Cast Party: Who Should Star In A ‘New Gods’ Movie?
Welcome to Cast Party, the feature that imagines a world with even more live action comic book adaptations than we currently have, and comes up with arguably the best casting suggestions you’re ever going to find for the movies and shows we wish could exist. This week we're taking on a classic, Jack Kirby's New Gods, the cornerstone of his Fourth World meta-saga from DC Comics.
Obviously, a New Gods movie would be truly epic in scope, focusing on Orion's struggle against Darkseid, with Scott Free and Barda in key supporting roles. I left out the Mister Miracle supporting cast, as well as The Forever People, but both really ought to get spin-offs.
Although I suspect some will disagree, the only possibly directors for this movie are Andy and Lana Wachowski. In films like Speed Racer and Jupiter Ascending, they've proven themselves unafraid of the kind of colorful, operatic spectacle that the Fourth World demands.
Tom Hardy as Orion
DC Comics/Focus FeaturesDC Comics/Focus Features Hardy has a special talent for balancing intimidating and sympathetic. He's the only actor I can imagine pulling off a protagonist as complicated as Orion.
Donald Glover as Lightray
DC Comics/NBC UniversalDC Comics/NBC Universal Lightray has to be as friendly and upbeat as Orion is sullen and alienated. Glover has that in spades.
Ron Perlman as Highfather
DC Comics/FX NetworksDC Comics/FX Networks I admit, I first looked at Perlman for Darkseid. But then I realized he spends so much time being scary, he rarely gets to fully take advantage of his personal charisma, not to mention a natural gray beard.
Michael Ironside as Darkseid
DC Comics/Warner Bros.DC Comics/Warner Bros. I can't claim credit for this choice. Ironside is the voice of Darkseid in the Bruce Timm Superman and Justice League cartoons, and he's perfect at it. He also has a great craggy face, which will look even more perfect rendered in stoney gray.
Luke Harper as Kalibak
DC Comics/WWEDC Comics/WWE Kalibak is exactly the sort of role you cast a professional wrestler for. And Luke Harper already has that "wild man" look.
Zeljko Ivanek as Desaad
DC Comics/Bad RobotDC Comics/Bad Robot Whether he's a vampire judge or the White House chief of staff, there's something indefinably creepy about Ivanek. That works for Desaad, the only guy so creepy he sometimes makes Darkseid uncomfortable.
Fionnula Flanagan as Granny Goodness
DC Comics/MiramaxDC Comics/Miramax Flanagan's played her share of wise women and grandmotherly types. I think she could really sink her teeth into a role this monstrous.
Lance Reddick as Metron
DC Comics/Bad RobotDC Comics/Bad Robot Reddick has a strikingly unique face that gives him a bit of an alien quality, something that would serve Metron well.
Booboo Stewart as Forager
DC Comics/DisneyDC Comics/Disney Forager is the youngest of the characters from New Genesis, and Stewart has just the right fresh-faced quality.
Danielle Radcliffe as Scott Free
DC Comics/CBS FilmsDC Comics/CBS Films Okay yes, Radcliffe's played the golden boy before. But he's also a huge talent with just the right look.
Laura Prepon as Big Barda
DC Comics/NetflixDC Comics/Netflix Prepon isn't as tall as Barda should be, but she radiates strength, and movie magic can make her bigger. She's got five inches on Daniel Radcliffe, which is a good start.
Dan Aykroyd as Dan Turpin
DC Comics/Imagine EntertainmentDC Comics/Imagine Entertainment I considered a lot of aging tough guys for this part, but I really think Aykroyd can bring the warmth and humanity underneath the surface of Terrible Turpin.
Lupita Nyong’o as the Black Racer
DC Comics/Universal PicturesDC Comics/Universal Pictures Death has no set gender, this cast needed more women, and Nyong'o spins gold out of every part she plays.
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