It wasn’t too long ago when word came to us by way of the Tracking Board about Warner Bros.’ apparent plans to move forward with the much talked about — exceedingly protracted — production of a Justice League Dark live action film. In the wake of director, writer and producer Guilermo Del Toro’s turning in a scripted draft of the film, titled Dark Universe, the Latino Review has given word that ,apparently, the folks over at WB are now batting around names of potential casting choices for the film.
The names mentioned? Well, Ron Perlman of Hellboy fame was mentioned and, preferred by del Toro play Swamp Thing. An excellent choice, given Perlman’s previous work with del Toro in Hellboy, Blade, Pacific Rim, etc. As for John Constantine, the studio is perhaps going a different route altogether in not using Matt Ryan’s already established version of the Laughing Magician, opting instead to go with an ‘A-List’ actor the likes of Ewan McGregor or Colin Farrell (neither strike me as a particularly convincing Constantine, but…). These early mentions of potential actors carried over to the choice of who could play Jason Blood, known to anyone half-versed in DC lore as one half of the rhyming demonic anti-hero, Etrigan.
Furthermore, we have the matter of Zatanna, one of the DC’s most popular characters. Word has it that WB would like either a Latina or black actress to dawn the fishnets for our lady magician (I can hear the fanboy cries of outrage from here already). Also conveyed as a want of the studio, a ‘comedic actor’ to play Boston Brand, aka Deadman. And lastly, Monica Bellucci has been mentioned as a possibility for none other than the JLD’s own fortune-teller, Madam Xanadau (a flawless choice imo).
Created by Peter Milligan and Mikel Jenin in 2011 — and later taken over by Jeff Lemire — Justice League Dark is about a team of supernatural ‘heroes’ (some would debate otherwise) existing within the DC universe. Among their ranks; John Constantine, Madame Xanadu, Zatanna, Deadman and Swamp Thing (to name a few). Fated (or perhaps cursed) to band together when supernatural threats, which even Superman and the Justice League can’t handle, arise.
Despite all that being said, there still is no confirmation on who — if any — of these actors will indeed be heading to the big screen. Until we learn more, and as always, be sure to stay plugged in to SE for more Comic Nook News as it develops.