Live Action Casting - The Justice League

I had really meant to have this up last month but life got in the way, especially in the last week. (See, if I had one of those Black Lantern rings that wouldn't be an issue!)  So, here we are with the culmination of our months long project... the Justice League movie.

The roster for the Justice League is as follows:

Man of Steel has already established Henry Cavill here (in all his crotch bulging goodness) as Supermen...

and Ryan "2 Flops in 1 Week" Reynolds as Green Lantern.

Here are the other members we introduced in earlier Live Action Castings:

Alexander Skarsgard as Aquaman

Gina Carano as Wonder Woman

Patrick Wilson as The Flash

and Armie Hammer as Batman (which seems doubtful since he apparently doesn't want to play him.)

In this movie we would also add Cyborg to complete the current New 52 Justice League...

For Cyborg we pick Michael B. Jordan. Its funny because we picked him long before we heard he was chosen to voice Cyborg in the "Flashpoint Paradox" animated movie that just came out! We loved him from Parenthood, though. His performance in Chronicle only sweetens the casting for me.

Now for the main villain of the film, we are going back to the puppet master from Wonder Woman's movie Ares, played by Javier Bardem.

But Justice League will feature three other villains. The first is Maxwell Lord...

We want Luke Evans for Maxwell Lord. You may recognize him from Immortals or as the bad guy from Fast and Furious 6. He's a good actor and can play the master manipulating millionaire businessman with ties to the clandestine government organization Checkmate.

The second is Professor Ivo...

Michael C. Hall seems like a great candidate to play the twisted genius Professor Ivo. Granted, Ivo's role in the movie would be limited, it would establish him for future movies... possibly involving a certain "amazing" android?

The third isn't so much a villain but a whole mess of villains...

The OMACs, an army of robotic soldiers created to neutralize metahumans, will play a major role in the movie.

What follows is just a basic idea for the plot that Jonny and I came up with. If I were to actually write this, it would have to be enhanced greatly, with locations and subplots, to be a fully functioning story. We think its a great concept, so without further ado, here is what we came up with...

The movie would begin in S.T.A.R. labs where Dr. Stone is working with Professor Ivo are working on a breakthrough in Artificial Intelligence. Stone's son Vic (the future Cyborg) comes to speak to his father when an explosion occurs in the lab. Vic is mortally wounded and Ivo is (seemingly) killed with much of the research destroyed. Dr. Stone quickly uses what robotic technology he has save his son's life.

While at a fancy humanitarian fundraiser Maxwell Lord seeks out Bruce Wayne to offer him the "oppurtunity" to get in on the ground floor by helping to fund what he calls "a worldwide peace-keeping deterrent."  He won't divulge any further details but does admit to already having a major benefactor. Whane Wayne asks "Who, Luthor?" Lord replies "Bigger." Wayne politely rejects the offer until he can know more about the project. Lord walks away with a smirk. His nose begins bleeding, but he immediately stops the flow with a handkerchief.

Soon after, blue robots begin to attack various metahumans like Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash and Green Lantern. All of these robots feature adaptive means of taking on their opponents such as being equipped to to match Aquaman's speed and strength underwater while resisting deep ocean pressures. A robot takes on Superman, matching his immense strength, speed and durability. Batman shows up (I am assuming they would be friends by the end of Man of Steel 2) to disarm the robot with an EM Pulse grenade. Batman and Superman investigate the source of these robots.

It is revealed that Maxwell Lord has quickly risen up the ranks in the clandestine Checkmate organization and become its Black Bishop. Lord has been displaying the power of the OMAC project to other leaders of Checkmate (the various attacks on heroes, the OMACs sight capabilities also record what they see). He claims it to be a project to subdue the rising threats that metahumans have to the rest of the world. Lord goes onto explain that with the 'generous' permission to use of WayneTech's satellite, they can provide worldwide coverage.The White Bishop (Amanda Waller) is suspicious and decides to investigate Lord's newfound status and plans.

Superman and Batman follow the clues to S.T.A.R. labs where they meet the rebuilt Vic Stone (Cyborg), his new body built using the OMAC technology that was being developed. Vic is helping with the clean-up and efforts to get the advanced laboratory back online, partially by his own accessing of the computer systems to recover lost or damaged files. Vic tells his father as well as Superman and Batman that there seems to a lot of files missing concerning the manufacture and artificial intelligence research his father and Ivo had been working on. A small group of OMACs appear and fighting breaks out. Cyborg ends up being helpful in the battle. Cyborg should accompany Superman and him in order to stop the robotic menace.

Maxwell Lord arrives at his massive OMAC building factory and a massive super-computer to coordinate them. It is revealed that Professor Ivo survived the explosion, though not without suffering disfiguring injuries. The mysterious benefactor, remaining in shadows, tells Lord that he obtained Ivo along with the research necessary. Now it Lord up to him to get the Brother Eye system online. Maxwell Lord states that not only everything is going according to plan, but he is stepping up the attacks on metahumans. With this, Lord launches several more OMACs.

