Avengers, it was one of my favorite supergroups growing up, and Hawkeye (along with Iron Man) was a large part of that. It's also the kind of role that Willis is perfect for. Smart-assed, and an action role without having to be too physical...Hawkeye's a long-range kind of guy. I'd love to see Bruce Willis in a Hawkeye movie...and in fact, Marvel is said to be developing the character for a movie. Here's hoping!

3. Tia Carrere as Psylocke (Elisabeth Braddock: X-Men)/Angelina Jolie as Revanche (Kwannon: X-Men)

Psylocke and Revanche are two characters I always wanted to see in the X-Men films, but their story would have taken far too long to set-up and explain. Psylocke is Elisabeth Braddock, a British telepath in the body of an empathic Asian assassin. Revanche is Kwannon, an empathic Asian assassin in the body of a British telepath. I'm sure you get the gist. Anyway, it would have been great to see the two characters play off each other, and better yet, could have brought the Legacy Virus in as a storyline...something for a new movie, perchance. I've always thought Psylocke would be just the role Tia Carrere needed to revive her career. She was on a real fast-track to stardom after the Wayne's World movies, but sputtered out, and now she's relegated to syndicated TV crap like Relic Hunter. However, it's that very last role that inspired this casting for me. Carrere managed to invoke the Lara Croft look in Relic Hunter, and we all know that Jolie was the right look in the horrible Tomb Raider films. That's enough to convince me that the two would be able to play flipped versions of each other. Tomb Raider also proved that Jolie can also do the British accent passably well. Get these two playing off each other and it would be utterly brilliant.

2. Lena Headey as Wonder Woman (Diana: Justice League)

When Joss Whedon had control of the upcoming Wonder Woman film, there were several names being tossed around as supposed people on his short list. Lena Headey never made the list, but she damn well should have. Currently, she's a hot property thanks to 300 and The Sarah Conners Chronicle, and if this movie ever picks back up, she should be considered a front-runner in my book. She's seriously hot, she's got a strong look and great acting chops...and hell, she's already played one member of Greek nobility. We know she can kick ass, and I think it's high time she got a movie to anchor all her own. I also like Charisma Carpenter for this spot, but Headey gets my vote, and if Warner Brothers is smart, they'll go with her when they eventually cast this film.

1. Johnny Depp as Doctor Strange (New Avengers, Midnight Sons)

If you don't know who Doctor Strange is, you clearly do NOT read enough comic books. Marvel's resident master of mysticism is said to have a movie being developed for him, with Guillermo Del Toro directing and Neil Gaiman writing the script. Color me giddy. I would highly suggest Del Toro check out The Ninth Gate if he's looking for someone with the right look for the good doctor. Seriously, put a goatee on the man, and he IS Doctor Strange. And certainly, I don't need to expand on Depp's acting skills. It would be, quite simply, brilliant casting.



Shawn S. Lealos

First, I should leave the disclaimer that I read comic books (Marvel and DC) from around 1976 until 1986 and then stopped. Around 1995, I started college and one of my editors at the yearbook owned his own comic book store, so for about a year I was collecting again, basically catching up on all the heroes I loved as a kid. Then I lost my job, and comic books were the first thing to cut out of my budget. Recently, I have begun reading trades and have pretty much stayed away from superhero comics because of my distaste for the Civil War storyline and where it has led all my old heroes. Currently, I am giving superheroes another chance with the Secret Invasion storyline, and we'll see how that goes. Regardless, my dream casting really comes from my memories of the superheroes from when I was a kid (mainly the 80s), so if the characters have changed and I don't know about it, that is why. Also, my Top Three are based on my personal favorite characters from my childhood.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Terry Crews as Luke Cage – This is based on the current version of Luke Cage, not the Power Man version from my youth. It's actually based on a couple of pictures:



Triple H as Thor, God of Thunder – He was originally one of the leading candidates for Thor, but the director at the time shot that idea down. I think it would work. Of course, there has already been a perfect Thor, God of Thunder: Vincent D'Onofrio

THE TOP 5

5. Bruce Campbell as Plastic Man

This choice comes with one requirement. Sam Raimi is allowed to direct. I think Raimi has been neutered recently since becoming the face of the Spider Man franchise. However, he began his career with the spatter franchise The Evil Dead. While those movies were all about the gore, they were also brilliantly set in the world of slapstick comedy, soon helping create the term splatstick. Raimi continued to perfect his wry humor in Army of Darkness and it became apparent in Spider Man 3 that he was not leaving that too far behind, as the song and dance number that remains the highlight of the film. Raimi has made four superhero movies now (Darkman being his first) and I think if he combines his experience with the superhero genre with his love of slapstick humor, Plastic Man would be perfect for him. Who better to be this slapstick comic hero than Raimi's best buddy Bruce Campbell? It's a match made in Heaven.

