Movie Monster’s Teen Titans Fancast (DC Extended Universe)
Some of my favorite characters from the DC Universe were the Teen Titans. Like many people in this generation, I grew to know them through the animated series that aired on Cartoon Network in the early 2000s. I adored the storylines, humor, and high stakes that these heroes are faced with. They had to balance their superhero careers with the trials of being a teenager. Now that’s some tough stuff. The Titans have appeared in countless comics, animation, and video games but a live-action iteration of the team has yet to grace the silver screen.
A live-action television series was at development at TNT but was later cancelled. Warner Bros. have a lot of DC movies in development and a Teen Titans film could be seen in the future. Today, I will present you my fancast for a Teen Titans feature film that would be set in the current DC Extended Universe. However, some of my choices carry on from my own DC shared universe which I presented in an article a few months ago. With that said, Cyborg will not be casted seeing how Ray Fisher is already playing him. Also, one character in this fancast has already been casted but I had already casted my choice prior to the official casting announcement. Anyways, let’s take a look at my picks for both the cast and crew for Teen Titans.
Production Companies:
Crew:
Written and Directed by Matt and Ross Duffer
Studios are always on the lookout for fresh new talent to helm their tentpole features. With that tradition in mind, my choice for directors for Teen Titans would be Matt and Ross Duffer, or The Duffer Brothers. This directing duo got a lot of attention last year for creating the Netflix hit Stranger Things and directed six of the eight episodes. The two have proven to write layered stories with ensemble casts, blend numerous genres, and are outspoken comic fans. Honestly, they would be the perfect team to bring the Teen Titans to life.
Produced by Geoff Johns, Zack Snyder, and Deborah Snyder
Since I am envisioning this as a DCEU film, it would make sense to bring in some of the creative team from previous installments. Last year, Geoff Johns was brought in to oversee the creative process for films in the franchise. Seeing how he was a writer for and Creative Chief Officer for DC Comics, I trust him in at bringing comic accurate portrayals of the characters in the films. As controversial as he is with some fans, Zack Snyder did help kick off the DCEU with Man of Steel and it looks like he and his wife will continue to have a hand in the production of these films.
Music by Ramin Djawadi
Ramin Djawadi has composed scores for big budget fare such as Iron Man and Pacific Rim as well as television series such as Game of Thrones and Westworld. His music manages to convey the themes and feelings of the material he is working with whether it’s excitement or mystery. He also manages to blend orchestral music with occasional electronic beats or guitar riffs. I think the way he composes music would perfectly match the fun, exciting, and sometimes dark nature of Teen Titans.
Cinematography by Dariusz Wolski
Dariusz Wolski has worked on quite a lot of blockbusters in his career. Some of his work include the first four Pirates of the Caribbean films, Prometheus, The Martian, and the upcoming Alien: Covenant. Wolski has a knack for shooting sequences where much is occurring on screen without making it appear overblown. This could come in handy during action sequences. He also makes sure he gets the most out of the intricate production design in his shots. With him behind the camera, Teen Titans can look like a comic book splash page with some beautiful cinematography.
Cast
Dylan Minnette as Tim Drake/Robin
For the role of the Titans’ leader, my pick is Dylan Minnette. His stardom has been quickly growing in recent years due to roles in films such as Prisoners, Goosebumps and even landed a lead role in the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why. Dylan Minnette is skilled in both comedy and drama and would be able to play a Robin that is fun and enjoyable to watch but also complex and relatable.
Haley Lu Richardson as Koraind’r/Starfire
I first discovered Haley Lu Richardson in the indie drama The Last Survivors where she played a lead character who was troubled and knew how to pack a punch. She is starting to get more attention due to her supporting roles in The Edge of Seventeen and Split. Richardson can pull of a Starfire who is sweet and a bit naive but knows how to stand up and defend when needed.
