With the massive news that Colin Farrell is in the running to play John Constantine in a Justice League Dark movie, it has us wondering just who is going to pop up in the film and which big Hollywood name should fill the roll.
Guillermo del Toro has been attached to the project for a few years now, and while the big rumour seems to be that he won’t be sitting in the director’s chair, this seems like the perfect sandbox to have Del Toro playing in; it’s edgier, and its magic and fantasy storylines make him perfect for it.
Here’s who we think should make an appearance… and who should play them.
John Constantine
The obvious choice as the leader of the group, Constantine is a loud mouth detective, specializing in cases of the bizarre and the occult. Following a great portrayal of the character on the short-lived TV show by Matt Ryan, and skipping over Keanu Reeves’ take on him – which personally I think is an okay movie, it’s just not a very good Constantine movie – the news that Colin Farrell is in the running seems like perfect casting. Dye his hair blonde, give him a trench coat and a cigarette… perfection.
Zatanna
With ties to Bruce Wayne’s past in some continuities, Zatanna – daughter of the magician Zatara – splits her time between being a Las Vegas-style theatrical magician, and using her genuine spell-casting abilities to fight for justice. We think Star Wars: The Force Awakens actress Daisy Ridley would dazzle us in the role.
Swamp Thing
Perhaps the best known take on the character Swamp Thing came in the late 80s when comics legend Alan Moore was writing for it; if we’re calling this Justice League Dark, it’s Swamp Thing’s story arc that could bring a darker edge to things. A human-like mass of vegetation, Swamp Thing is illusive compared to many of his Justice League Dark counterparts, usually only appearing once his home or the environment is threatened.
If done right, Swamp Thing could be a character with the likability of Guardians of the Galaxymember Groot, but with a sophistication unseen in a comic book film to date; a grown up monster for mature viewers, who doesn’t want that? As if you needed any more persuading, how about Mads Mikkelsen in the role? We can only dream.
Deadman
In life, Boston Brand was a circus performer. But when he is murdered during a trapeze performance by an unknown assailant, Brand’s spirit is given the power to possess any living thing in order to go back and seek out vengeance. In his latest incarnation in The New 52, brand must use his abilities to help others, so to avoid being sent to Hell. Now that’s a motivator! Dream cast? Timothy Olyphant as the Deadman.
The Phantom Stranger
As far as the character’s origin go, there’s not much can be said about The Phantom Stranger. As mysterious as his name suggests, he is heavily tied with DC’s paranormal stories, as a masked vigilante (his look based somewhat off a noir detective) who battles the mysterious and the occult. It’s a long shot indeed, but we’d love to see Guy Pearce behind the mask.
Etrigan the Demon
As far as ‘out there’ characters go – and there’s no shortage of that in the Justice League Dark world – it’s hard to think of one as strange as Etrigan the Demon. Created by comics godfather Jack Kirby, Etrigan is a demon from the very depths of Hell who, despite his ghastly appearance and violent nature, is a true heroic character. He originally began fighting crime in Gotham City, which had him pairing up with Batman on occasion, but we don’t see that happening anytime soon on the big screen. But who could lend such a grand voice to the rhyming demon? Why, no other than Willem Dafoe, we say!
Madame Xanadu
The sorceress is a character who is known for appearing and vanishing in and out of stories across the comics, with her New 52 run coming about as a result of The Flash tampering with the timeline. Though she has been blind in the past, it isn’t the case now (though would be a cool touch in the movie), but her powers of levitation, teleportation and ability to banish demons are second to none. And who should play this mistress of magic? Eva Green. Nuff said.
Cheers to Squareeyed for the help with this one
Marc
Marc is a self-confessed nerd. Ever since seeing Star Wars for the first time around 1979 he’s been an unapologetic fan of the Wars and still believes, with Clone Wars and now Underworld, we are yet to see the best Star Wars. He’s a dad of two who now doesn’t have the time (or money) to collect the amount of toys, comics, movies and books he once did, much to the relief of his long-suffering wife. In the real world he’s a graphic designer. He started Following the Nerd because he was tired of searching a million sites every day for all the best news that he loves and decided to create one place where you can go to get the whole lot. Secretly he longs to be sitting in the cockpit of his YT-1300 Corellian Transport ship with his co-pilot Chewie, roaming the universe, waiting for his next big adventure, but feels just at home watching cartoons with his kids….
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