4. Simon Baker as Captain America

I never realized how few blonde haired actors there are in Hollywood. Not that the actor cast as Steve Rogers has to look like the character, like my casting of Dwayne Johnson as Wonder Man proved. So, who better to cast as the All-American golden boy hero than an Australian actor from The Devil Wears Prada? Actually, the look of Baker is very close to how I would see the character of Steve Rogers. He has proven in George Romero's Land of the Dead that he can be a leader, which Captain American prides himself on being. I've actually been waiting for Baker to break out and I'd rather see him throwing the shield in Captain America than see him fall into a career of romantic leads in chick flicks.

3. Dwayne Johnson as Wonder Man

I remember much of Simon William's career as Wonder Man from reading them firsthand. He became a hero and joined the Avengers when I was first starting to read comics (1977) and I watched as he grew into one of the cockiest and most antihero Avengers. I loved it when he decided to "go Hollywood," choosing to put that dream above his original dedication to being a crime fighter. Who better than Dwayne Johnson to portray the hero with his eyes set on the stars? Their stories parallel, The Rock also leaving his goldmine (professional wrestling) for the limelight of Hollywood. Also, look at The Rock's last main storyline in wrestling as he returned as Mr. Hollywood, acting better than everyone else. Dwayne Johnson is Simon Williams. It's a match made in Hollywood.

2. Aaron Eckhart as Hank Pym (Yellow Jacket)

I think my favorite superhero through much of the 80s was Hank Pym and his role as Yellow Jacket. I was never a big fan of Goliath or Ant Man, but when Pym donned the yellow and black and brought an attitude from hell with it, I had a new favorite hero. I still think one of my favorite storylines was when Pym started to fall more and more into depression and then became an abusive husband to Jan (The Wasp). He was soon out of control and ended up being kicked out of the Avengers. He tried to set up a ruse to make himself look like a hero and get back in their good graces but failed and was left ostracized from the team. He was next manipulated by an enemy thought dead, and framed for a crime he did not commit. He ended up tried and convicted, finally sent to jail. Things would work out in the end, but I was captivated by the storyline and still hold the character high to this day. To cast Pym, you need someone who is smart, yet can convey a cocky arrogance. Aaron Eckhart is the man I would sign to play that complex character. In the Company of Men showed Eckhart at his most sociopathic, Thank You for Not Smoking showed him at his most manipulative and I think The Dark Knight should prove he can play good and bad equally. He fits Hank Pym like a glove.

1. Josh Holloway as Hawkeye

My favorite hero as a kid was Hawkeye. He was never one to blindly follow orders and always seemed on the edge, ready to just jump into whatever fray happened to interest him at the time. When he was sent to California to start up the West Coast Avengers, I lost a bit of interest in his character as he is not a leader or a follower. I always viewed Hawkeye as a loner who goes where ever the winds may blow. He was one of the heroes signed to return to The Avengers during the trial of Hank Pym I mentioned above and only did it because Iron Man and Captain America mentioned the pay involved. I love that shit. Who does that remind you of? Yeah, Sawyer from Lost. Josh Holloway has built his career playing a man who acts the same as the character of Hawkeye I loved so much as a kid. Maybe that is why Sawyer remains my favorite character of that show. He is only out for himself on the outside, but is pretty much a born hero on the inside. Josh Holloway would easily make the best Hawkeye you could ever dream up.