Odeya Rush as Rachel Roth/Raven
With the introduction of Enchantress in Suicide Squad, it is made clear that magic and demons exist in the DCEU. This thankfully paves the way for a supernatural heroine such as Raven to make her big screen debut. Odeya Rush has shown to be a very likable actress who can portray characters who are charming despite their troubled history as evident in her work in The Giver and Goosebumps, where she co-starred alongside Dylan Minnette. The Israeli actress can also pull off the dark, mysterious look making her perfect for the role.
Austin Abrams as Garfield Logan/Beast Boy
Beast Boy is one of the more enjoyable and lovable characters in Teen Titans so an actor with energy and comedic timing would be best. Enter Austin Abrams whose character in Paper Towns got big laughs out of me. He also showed his range of talent in his brief role in the first few episodes The Walking Dead’s sixth season. I honestly feel Austin Abrams would do wonders with the role of Beast Boy and quite possibly steal the show.
Amandla Stenberg as Karen Beecher/Bumblebee
Amandla Stenberg made quite the impact in her role as Rue in The Hunger Games and is set to appear as the lead in Everything Everything later this year. I have faith in her as an actress and could easily see her as Bumblebee. The writers would have to do things to not make the general audience that this is a knock-off of the MCU’s Wasp. Anyways, she would be a spunky and engaging addition to the team.
Ansel Elgort as Con-El/Connor Kent/Superboy
Model, singer, actor, Ansel Elgort has seem to have a lot done with his career at such a young age. He broke into the scene with his role in The Fault in Our Stars and is set to lead Edgar Wright’s latest film, Baby Driver. Elgort is an extremely likable and charismatic actor who can also handle some pretty heavy drama. Superboy is a strong and smart like his Justice League counterpart, Superman, but still has a dark past having been created by the evil Lex Luthor. Ansel Elgort could be able to present both sides to Connor Kent’s character with ease.
Julia Garner as Tara Markov/Terra
Julia Garner is something of a star in the indie film scene. I remember being impressed with her talent in Electrick Children and she received supporting roles in films such as The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Sin City: A Dame to Kill For. I can clearly see her in the role of Terra, a girl with the ability to control matter who is a close friend to many of the Titans but also has a tragic past. Strong writing and an effective performance is something that I feel Julia Garner can achieve with this character.
Shameik Moore as Virgil Ovid Hawkins/Static
I came to appreciate the character of Static thanks to the animated series that aired during the early 2000s. In order to do this character is justice, a highly charismatic and energetic actor would have to portray him. I feel Shameik Moore, who starred in Dope and is currently a prominent cast member on The Get Down. Moore has shown himself to be have great comedic abilities and charisma. He can knock this role out of the park.
Will Poulter as Bart Allen/Kid Flash
Although he had appeared in a few films before, Will Poulter made his breakthrough in 2013’s We’re the Millers and followed that up with roles in The Maze Runner and The Revenant. Poulter has shown to have range as an actor. He is great for snarky, sometimes arrogant, characters and Kid Flash seems to suited for him. I can see him playing a quick-witted character who can have great chemistry with the other characters.
Alycia Debnam-Carey as Donna Troy/Wonder Girl
Much like Wonder Woman, Donna Troy is a brave and determined Amazonian warrior who is always there for her teammates. For the role, I wanted to go for an actress that was equal parts strong and beautiful. With that in mind, I chose Alycia Debnam-Carey who has starred in the television series The 100 and Fear the Walking Dead. In both series, she has played characters who are willing to fight for what it right. She has the ability to bring Wonder Girl to life effectively and have the audience root for her.
Stephan James as Mal Duncan/The Herald
Mal Duncan has gone through many superhero aliases in the comics but he is perhaps best known as The Herald. Due to his relationship with Karen Beecher, I decided to include him in this fancast. The Herald is skilled fighter who has abilities such as controlling sound and creating portals. Stephan James, who played real life figures in films such as Selma and Race, is my pick for this role. The man has some clear acting chops and a superhero role such as this could be beneficial to his career. Plus, the man has portrayed some real-life heroes and imagine what he can do as a superhero.
