Directed by Ti West
A film director is a person who directs the making of a film. Generally, a film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects, and visualizes the script while guiding the technical crew and actors in the fulfillment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, production design, and the creative aspects of filmmaking. The film director gives direction to the cast and crew and creates an overall vision through which a film eventually becomes realized, or noticed. Directors need to be able to mediate differences in creative visions and stay in the boundaries of the film's budget.
Reasons: West is an up and coming indie horror director that is sure to catch some eyes with his next project. West has worked on multiple acclaimed flicks with the most known being The House of the Devil. West has worked with the acclaimed Adam Wingard, director of films such as You're Next and The Guest. West has his own cult following as well, having movies like The ABC's of Death and In The Valley of Violence. Ti is a more than solid choice of director and his balance of horror and nostalgic approach along with the character driven approach of who I chose for the writer could make the for the best possible JLD films sans Guillermo del Toro.
Written by Simon Barrett
Screenwriters develop scripts derived from their own ideas or other existing ideas or work. When writing scripts, screenwriters are responsible for describing the stories in detail, including physical environments and the moods of the characters. Films and televisions shows require the use of these scripts. Prior to production of a film or show, screenwriters might produce a synopsis and several scenes of a story. A shooting script is then prepared. The shooting script entails camera, lighting and shot instructions.
Reasons: It only makes sense to me to link these two together as they've worked together on multiple occasions. The pair arguably did their best work on V/H/S. However, Barrett's best work in my opinion can be attributed to the films The Guest and You're Next. Having Barrett who specializes in mumblegore so it would be interesting and beneficial to the studio to see how Barrett works with the minimalist approach financially.
Synopsis: Being formed by Madame Xanadu after Enchantress' attack during the events of Suicide Squad, Justice League Dark go on a mission to retrieve the helmet of the mystical legend Doctor Fate. However, a fierce undead foe has his own agenda and the team must defeat him to prevent an army of the undead swallowing New York.
Michiel Huisman as John Constantine/Hellblazer
John Constantine, Hellblazer, is a working-class magician, occult detective and a golden-tongued con man. He is well-known for his scathing wit, endless cynicism, ruthless cunning and constant chain smoking. A roguish counterculture anti-hero, Constantine is also a strident humanist driven by a heartfelt desire to defend mankind from the forces of evil. John was born in Liverpool, but has spent most of his life growing up in London, from the sixties onward. He was born a twin, which he happened to strangle in the womb. His mother died in labor and his father blamed John for the death of his mother and that was the root to the friction between them. When not running away from home John Constantine was raised by his older sister Cheryl Masters. Known as “The Constant One,” John is a descendant from a long line of magic users. Fascinated by the occult from a young age, John threw himself into learning magic to escape his unhappy family life.
Reasons: Huisman is not a household name but he has quite a bit of acclaim to go with it. He stars as Daario Naharis on the hit HBO series Game of Thrones and has had appearances in films such as Age of Adaline, World War Z and The Young Victoria. Huisman also has had memorable stretches on shows like Orphan Black and Nashville. Huisman can bring the gravitas and cynicism known of the character to the big screen and also turn in an excellent performance while doing so.
Keira Knightley as Nimue Inwudu/Madame Xanadu
Madame Xanadu's origins were explored in the first few arcs of her Vertigo series. According to these stories, her full name was once Nimue Inwudu and she is the youngest sister of Morgana (to become Morgaine Le Fay) and Vivienne, the Lady of the Lake. The sisters are descendants of the Elder Folk, survivors of Atlantis who evolved into the race known as the Homo Magi. Madame Xanadu focuses her occult sensitivity through her Tarot cards. Her actual powers in terms of matters of the soul are somewhat limited - she is only allowed to advise.
Reasons: What's a movie like Justice League Dark, that basically no one outside of comic book fans know about, going to need to sell? The answer is star power and if you look at Suicide Squad and Guardians of the Galaxy, which were also unknown properties to the general audience, it's what they have. Aside from great marketing, star power can make or break box office return. However, star power doesn't mean you have to sacrifice talent. I mean they are popular because they're great right? At least in most cases yes. Knightley has proven herself a known and talented actress. Known for Pirates of the Caribbean and The Imitation Game, Knightley will add some mainstream validity to this project for those unsure.