Bryan Kristopowitz

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Brian Bosworth as Captain America: Now hear me out on this one. So far, in the last thirty years or so, we've had two different actors play Captain America. The immortal Reb Brown, who did the TV movies from 1979, and Matt Salinger, who played Cap in the Albert Pyun movie from 1990. Both times, it was a low budget affair. Instead of amping up the budget and creating a huge spectacle movie with Tom Cruise or someone like that, why not do another low budget flick, and get "the Bos" hisself, Brian Bosworth, to don the tights and the helmet and the shield? He could fight Hydra or something like that. The flick wouldn't need much money to achieve that. And if you give Bosworth a wig, shoot him from certain angles, you've got a decent enough Captain America. And Bosworth is American. That could work. (Oh, and if they ever did a big budget Captain America flick, get Kurt Russell to do it. He could just go back to Sgt. Todd from Soldier and add a little more personality).

Robin Williams as Deadpool: Now, I think good old Wade Wilson, the "Merc with a Mouth," would probably work out the best as an animated movie or TV show, because the character and the comic are probably just a little too weird for a live action movie. However, if someone could figure out how to do a Deadpool live action movie, Robin Williams should be involved. I think it would be interesting if Williams went all out for the role and worked out and learned guns and swords and kung fu, but if that was impossible and they had to hire a stuntman to play the chartacter, Williams should be the voice. Same deal with the potential animated version. I think Williams could pull off the motormouth part of the character and really make it work.

Mick Jagger as The Joker: If someone is going to make a Batman movie and have Batman's arch nemesis be a thin, zombie like lunatic, why not hire the guy who already looks kind of like that sans make up? And the lines in his face would help make him look scarier. That's what the Joker is supposed to be all about, right? Fear?

THE TOP 5

5. Tim Thomerson as Resurrection Man

"Resurrection Man" was the great DC Comics title that ran from 1997-1999 and featured a character named Mitch Shelley. As I remember it, Mitch was infected with some kind of super advanced nanotechnology that not only prevented him from dying (I mean, he could be killed, but he'd only be dead for a few seconds) but also allowed him to come back from the dead with a new super power each time. I don't remember how all of that worked, though, the particulars and whatnot. But I thought it was a cool comic, something a tad different from the other titles out at the time. Thomerson, the consummate cult character actor, would have a ball with this kind of character. He could show the world his range. He could have a deadly serious super power one show (yeah, this thing would probably have to be a TV show) and then an incredibly stupid one the next. Thomerson can do anything. It'd be a hoot.

4. Harrison Ford as Nick Fury

I kind of like the older Nick Fury, occasionally appearing in the ongoing Garth Ennis "Punisher" series. He's profane, nasty, a total scumbag at times. It's the kind of character Ford really hasn't had a chance to play yet. Now is the time to do it. Give him an eye patch, a cigar, and a trenchcoat and let him rip off a few mother effers and let him utter the great line "Why don't you people act your fucking ranks?" or something like that. It would be great.

3. Sam McMurray as Judge Dredd

Obviously, one of the big problems with the Sylvester Stallone version (I liked that movie, but I recognize its myriad issues) is that his Judge Dredd removed his helmet. Just ruined it for me. But then again, Stallone is and was Stallone, and if you don't show his face why bother having him? So, in a newer version that could and would stay closer to the comic source, you could give the role to a fine character actor who could play a bad ass and give off that sense of authority that is Dredd. I mean, hey, it didn't work with the big star under the helmet, why not then do another one and give it to a guy you've never heard of?

2. Val Kilmer as Moon Knight

I've always loved the look and feel of the Moon Knight character and comic, I've just never really understood what the comic is all about. Moon Knight is a rich guy, like Batman, under the spell of an Egyptian something or another, which enables him to fight bad guys and whatnot. Even if that's only half right (it's probably less than that), MK is the kind of dark and mysterious character that Kilmer could work wonders with. He was never given a chance to do that as Batman in Batman Forever, so why not give him a pseudo second chance with a similar type character? And Kilmer is a good character actor, and he can be a star when he has to be (The Saint). So why not have Kilmer do Marc Spector?

1. Keith David as Spawn

Keith David did the voice of "Spawn" on the HBO cartoon that ran a few years ago, and was his usual awesome self. So why not give him the chance to play the character in another live action movie? He could pull it off. He could perform in the make up and gigantic cape and whatnot. And he'd still have that iconic voice. If and when McFarlane does another "Spawn" movie and Michael Jai White is nowhere to be found (I though White did a great job back in 1997), he should bring in David. He's the total package.

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