DC Movie News Bits: LEGION OF SUPERHEROES Update, Lance Reddick Wants To Play Martian Manhunter, No Costumes In SUICIDE SQUAD?
Last fall, it was reported that Warner Bros. was working on a film adaptation of DC Comics’ Legion of Superheroes. It was said that the development stage was very early on, and with WB/DC having since announced its lineup to 2020, it’s unknown where this film would fit (if at all). But a new report offers a promising update.
According to Bleeding Cool, WB is still developing Legion of Superheroes, and apparently it’s now in the “serious” development stage. However, a greenlight has yet to be given. Additionally, Bleeding Cool reaffirms that this movie is seen as a response to the success of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.
In fact, it sounds like Legion of Superheroes will have lighter tone than DC’s other movies, and it is being labeled as “Avengers Meets Guardians of the Galaxy.” Finally, the movie is reportedly “set in the far future, with a massive cast of superheroic characters spread out across a galaxy.” Hopefully, we receive some official news on this film in the near future.
Bleeding Cool’s article also includes a potential update on Suicide Squad, one that die-hard comic book fans will probably not like. The site claims that the supervillain movie will use the codenames of the Squad members as “callsigns,” and they will not wear costumes. This is apparently an aspect carried over from Justin Marks’ draft from years ago.
I personally find the “no costumes” part difficult to believe. Suicide Squad is being set firmly in the DC Cinematic Universe, where there will be dozens of costumed heroes and villains. So, why change that for this movie? Maybe the Squad’s outfits will be treated more like uniforms than straight-up costumes? We’ll just have to wait and see. Suicide Squad is set to hit theaters August 5th, 2016.
Finally, we have an actor who has expressed interest in playing a couple of DC characters. Speaking with IGN, John Wick actor Lance Reddick comments on which comic book roles he would like to fill. He initially says he’d love to play T’Chaka, aka the father of Marvel’s T’Challa/Black Panther, before moving on to two particular DC heroes. “I’d also love to play the Martian Manhunter. And if we’re talking dream roles, John Stewart would be great too.”
While it’s unknown if Green Lantern John Stewart will be included in any future DC movies, Reddick still has some competition for that role, as Furious 7‘s Tyrese Gibson has been actively campaigning to play Stewart. Regarding that, Reddick says, “If I get Martian Manhunter, [Tyrese] can have Green Lantern.”
Reddick has been a fan-favorite choice to play Martian Manhunter, but unfortunately, it doesn’t look like J’onn J’onzz will appear in the DCCU anytime soon. Hopefully, Reddick will find his way into a comic book movie sooner than later.
- Paul’s 15 Most Anticipated Movies of 2022 - January 17, 2022
- How Legendary Pictures Can #ContinueTheMonsterVerse After GODZILLA VS. KONG - April 19, 2021
- 5 More Marvel Legacy Characters We Want to See in the MCU - February 7, 2021