Daniel Radcliffe as Boston Brand/Deadman
After being murdered by the League of Assassins during a performance, circus acrobat Boston Brand was turned into a ghost by the Hindu goddess Rama Kushna. Becoming the superhero Deadman, Boston must aid the people he possesses to avoid eternity in Hell. He is currently part of Justice League Dark. Deadman continues to find himself under orders from Rama Kushna, inhabiting bodies and trying to help them solve the problems in their lives, but with no answer as for why or for how long. He continues his relationship with Dawn Granger as well as joining the supernatural and magical band of misfits known as the Justice League Dark. Despite their earlier claim, he and Dove try to rekindle their love. However, their attempt fails miserably as while Deadman insists to carry on their relationship using borrowed bodies, Dove shows disdain and repulsion to the idea.
Reasons: Radcliffe is a hard working man. He's been in multiple big name films in his adult career (good or bad) including Victor Frankenstein, Swiss Army Man and Now You See Me 2. It's clear Radcliffe wants to be known as a versatile actor and is doing his best to not be put in a box. This is why I feel he could work really well as Deadman since his story is so tragic and Radcliffe just doesn't seem like he's turning down roles because he's too big of a name (hence his cameo in Trainwreck). He's proven to be a talented actor and would do this role justice.
Zoe Kravitz as Zatanna Zatara, the Mistress of Magic
Zatanna is the daughter of adventurer John Zatara and his wife Sindella, and a member of the mystic tribe of sorcerers called the Hidden Ones, or Homo Magi. Zatanna inherited her mother's ability to manipulate magic and her father's penchant for heroism. Sindella later faked her own death to return the Hidden One's sanctum in Turkey, leaving her daughter in John Zatara's care. Zatara traveled the world with his daughter and taught her to harness her magical abilities. Zatanna was later raised by strangers, however, when the evil witch Allura cursed Zatanna and prevented her from seeing her father. Zatanna was left to search fruitlessly for her natural parents. Zatanna discovered her father's diary and created a stage persona for herself. Her quest to find her father led her into a brief affair with John Constantine.
Reasons: Kravitz is a great up and coming actor, having roles in films such as X-Men: First Class, Divergent, Dope, and the masterpiece known as Mad Max Fury Road. Kravitz is keeping a steady filmography of acclaim and will definitely be looked at by major studios especially since the director of Dope is now helming the Flash standalone film. Zoe would be an amazing Zatanna and would give us an unforgettable big screen adaptation of the character.
Tatiana Maslany as Rachel Roth/Raven
Raven is one of the longest serving members of the Teen Titans, in various incarnations of the team. Raven owes her heroic role (as well as an evil role) to a darker past - she is the daughter of a human mother named Arella and an inter-dimensional demon known as Trigon. Raven's demonic lineage was hidden from her for most of her early years. She was raised in an alternate dimension called Azarath, where she learned with a greater degree of skill to control her emotions by the goddess Azar. This was intended to control the influence of Trigon on Earth as her demonic powers would facilitate his ability to conquer the planet. Due to this training she rarely saw her mother and the two grew apart. Upon Azar's death she discovered for the first time her demonic heritage as she met her father face-to-face for the first time. This eventually caused her to leave Azarath and take residence on Earth where, after being rejected by the Justice League of America, she helped the Teen Titans before they disbanded, after which she aided Constantine in his efforts.
Reasons: Jesus [frick]ing Christ I love this! I've been wanting this to happen for so long and I'll tell you why it's perfect. If you know the slightest about Orphan Black you know Maslany gets acclaim for basically being multiple people which is something I want the character of Raven to benefit from. In my own DCEU future predictions I think (more so hope) that the Teen Titans were a thing but they have disbanded and everyone went off to do their own thing. With Cyborg being a founding member of the Justice League in this universe it's looking less likely but I won't give up hope. With Ray Fisher being in his late 20's and Maslany being 30 I feel this storyline could still be possible. If not I just want Maslany as Raven even though in the comics she's not a member I feel she could be in this interpretation or if not a possible villain. Admittedly she would be a more compelling villain than the one I chose from the actual villains list but that in my opinion would just be too crowded a movie so I would put her on the heroes' side from the start.
