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Dream Casting: Justice League Dark
Dream Casting is an imaginative look at the casting process of potential Hollywood projects based on comics and other media. This isn't just about what is being made; this is about what should be made, and who we think should be the stars.
Justice League Dark is the version of DC's Justice League that deals with the supernatural. The darker, more mystical and horrific threats than just another supervillain trying to conquer the Earth with time travel. The concept's been around for a while, but the series by James Tynion IV and Alvaro Martinez Bueno really makes it work better than ever before.
On April 16, HBO Max announced it would be working with J.J. Abrams and his production company Bad Robot to create an as-yet-untitled television series that draws inspiration from DC's Justice League Dark universe. While little is known about the series, there is plenty of comics material for Abrams and his team to use as a springboard.
And that's where Dream Casting comes in.
Justice League Dark movies have seen directors come and go, but, in our wildest dreams, any Justice League Dark project would feature Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman as the hero who recruits the other characters. John Constantine, Zatanna, Swamp Thing, and Detective Chimp would be the other central characters, with the rest playing supporting roles. The conflict would be that of the first storyline, with the Earth being invaded by powerful beings who claim that humankind stole magic from them, and they've come to reclaim it.
Emmy Rossum as Zatanna
Emmy Rossum (Shameless) will bring a certain attitude to Zatanna, as well as just the right look.
Tom Hardy as John Constantine
Matt Ryan has been a great Constantine on television, so I feel like if you're going to bring a new version of the character to movies you need to have a real movie star in the role. Tom Hardy (Venom) will look great in that famous trenchcoat.
Dave Bautista as Swamp Thing
I hate to pigeonhole Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy) as the guy who can act underneath green latex, but the truth is he does have the size and the voice for this kind of role, and he can bring some real humanity to it.
Nick Offerman as Detective Chimp
Bobo is a highly intelligent talking chimpanzee who's also a bitter and cynical detective with a defeatist attitude. I have great faith that giving the voice role to Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) would lead to hilarity.
Walton Goggins as Man-Bat
Walton Goggins (Vice Principals) is a fantastic character actor who can make Kirk Langstrom into a perfectly believable little weirdo.
Doug Jones as Deadman
Doug Jones (Star Trek: Discovery) has been my pick for Deadman for a long time. He can just move in so many interesting ways. And he doesn't even need complicated makeup, just white facepaint.
Odeya Rush as Traci Thirteen
Odeya Rush (Lady Bird) will add a youthful presence as a young sorceress/bartender, and she might have a bigger part in the sequel.
Jay Ferguson as Blue Devil
Before he became a demon-turned-superhero-turned-barbarian, Blue Devil was a down-to-Earth Hollywood stunt man, which I used as guidance in casting Jay Ferguson (Mad Men) in the role.
Winston Duke as Nabu
Nabu barely has a physical form of his own (that's what Doctor Fate is for), but in Fate's shape he should seem big, powerful, and intimidating. Winston Duke (Black Panther) will get that across.
Andy Serkis as the Upside-Down Man
Obviously this will be a movement-based CGI motion-capture performance, which Andy Serkis (Black Panther, War For the Planet of the Apes) has built a career on. Even more than that, though, I cast him for how creepy his voice can be. He can sound as terrifying as the Upside-Down Man looks.
