The Justice League is a band of the world's greatest heroes. They are often the vanguard against the greatest threats that face our planet, so their failure is not an option. They have to be the best because there's no time to learn from your mistakes when billions of lives are at stake. But what makes the Justice League special isn't just that they're the strongest of the best. It's the fact that they are all timeless, dynamic characters who's qualities affirm life, courage, and grace under pressure--even in the face of certain death. The continuously inspire us to push ourselves harder and to be better for our fellow man. There's been plenty of debate about who should be on the team and who shouldn't be. What makes a good Justice Leaguer? I say that from a story perspective, it has to be a character who doesn't back down or run away or act like a child. Sure, the team doesn't need to get along, but at the end of the day, they have to stand united. It's also more than that. A member of the Justice League should capture our imaginations and inspire us through their actions.
Who are the Justice League's most interesting and unique heroes? Which of them deserve to be in the Justice League movie set for 2015? And more importantly, which actors or actresses should play each of them? Find out below.
Role Call
-------------
1)Superman
Superman heralded the beginning of the superhero genre, and he continues captivate the imaginations of millions of people. As a Justice League member, Clark has always been the hero that other heroes turn to for support. He's a natural leader who inspires the confidence of almost everyone around him. He carries hope on his shoulders when there is no hope. He's not not perfect, and he's not the goody two-shoes that people play him up to be, but he knows when and how to take a stand against things that are unpopular. Despite all of the amazing super powers that Clark brings to the team, his biggest strength has always been his sense of responsibility. It's why he fights for the little guy. It's what keeps him from being an absolutely terrifying force. And it's why people are willing to put their faith in the Justice League. He's not just a hero in costume either. He brings awareness to the causes of crime in his day job as a reporter. That way he doesn't just tear things down--he also helps to make things better in the long run. On the physical plane, Superman is always an asset and can carry his weight in almost any situation. His science fiction background opens up plenty of story possibilities, and it just wouldn't feel right to not have the Justice League without Superman.
Who should play him in a Justice League film: Henry Cavill-6'1"
(Because of the upcoming Man of Steel)
----------------------------------------------------------
2)Batman
Batman is a very close second. He is the night to Superman's day. As a Justice League member, Bruce has always been the brains and conscience of the team. He may not always be the most popular person among his teammates, but he commands respect and loyalty. Plus, who wants to read a story without drama or team-conflict? Batman may not have any powers, but he's always been one of the strongest assets to the team. His detective skills, strategic planning, stealth, cunning, and resourcefulness are on such high levels that he's an undeniably vital team member. And along with all of those skills, he brings financial backing and a vast network of non-combat resources. Similarly to Clark, Bruce does not end his war on crime when he is out of costume. As a philanthropist, he addresses social issues that Batman is unable to handle such as poverty and disease. Batman is just as vital to the team as Superman is.
Who should play him in a Justice League film: Ryan Gosling-6'1"
(Because of Drive, The Ides of March, and the upcoming Gangster Squad)
----------------------------------------------------------
3)Wonder Woman
Diana's nickname--the Amazon Princess--illustrates the beautiful dichotomy of her character. She's a powerful, strong-willed woman who would never back down from a fight or a challenge, but she's also a lover of peace who would never seek a fight or a conflict. She's simultaneously both the most fierce and most nurturing member of the team. With her powerful abilities and vast training, Diana is capable of going toe-to-toe with just about any hero or villain. She's also experienced at handling threats that range from common crime to crimes that are of a magical or supernatural nature. She commands respect both as Wonder Woman and Diana Prince, the ambassador of a warrior nation. She's got political connections that could be useful to the Justice League, and she's exactly who you want with you in the trenches.
Who should play her in a Justice League film: Gemma Arterton-5'7"
(Because of Prince of Persia and Quantum of Solace)
----------------------------------------------------------
4)Green Lantern
Hal Jordan is THE interstellar hero. He was chosen above all others for his courage, his willpower, and his honesty--two vital qualities in a Green Lantern. In many ways, Hal is the most human of the group. He's been irresponsible. He's felt fear. And he's overcome great challenges no matter what set-backs are sent his way. He's always willing to stare death in the face and put his life on the line--something that he does regularly as a test pilot. Not only is he a charming womanizer and light-hearted joker, Hal is also a man's man. He's the guy you want to share drinks with when you go out on a night on the town. He's a great foil for the other members of the League, and he has some very entertaining inter-personal dynamics with other members of the team. He's a rebel and he isn't afraid to let people know what's on his mind--sometimes to his own detriment. He knows how to make light of dire situations to put things into perspective. With his Power Ring, he's a strong asset to the team in almost any environment. His ring's translation skills come in handy with all of the exotic beings that the Justice League comes into contact with.
Who should play him in a Justice League film: Jake Gyllenhaal-6'0"
(Because of Source Code, End of Watch, and Jarhead)
----------------------------------------------------------
5)Cyborg
Victor Stone seldom receives the credit he rightfully deserves. He's been called the Swiss Army Knife of superheroes and that's not simply due to the vast range of his awesome powers. Victor has not only played the role of superhero, he's also played the roles of scientist and teacher. He is a tough-as-nails everyman--a people’s champion. He spends all of his time working as a superhero because he's kind of a workaholic. He's also very relate-able because he's been through tragedy and struggle. He had to give up his dreams after an alien invasion turned his life upside down, but at his core, he's always been a hero. All of these factors make Cyborg one of the most interesting and relevant members of the Justice League.