An OMAC attacks Green Lantern when Flash intervenes. They work together to defeat the robot. Wonder Woman arrives in Metropolis seeking Superman's help against the increasing robot attacks. Another OMAC appears and after a brief battle, is grabbed by the tentacles of a giant squid and smashed to bits by a blue whale... signaling the arrival of Aquaman.

Amanda Waller and an army of Checkmate agents storm Maxwell Lord's OMAC facility, citing suspicion of psychic persuasion on her fellow agents and superiors, evidenced by Lord's repeated nosebleeds after every encounter (an earlier scene would have shown Waller reviewing video records from the Checkmate 'Castle' headquarters). With a smile, Lord confesses. He is about to launch a swarm of OMACs on Waller and company when the benefactor stops him; he steps out into the open (revealing to the audience that he is Ares). The God of War decides to take them on by himself, something he hasn't had the joy of doing in quite some time. Ares kills the entire Checkmate squad by himself but only wounds Waller so that she might be able to witness the fall of man before she takes her final breath. Maxwell Lord, in a state of shock, wonders who his benefactor really is. Ares tells him that he is a God and that mortal men such as he should know that loyal servitude is the only thing that will keep his head attached to his neck. Then Ares commands Lord to launch an OMAC attack on Checkmate's Castle headquarters, resulting in an awesome, but one-sided battle that sees most of Checkmate killed... all witnessed by Waller. The OMACs then access Checkmate's computer files on every metahuman in the world.

Our details get a little hazy here. I'm not sure where Maxwell Lord's headquarters is nor where the future League members should congregate (probably Metropolis). Batman will find out that his alter ego Bruce Wayne actually did supply the information for his company's satellite to get jacked by Ivo and Lord, due to the latter placing a mental suggestion in Wayne at the fundraiser. The satellite aligns with Brother Eye's coordinates and activates 10,000 OMACs, which Ares has launched to attack every metahuman from the Checkmate files. Superman, Batman, Cyborg, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash and Green Lantern are forced to team up to both launch an assault on Lord's OMAC complex and fight off hundreds of the robots. There will also be scenes from around the world of other metahumans battling OMACs such as Booster Gold, Hawkman, Zatanna, Plastic Man, Shazam and more (setting the stage for more movies!).

After defeating a few hundred OMACs, the Justice League is met by Ares, whom Wonder Woman instantly recognizes and attacks. The God of War knocks her into a building, then proceeds to explain to the others that his strength increases when there is conflict across the Earth. Since the age of Gods ended centuries ago, he has been far weaker. Humans can only generate so much of the violent energies he needs to thrive, so he laid low and sowed the seeds for all out global conflict. (He almost succeeded twice.) Recently, he found that the rise of metahumans has brought him strength not felt since those days of old. Basically, with his newfound strength and invincibility, he's going to conquer the world of men.

Ares magically summons his full armor and takes on Superman, Flash, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and Aquaman in a huge fight that sees the God of War holding his own against them all. Batman takes on Maxwell Lord in a distraction so Cyborg can break into Brother Eye and disable the OMACs. Not sure how, but the good guys win (really not sure how Ares will be stopped, but I would want him to return in a third Wonder Woman movie called "Fall of the Amazons" cuz that sounds awesome!). Cyborg disables the OMACs, Batman kicks the crap out of Maxwell Lord, Professor Ivo escapes. More shots of other super heroes having defeated OMACs or just fighting them when the robot shuts down. Waller is rescued, but it implies she now has a deep distrust for metahumans. In the end, the Justice League forms.

Look for future installments of Live Action Casting that will feature some of those other superheroes in the DCU. Until then, Stay Strange.

Live Action Casting - Justice League: Aquaman

We continue out series of castings for our proposed run-up of movies introducing DC heroes that will culminate in the much anticipated live action Justice League film. This installment, we look at the protector of the oceans and the King of Atlantis… Aquaman!

For the title character, I was looking for someone to truly capture the essence of Arthur Curry. He is heroic, noble and a very strong leader. However, he can also be an arrogant prick. Above all, while many underestimate Aquaman as a joke, he is one of the most powerful beings on Earth and is driven to prove this to the world.

For the title role, I have chosen Alexander Skarsgard. Anyone who has seen his portrayal of Eric Northman on HBO’s True Blood knows that he fits those descriptions to a ‘T.’ Northman is an alpha-vamp, a revered leader and also one of the most powerful “you don’t want to get on his bad side” characters on a show full of vampires, werewolves, witches and what-not. I think Skarsgard would be an awesome choice to play Aquaman.

Next, we cast Aquaman’s wife and queen, Mera. A powerful “hydro-kinetic,” Mera is no damsel in distress. She is beautiful, strong and capable. She rules Atlantis as an equal to her husband-king and also occasionally embarks on some heroics of her own.

