TheDC Universehas managed to snatch up some high-profile actors in the comic book company’s long history of movie adaptations, but a few big names have still gone without being cast. From the originalSupermanfilms of the 70s to thefilms of the DCEU, DC Comics have had a long and prosperous relationship with the silver screen. While many househould names have found themselves in Warner Brothers' employ under the comic company’s banner, a few notable exceptions are still clamoring for a part.
A-list celebrity actors have been known to publicly toss their hat into the ring in a bid for career-boosting superhero roles, with plenty of big names putting themselves forward aspotential new hires for the MCU. DC has had just as many inquiries by iconic actors, with some even specifying which characters they’d like to play in the iconic franchise. From die-hard comic book fans to opportunistic actors who simply want to get in on the fun,plenty of performers are still looking to DC for a role.
10Tom Hanks
Interested In Breaking His Typical Conventions
Few movie stars are as big as Tom Hanks, but the cinematic legend has had poor luck when it comes to comic book movie casting. Despite his ubiquity, Tom Hanks is often typecast into certain roles, typically appearing in Oscar-bait biopics or family-friendly feel good dramas, making it difficult to assume he would have any interest in a DC movie. Yet Tom Hanks has publicly stated a desire to break out of his typical cinematic pigeonhole with a DC movie character.
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Specifically,Tom Hanks has publicly stated a wish to appear in a Batman movie as a villain. While the aged star has admitted that he would need to be more of a mastermind antagonist rather than a beefy villain who could duke it out with Batman in combat, he at least has repeatedly demonstrated interest in such a character. It’s interesting to imagineTom Hanks as a Batman villain, and it’s a shock that a career as illustrious as his is still separated by so many degrees from the DC universe.
9Bill Skarsgård
Another Batman Villain Hopeful
Tom Hanks is far from the only actor to publicly state an interest in playing a Batman villain. It seems as though Heath Ledger’s stunning performance inThe Dark Knightis still inspiring actors years later, specifically when it comes to the honor of following in his footsteps. Bill Skarsgård is a modern star who hasexpressed a sentiment to put forth his own version of The Joker, asserting that his take on the Clown Prince of Crime would be worth a slot on a call sheet.
If there’s one person definitively suited to portraying the other most famous evil clown in pop culture, it’s him.
Unlike Tom Hanks, Bill Skarsgård actually has far more precedent for playing The Joker in his career. Not only did Skarsgård knock it out of the park as the haunting vampire villain Count Orlok in Robert Eggers’Nosferatu,buthe’s even lent his haunting face to a killer clown twice before in theITduologyas Pennywise. If there’s one person definitively suited to portraying the other most famous evil clown in pop culture, it’s him.
8Dave Bautista
Open To Returning To A Comic Book World
Few professional wrestlers have had as graceful a transition to the big screen as Dave Bautista, who wowed general audiences as the hilarious Drax the Destroyer intheGuardians of the Galaxyfranchise. Considering the series was spearheaded by director James Gunn, who now holds the keys to the cinematic DC Universe, it’s no wonder that Bautista has now expressed an interest in making the switch as well. Clearly,his good experiences working with Gunn are enough to get him interestedin a new comic book movie universe.
Specifically, Dave Bautista has put his hat into the ring for the role of Bane, Batman’s infamous Venom-powered brute of a villain, in the past. Granted, Bautista is a lot slimmer in recent years, transitioning away from being typecast as brutish characters. That’s still not to say that the DC Universe couldn’t find a great spot for him, even if it isn’t Bane, especially considering his working relationship with James Gunn.
7Zoe Saldaña
Wants To Keep The Door Open For DC Roles
Another former Guardian of the Galaxy to express an interest in working with James Gunn again on a comic book movie project, Zoe Saldaña. Saldaña played Gamora the assassin in theGuardians of the Galaxyfilms, but is no stranger to other big blockbuster franchises as well, also showing up in thePIrates of the CaribbeanandAvatarseries. It’s safe to say that Saldaña would also readily join the DCU at James Gunn’s request.
Zoe Saldaña has spoken out about willing to join another comic book movie property, even if it wasn’t necessarily overseen by James Gunn. The actress has made no mention of specific characters she’d like to play, as long as they don’t involve the same dramatic and exhausting makeup process as Gamora’s green skin. That being said, with the audience flak Saldaña took for her part in the controversial Oscar contenderEmilia Pérez, it remains to be seen if she’s a viable option for a big franchise again.
6Pom Klementieff
Is Already In Talks For A DC Role
The last of James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy to make an overt bid for a DC Universe role, Pom Klementieff is a bitterly underrated Marvel star and a world-class performer. In theGuardians of the Galaxyseries, Klementieff plays Mantis, the socially-stunted empath alien the gang picks up in the second outing. The French actor has since springboarded herself into high-profile roles likeMission Impossible - The Final Reckoningor the action movieThe Killer’s Gamealongside her MCU co-star, Dave Bautista.