The hero known as Frankenstein is the actual legendary monster created by Dr. Victor Frankenstein. Though notorious for his torrid past, he was a member of the Seven Soldiers of Victory and currently leads the Creature Commandos. He is currently a member of the Justice League Dark. After his creators' death he took on his name, wanting to be known no more as Frankenstein's Monster. Frankenstein was assumed dead in Europe when he sank beneath the ice. However, he survived and swam to America, having 'many adventures'. In 1870, he fought Melmoth, the Ringmaster of the Circus of Maggots, and stopped him from destroying a town with maggot-hominids. Exhausted, he sank into the ground.
Reasons: Maillet is known for being multiple "big men" in cinema and has the height to play these roles which is in part why I chose him. One thing people forget about Maillet though is that he has charisma which is something that can play into the flow of a film really well when you're talking about a literary legend that everyone knows like Frankenstein. Maillet has had multiple one off roles but he's probably best known for playing The Master in eleven episodes of The Strain.
Emma Stone as Pandora
Pandora has a similar origin to the Pandora of myth. She opened Pandora's box to release tragedy, torment, torture and the terrors of man. She was sentenced alongside the Phantom Stranger, and The Question, as one of the Trinity of Sin. Due to her opening of the box, The Wizard along with the Circle of Eternity sentenced Pandora to an eternity of loneliness, pain and being told she was evil. She spent centuries in shame and isolation, only to return to break her curse.
Reasons: As previously stated, star power will be needed to sell this movie to the masses and Emma Stone is the best of both worlds. She's a known and beloved actress and also been critically loved in films like Birdman, Zombieland and Superbad. With her triumphant performance in Birdman, it showed everyone Stone isn't just for laughs and eye candy and that she can deliver a performance to put you on the edge of your seat. Stone would work perfectly as the "Amanda Waller" of the film but instead of assembling a team she'd be a protector of Doctor Fate's helmet, assuring it didn't fall into the wrong hands. And now for the man of the hour...
Hugh Laurie as Kent Nelson/Doctor Fate
While in Mesopotamia with his father Sven Nelson, the famed archeologist Kent unwittingly awoke Nabu from suspended animation. By releasing Nabu a poisonous gas was released, killing Kent's father but leaving him unharmed. Grateful Nabu mindwiped Kent and made him Doctor Fate, Sorcerer Supreme of Earth. His first adventure as Doctor Fate was when he rescued Inza Cramer from Wotan, an evil sorceress. The two fell in love and soon married. Together they settled in an invisible tower Kent constructed with his powers called The Tower of Fate in Salem, Massachusetts. From this sanctum he embarks out, fighting crime and supernatural evil as the hero.
Reasons: Fate is a hero I've wanted to see on screen ever since I learned about him for the first time in Young Justice (yeah I didn't know jack shit to tell the truth). Whether YJ was truthful to the comics or not I couldn't tell you but I always thought the interpretation they showed would be really interesting to see on the big screen. Having Laurie play Nelson would be a dream come true. Nelson would show up as what is basically the goal of the Justice League Dark as they were sent to retrieve his helmet. Nelson would then don the helmet once again as Doctor Fate to aid the heroes in their fight against the villain known as Cain who plans to envelop New York completely with is legion of the undead.
Jack O'Connell as Cain
In vampire mythology, after Cain murdered his brother Abel, he was cursed by God, as punishment for his crime. The myths are varied from there, but some say the curse placed upon him is what turned him to vampirism, while others vampires were the spawn of Cain and Lilith, Adam's first wife. While his exact mythology in the DC Universe is yet to be known, he still remains the original vampire.
Reasons: Connell has proven that he's a talented actor with his roles in films like Unbroken, Money Monster and '71. He's next starring in a French war film by the name of HHhH so it's not looking likely he'll be a huge draw in the United States. I feel WB could grab O'Connel easily if the script is good and make him a compelling villain with Barrett as the screenwriter. Vampires are something that haven't really been explored in comic book films since Blade so I think this element could prove to draw viewers in to see this somewhat taboo subject as far as comic book movies are concerned.
Well everyone that was my quick Justice League Dark fancast I hope you all enjoyed it. My next one will be much much longer so it won't be up anytime soon and that will be a fancast for the proposed Green Lantern Corps film. I know I did it before but this one is much better in my personal opinion and I feel it's worth sharing with all of you. Thank you all!
via GIPHY