For Mera, Jonny and I cast Jessica Chastain. Fresh off her Oscar-nominated performance in Zero Dark Thirty, Chastain has again proven her ability to play strong female leads. She is an excellent actress, not to mention attractive and a natural red-head! We feel she would only bring good things to the role and overall film. 

Next, we cast Aquaman’s protégé and sometimes sidekick… Garth (aka Aqualad, aka Tempest). I think that Garth will mostly remain a lesser supporting character, but will get some screen time with Aquaman and ultimately help in the movie’s climactic battle. What I am looking for with Garth is not necessarily a teenager, but just a young actor. Rather than use him as Aqualad, I would rather portray him as having moved on from being Aquaman’s adventuring sidekick and is on his way to becoming the mystical Tempest. (Plus, this allows for the newer Aqualad to debut in a sequel!)

I have picked Josh Peck for the role of Garth. This might seem like an odd choice considering most know him from Nickelodeon’s Drake and Josh or that unnecessary Red Dawn remake, but Jonny and I know him from a 2008 indie flick called The Wackness where (alongside Ben “The Mandarin” Kingsley, Fanke “Jean Grey” Janssen and Olivia “Judge Anderson” Thirlby) Peck really impressed us.  He is presently 26, but like I said, I am aiming for a more mature Garth. Hey, if Andrew Garfield can play a high school student, Peck will be fine!

We now move on the villain of the film, Aquaman’s half-brother and sworn enemy… the Ocean Master. I figure the plot would revolve around the idea that Orm, the man who would become Ocean Master, was banished from Atlantis after challenging his brother Arthur to the throne and losing. Orm’s argument is that even though Arthur was the first born, he is only half-Atlantean (his father was human) and therefore is inferior and should abdicate the throne.

For Orm aka Ocean Master, Jonny and I want Callum Blue. Jonny enjoyed him as Zod on Smallville, saying his performance was a high point to the long death of the show at that stage. I loved Callum Blue on the erstwhile Showtime series Dead Like Me. Its believable that Blue could be Skarsgard’s half-brother and we both think he would be perfect for the part.

Orm, having taken the mantle of Ocean Master approaches the deep sea realm of the mysterious savage race known as The Trench.

I’m thinking that the Trench will be CGI. It would look better than hiring a bunch of people in rubber monster outfits.

Using technology at his disposal, possibly imitating Aquaman’s sea-life telepathic powers, he subdues them. Ocean Master makes a deal with The Trench. In exchange for acting as his army, Ocean Master promises that those who oppose him will provide The Trench with all flesh they desire.

So Ocean Master’s plan is to invade Atlantis with the help of The Trench and then usurp the throne. To ensure that Aquaman will be out of the picture, Ocean Master has set up a tsunami creating device on a science vessel in the Atlantis. Knowing that Aquaman will act to prevent tidal waves from destroying the United States eastern seaboard and killing millions of the land-dweller that he loves, Ocean Master places a large number of Trench at the science vessel to ambush and hopefully kill him. With Mera’s help, they defeat the Trench and disable the weapon. Unfortunately, though Mera uses her hydro-kinesis powers to stop most of the tidal waves from reaching the cities, one stray devastating wave strike Florida, causing massive destruction.

Aquaman and Mera return to Atlantis to find the underwater city under siege. With the help of Garth, they battle the Trench and manage to defeat them.  Mera and Garth drive the Trench back to the depths and trapping them under a collapse of rocks. Aquaman squares off against Ocean Master for the throne. He ultimately wins and has Ocean Master held for trial by his fellow Atlanteans.

The end of the movie has a reveal for the villain of the sequel. Having lost everything in the tidal wave, a brilliant but troubled man places his blame on Aquaman for using surface dwelling humans as pawns in his wars. (How he has this knowledge of Atlantis will remain a mystery to be explained in said sequel.) The man reveals this in a monologue as he fits himself with various weapons, ultimately placing an ovoid helmet over his head, a black helmet with two red glowing eyes… and Black Manta is born.

For Black Manta, I want Lennie James. 

Most may know him as Morgan on The Walking Dead. I loved him as Robert Hawkins on the short-lived but brilliant show Jericho. I love Lennie James and would like to see him get more work because he is a really good actor. 

Oh, and Jonny wanted a scene at the beginning of the movie where a couple of drug smugglers speed away from the authorities in a boat, only to be stopped by a ticked off Aquaman saying something to the effect of "I don't care what you surface dwellers want to do on dry land, but keep it out of my ocean."

As a little wink to the Aquaman movie storyline on Entourage, he wanted the smugglers played by Adrian Grenier and Jerry Ferrerra!

So there you have it, the Enigma Society pitch for an Aquaman movie. Come back next time for another Live Action Casting for “run-up” to the Justice League movie.