The strongest evidence for Pom Klementieff wanting to be in a DC movie is the fact thatshe’s already allegedly in talks with James Gunn to appear in the DCU. Klementieff’s DCU debut film is still unknown along with the role she may be entering, though she’s stated to be considering one specific character (viaDeadline). Fans have speculated that Klementieff will be joining the DCU as the vigilante Huntress, but as of now, her prospects in the universe remain unclear.
5Aubrey Plaza
Could Supplement Her Recent MCU Appearance
Aubrey Plaza first grew to fame in her role as April Ludgate inParks and Recreation, going on to become a household name before long. Though she held out from interacting with the comic book movie world for a long time, Aubrey Plaza eventually showed up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing the witch Rio Vidal (Secretly a much more important character) inAgatha All Along. By now, it might be time for Plaza to fulfill a long-running prophecy as the next Catwoman.
Aubrey Plaza has publicly stated an interest in Catwoman as a character, though she didn’t audition for the role whenThe Batmanwas in development. Considering its much more lighthearted tone being perhaps more in-line with Plaza’s acting sensibilities, perhaps the DCU could finally utilize her as the latest take on Selina Kyle. Considering Matt Reeves’The Batmanand the James Gunn universe take place in two distinct continuities, it wouldn’t be out of the question.
4Michael Jai White
Has Danced Around DC Moviemaking For Quite Some Time
Though he may be more famous for his very real martial arts skills that have transferred to the big screen, Michael Jai White is no stranger to comic book movies. Doing his best to play Image Comics' Spawn in the 90s movie of the same name is the sadly the only time the action movie star has been able to headline as a superhero. That being said, he’s also starred in Marvel and DC video games and even played a DC character in live-action asBen Turner, a.k.a. Bronze Tiger, onArrow.
In terms of dedicated superhero movies, Michael Jai White has yet to be given another chance afterSpawn, despitehis interest in a popular fan-casting positing him as John Stewart’s Green Lantern. Sadly, it seems as though the controversialGreen Lantern casting choice of Aaron Pierrehas beaten him to the punch for the upcomingLanternsproject. It’s unlikely Michael Jai White will ever get to recite the Green Lantern’s famous pledge at this point in his career.
3Adrien Brody
Another Joker Hopeful Who Once Came Close
Perhaps the single most contested character in DC movie history the Joker has also been eyed by actor Adrien Brody. Brody became the youngest actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor thanks toThe Pianist, and has cashed in on a variety of franchises since, fromPredatorstoKing Kong.Recently, he garnered further acclaim with his appearance in the Oscar-nominated melodramaThe Brutalist, playing the visionary European architect László Toth.
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Sadly,there’s one role that’s remained outside of Brody’s grasp, none other than the Joker himself. Adrien Brody was actually in the running to play the Batman villain in the casting process of Nolan’sThe Dark Knight, though he famously lost out to Heath Ledger. Now, Brody might just be one of the biggest frontrunners for the hotly-contested character in the brand-new DCU.
2Jaden Smith
Still Young Enough To Be A Contender For His Dream Role
Despite acting in the shadow of his famous father for a long time, Jaden Smith has still made efforts to distinguish himself throughout his career. FromThe Karate KidtoLife in a Year, Jaden Smith has been slowly carving out a cinematic niche for himself that might hopefully include the comic book giants Will Smith missed out on. In particular,Jaden Smith has shown an interest in one Virgil Hawkins, a.k.a. Static Shock, a teen superhero with electricity powers best known for the DCAU cartoon of the same name.
Once upon a time, it seemed as though aMichael B. Jordan-produced Static Shock moviewas soon to be included in the earliest slate of DCU films. Sadly, it seems as though the project has fizzled out, with no new updates on production for some time, leaving the film in a state of limbo. Hopefully, if the idea is brought back to life, Jaden Smith’s enthusiasm for the role will be able to come with it.
1Eddie Redmayne
Wants To Lean Into A Stereotypical Villain Role
Even if he’s not quite a household name, Eddie Redmayne has quickly gaineda lot of blockbuster experiencein a short time frame as Newt Scamander in theFantastic Beastsseries ofHarry Potterspin-off films. A highly-decorated actor with plenty of awards under his belt, it’s surprising Eddie Redmayne has yet to be captured by either the DCU or the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is apparently a sentiment he shares, publicly making a bid for a superhero role of some kind.
While Paul Dano just played the criminal genius in the Matt Reeves continuity, Eddie Redmayne could certainly make his grand debut as The Riddler in the DCU.
In particular, Eddie Redmayne has expressed a desire to lean into his British accent, playing a posh mastermind villain for some hero to unravel. Though he’s name-dropped the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Redmayne has alsopublicly stated an interest in the Batman villain The Riddler. While Paul Dano just played the criminal genius in the Matt Reeves continuity, Eddie Redmayne could certainly make his grand debut as The Riddler in theDCU.
