Casting Call: Justice League

Having been in theaters for three weeks now Man of Steel has made $500 million globally and in prime position to set up the DC movie universe.  Of course every fan boy is dying to see what happens with the Justice League movie.  The only thing we know for sure is that Henry Cavill will still be playing Superman in this JLA film, but all the other roles are up for grabs; even Batman since Christian Bale is done donning the cape and cowl. 

My idea for this film is to not go off the current Justice League team from DC’s New 52, but revert back to the Bruce Timm animated series.  Instead of Aquaman and Cyborg I would include Martian Manhunter and Hawkgirl; for reasons I will state below.  Each one of these characters served a purpose in the animated series and I feel would serve a role in a Justice League movie.  I also thought there were several actors/actresses that could play each role, but I looked for younger thespians because they could potentially be doing six or more films.

HENRY CAVILL AS CLARK KENT/ SUPERMAN

From what I can speculate Cavill has signed on for multiple Superman films and probably multiple Justice League films.  Despite what I feel about Man of Steel as a movie I do like Cavill as the moral center, and heavy hitter, of the Justice League.  Now we just have to give him some morals because Zach Snyder seemed to miss that part of his origin story.

 RICHARD MADDEN AS BRUCE WAYNE/ BATMAN

Have you ever watched Game of Thrones?  This guy can brood with the best of them.  Yes, he is a British actor, but a good one at that.  GoT creators actually made more lines and scenes for Madden that weren't in the original source material just because he is so good.  And now that his character is dead I think he has some free time.  Madden has a commanding presence on camera that would be great for the Dark Knight in this film.  Superman is a Brit, why not have Batman be one too.

 JAIMIE ALEXANDER AS PRINCESS DIANA OF THEMYSCIRA/ WONDER WOMAN

This was the hardest part for me to cast.  Wonder woman is supposed to be 6 ft at least, but most women don’t come close to that.  But if Hugh Jackman(over 6 ft) can play Wolverine(who is supposed to be under 5’8) why can’t audiences accept it the other way around?  Alexander is only 5’9 but after I saw her play Lady Sif in Thor I knew she was the dark-haired bad ass that could bring Wonder Woman to the big screen.  Yes ,she is already in a Marvel franchise, but she may only be in one more Thor film and DC is just getting started.  Ryan Reynolds and Michael Duncan Clarke have played characters from the Marvel and DC universe as well so I think Alexander will be alright doing double duty.  The JLA film would be a great way to introduce Wonder Woman, but not give away her whole origin story till her own film.  Definitely a fish-out-of-water vibe though, who can kick ass!

 JUSTIN HARTLEY AS WALLY WEST/ THE FLASH

Hartley has played Aquaman and Green Arrow in his career so why not give him another JLA member to add to his resume.  In DC’s New 52, Barry Allen is the current Flash and it seems as though Wally West never existed if you started reading comics in 2010.  But I think Wally would be essential to this film.  If Man of Steel showed me anything it’s that this DC movie world is serious stuff.  After two hours Cavill barely cracked a smile so we need some comic relief for this film.  While Barry is a great Flash Wally was the funny one/prankster.  Some high level sh*t is going to probably be happening in this film and someone has to be there to break the tension.  Wally can just say that there were speedsters before him, but he’s the first to go public.  Hartley proved in Smallville that he has a charm about him that can make you hate what he just said but still like him at the same time, just like a young Wally West.

 COLUMBUS SHORT AS JOHN STEWART/ GREEN LANTERN

So why not Hal Jordan for this film?  Audiences already know Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan, and that didn’t go so well at the box office.  Luckily for Warner Bros they can just assume a majority of their audience saw that film and know the GL universe and how it works.  John Stewart once took over as Green Lantern when Hal Jordan couldn’t do the job, and there is your loop hole right there!  And not to sound racist, but he does fill the racially-diverse role a Justice League movie would need.  Short has shown himself to be not only a good actor in films like The Losers and Stomp the Yard, but according to my wife he’s pretty easy on the eyes too.

 ZACHARY QUINTO AS J’ONN J’ONZZ/ MARTIAN MANHUNTER

For me this role is all about the voice.  Whomever plays J'onn will be covered in green make-up, or probably just CGI'd like the Hulk.  So the voice has to be right.  Star Trek and Heroes star has a gentle tone about him that I think would go great coming out of such a powerfully under-rated character.  In the Bruce Timm animated pilot J’onn comes to Earth to stop the same alien invasion that left him as the last remaining Martian in the universe.  He and Superman can share that bond, and the alien invasion sets-up the premise of the film; Win/Win.

 ADRIANNE PALACKI AS SHAYERA HOL/ HAWKGIRL

The biggest complaint I’ve heard about The Avengers, as if there should be any, is the lack of female characters. Sure you have Agent Hill played by Cobie Smulders, but the only actual female on the team was The Black Widow.  I think adding another girl to the Justice League film will give it a bigger female audience, especially if she’s played by Palacki.  Best known for her roles on Friday Night Lights and G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Palacki also starred in a pilot for a Wonder Woman TV series in 2011 that never got picked-up.  Her height of 5’11 almost made me consider her for that role again for this film, but I think she’d make a much better Hawkgirl.  Shayera is also an alien who can’t seem to find her way home and is stuck on Earth.  In the animated series she has a bumpy relationship with John Stewart and she is torn between duty, destiny, and her role on the Justice League with her friends.   So there is lots of character development to work with there. 

 Ok, bring in Michael Bay and let’s get this movie rolling.  I can have an outline done in 3 days, just someone send me a check!