Suki Waterhouse as Rose Wilson/Ravager
Some of the Teen Titans are related to some of their enemies. This makes some of the battles they fight to carry a lot of emotional weight. Rose Wilson, also known as Ravager, is one such character as she is the daughter of Deathstroke. Seeing how she is skilled with katanas and a array of firearms, I chose model turned actress Suki Waterhouse who has action experience based on her roles in action-heavy films such as Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, The Divergent Series: Insurgent, and the upcoming The Bad Batch. Under the right direction, Suki Waterhouse as Ravager could blow audiences away.
Timothy Olyphant as Slade Wilson/Deathstroke
Even before Joe Manganiello was cast in the role, Timothy Olyphant was my first choice for the role of the deadly assassin and Teen Titans’ archnemesis, Deathstroke. Olyphant garnered much acclaim for his lead role on Justified and has appeared in films such as Hitman, Live Free or Die Hard, and The Crazies. He has experience with action heavy roles and gives off an intense vibe every time he is on screen. With the recents delays on The Batman, it was revealed that Joe Manganiello is unsure about his commitment to the role. If true, Timothy Olyphant would be a stellar replacement and completely own the part of Deathstroke.
Elizabeth Gillies as Komand’r/Blackfire
Ravager is not only Titan whose enemies with one of her family members. Starfire has her villainous older sister, Blackfire, who has come in conflict with the team on a number of occasions. I think Elizabeth Gillies would be perfect for the role for two reasons. Firstly, she is known for playing attitude filled characters on TV series including Victorious and the now cancelled Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll and that’s something I feel she can build upon in playing a villain. With her dark hair and intense eyes, Gillies would be a perfect for an antagonist that blends beauty with evil. This could be the role to boost the career of this rather underrated actress.
Ving Rhames as the voice of Trigon
Of all the villains Titan members are related to, Trigon has to be the most powerful and dangerous. He is a demon who can travel between dimensions in addition to being Raven’s father. Trigon has appeared in animation with a deep, booming voice. That is something that should be carried onto a live-action film. My choice would be Ving Rhames who is known for his work in Pulp Fiction, Dawn of the Dead, and the Mission: Impossible series. Whether Trigon is a completely CGI creation or done through performance capture, Ving Rhames could effectively capture this power and menace of Trigon.
Cameo Appearances
Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman
In this film, I would have Batman play a brief but instrumental role in Robin’s story arc. He can briefly appear at the start of the film as well as in the end that way he can introduce himself to the Titans. I was one of the many people who was not fond of Ben Affleck’s casting at first but who was completely taken by surprise when I saw Batman v. Superman. I’m excited to see where Affleck takes this character in the future and he would be the one to link Teen Titans to the larger DC Universe.
Gal Gadot as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman
A cameo appearance from Wonder Woman could be used to introduce the audience to Wonder Girl. A small scene of the Amazonian Warrior training young Donna Troy could be used. Gal Gadot knows how to show that she is in charge whenever Wonder Woman comes on screen and so far, I think she is doing quite well in the role. It must be an honor for her to play this iconic superhero for the first time on the big screen.
Ezra Miller as Barry Allen/The Flash
From what we’ve seen so far from Justice League, Ezra Miller’s portrayal of the Scarlet Speedster looks to be one of the film’s highlights. I would include a sequence in which Kid Flash begins to travel back in time due to his superspeed where he and his grandfather, Barry Allen, briefly cross paths. It would be something that can be both humorous and visually engaging to watch all while presenting the ever-abundant time travel issues that the Flash and other speedsters are familiar to.
Well, that’s a wrap! I had a lot of fun making this and I really hope Warner Bros. has such a film in development. These are characters I would really love to see in a big budget live-action film. What are your thoughts? Do have any suggestions? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section below. More fancasts to come and articles from yours truly will be coming your way. Movie Monster out! Peace!