Who should play him in a Justice League film: Chadwick Boseman-6'1"
(Because of the upcoming 42)
----------------------------------------------------------
6)Flash
Unlike many of the other heroes, the Flash is a hero that the public is likely to run into on the streets and interact regularly with, whereas some of his team mates stick to the shadows or fly. He’s approachable and passionate, spending his spare time working on police cases and visiting children in orphanages. These attributes make him indispensable to the team, as he provides a vital link between the Justice League and the people they serve. He's also very relate-able because he's been shy, he felt overwhelmed, and he's felt out of his league. But he's also determined, focused, and kind. His speed is unmatched by any member of the Justice League, and he can solve several problems before they grow into huge issues. His police training is useful because it helps to keep his team mates and himself from crossing the line.
Who should play him in a Justice League film: Charlie Hunnam-6'1"
(Because of the upcoming Pacific Rim)
----------------------------------------------------------
*Edit- My Rationale For My Casting Choices:
Here is my reasoning. If Justice League is a success, then Warner is going to sign on their actors for multi-picture deals. Each actor will potentially make 6 films: 3 team films and 3 solo films—or two trilogies a piece. If their films come out every other year, that's 12 years at least. It will probably take even more time for all of their films to come out since you don't want to over-saturate the market. And the Justice League film won't even be released until 2015. With this in mind, there is no way that I'm choosing an actor already in his/her forties. And I'm not choosing actors in their twenties either because then they would look too young. This eliminates Jon Hamm, Neil Patrick Harris, and Alexander Skarsgard.
Next you need to pick actors who can actually accurately portray each role despite what they may have been type-casted in before. They need to look like their characters (my choices do), fit a relatively close physical description of the characters (my choices do), and be able to perform well as that character. The performance of the actors is what will keep audiences coming back for more. Furthermore, each actor needs a recognizable name to general audiences because Justice League will have no lead in films. Not only do all of your choices have to be a draw for general audience, each actor needs to be able to carry a film on their name alone. This is made even more difficult by the fact that you can't use all A-List stars since that would be too expensive. Instead you have to target up and coming talent that isn't box office poison. This eliminates actor like Taylor Kitsch.
Fan favorite acors don't matter zilch. They often don't have the broad appeal necessary to carry financially successful franchises. I'm looking at you Nathan Fillion. The actors not only need to have recognizable names, they also can't be too old because they still have to appeal to the 8-16 year-old male crowd who mostly relate and are attracted to younger actors and actresses for the obvious reasons. It's also a good idea to pick attractive actors because then you can bring in more female viewers (a la Magic Mike, The Avengers, Twilight, etc.). You also can't pick actors Marvel has already used because it would annoy viewers (I'm looking at the people who want Chris Hemsworth to play Aquaman the way he played Thor).
Now that you understand my background reasoning, let me continue on for each actor.
Henry Cavill-I don't need to explain this one. There needs to be a connected universe starting with Man of Steel.
Ryan Gosling-He has portrayed rich/intelligent/good looking people in the past (See Ides of March). He's physically fit. And he can play a cold, neurotic, bastard Batman (a la Grant Morrison) as evidenced by his chilling role in Drive. His movie stock is on the rise and he's quickly becoming an A-List actor. Warner needs to snatch him up right away. Finally, while he is blonde, human beings have invented this awesome thing called hair dye. Chris Pine used it for Star Trek.
Gemma Arterton-Another up an comer who fits the bill physically. She's strong without looking ridiculous lik Gina Carano, but she can also act unlike Gina Carano (see Quantum of Solace). She has experience with popcorn movies (see Prince of Persia) and she has experience portraying royalty. Given the chance, she would knock this one out of the park.
Jake Gyllenhaal-He can be both funny and serious, which is needed for the character (See Source Code and Prince of Persia). He's young and inexpensive. He can carry films on his own. And he has experience playing cops and soldiers (Jarhead, Source Code, End of Watch). He's expressed interest in superhero roles, and he almost played Spider-man in the original trilogy.
Chadwick Boseman-He's been chosen to act alongside Harrison Ford's 42, a story based on the life of American hero Jackie Robinson. He's playing Jackie Robinson, so he has to be able to act—especially since this film is already getting Oscar Buzz. He's also physically fit and tall. And he has a badass voice to boot. He's an American who got a scholarship to study in his craft in London. I'm willing to put money down on the fact that this guy will be the next Denzel. He's someone else Warner needs to snatch up ASAP.
Charlie Hunman-He's a TV star who's finally getting a lead role in Guillermo de Toro's Pacific Rim, a film about giant robots. This should put his name on the map. Furthermore he has experiential with the cops and robbers gig necessary for a Flash actor from his show Sons of Anarchy. He's not as shy as Barry Allen is sometimes depicted, but no one wants a overly meek superhero anyway.
Read more at http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fan_fic/news/?a=70199#zSjE9q8Qtp7V3USg.99