DC Movies - To Infinity and Beyond

[The Realist]

Whether she's the world's greatest thespian or not, Gadot was born to play Wonder Woman. For me, she's on a short list of the most perfect superhero castings of all time (along with the likes of Christopher Reeve as Superman and Melissa Benoist as Supergirl).

 

[Tosk]

That doesn't mean there can't be someone else out there also born to play Wonder Woman.

 

[The Realist]

Sure. For example, like Christopher Reeve, George Reeves was also born to play Superman (whether he appreciated that or not). But to the extent you seemed to be disparaging Gadot ("Unless they find someone who is a better actress"), I felt compelled to come to her defense.

 

[fireproof78]

Don't worry, Tosk. Your casting call will come soon!

 

[Tosk]

Sure. For example, like Christopher Reeve, George Reeves was also born to play Superman (whether he appreciated that or not). But to the extent you seemed to be disparaging Gadot ("Unless they find someone who is a better actress"), I felt compelled to come to her defense.

My comment (whilst partially disparaging, but I don't think completely unfairly) was because of the 'any recasting of the character would feel like an automatic downgrade' thing. I merely pointed out one way in which they could cast better. I didn't say she was an atrocious actress, merely that they might find someone who is a better one.

For the record, I like Gadot as WW just fine. I think she's done well when handed the right material. Which obviously hasn't always happened.

 

[Dee1891]

For the record, I like Gadot as WW just fine. I think she's done well when handed the right material. Which obviously hasn't always happened.

Actually, I thought Gadot's performance in "Wonder Woman 1984" was better than in the 2017 movie. Unfortunately, I thought the movie's narrative sucked. I thought she was better than the material handed to her.

 

[Christopher]

That doesn't mean there can't be someone else out there also born to play Wonder Woman.

Lynda Carter is still out there, so this is a given. Although if you bring acting talent into it, Gadot is way better.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Yeah, that feels like Gunn trying to hype people up to go see it and hopefully create enough box office. Which, ofcourse, makes total sense and I can't blame a studio for wanting to do that. But as much as I love Gunn for his work on GotG, I feel that right now with the DCU he'll say anything to keep people rooting for it. Including telling Gadot she's in for a WW3 while WBs claim no such movie has ever been on the plate since Gunn took over.

DC has had directors and actors make power plays as well so who knows what's happening over there for sure.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

Surely we all know by now they'll say whatever they think will serve them the best at that exact moment, and that their words mean exactly nothing.

Quite true. Over the course of the past three months, Gunn and associated cronies have claimed some DCEU actors (and their characters) might end up in the DCU...only to post statements saying something else. Add that to the Gadot fiasco, with the shifting positions about her talks, and anything said about Blue Beetle should be disregarded as poor marketing without a cohesive vision about the future of DC movies.

It feels like any recast of Gadot would be an automatic downgrade.

Agreed. With a couple of exceptions (such as Kirk Alyn in the serials), DC superheroes finally found perfect casting success in this century, including Bale, all of the DCEU's Justice League members (Cavill, Affleck, Gadot, Fisher, Momoa & Miller, obviously), Brosnan, Swindell, Hodge, and on TV with Williams (Black Lightning) and the strong, but ultimately misused Rose in Batwoman. I never believed it was possible to have so many casting winners in the same era, but it was achieved.

One can only wonder if the DCU will match that number of wise choices that made the comics come alive.

 

[Mage]

Actually, I thought Gadot's performance in "Wonder Woman 1984" was better than in the 2017 movie. Unfortunately, I thought the movie's narrative sucked. I thought she was better than the material handed to her.

Although I don't agree with the first part (I felt she was equally great in both movies), I agree that the narrative and material for a performer was dreadful in WW1984, but Gadot made it work and atleast still sold the part of her being a fantastic Diane/Wonder Woman.

DC has had directors and actors make power plays as well so who knows what's happening over there for sure.

That is a very fair point ofcourse.

 

[Mage]

Agreed. With a couple of exceptions (such as Kirk Alyn in the serials), DC superheroes finally found perfect casting success in this century, including Bale, all of the DCEU's Justice League members (Cavill, Affleck, Gadot, Fisher, Momoa & Miller, obviously), Brosnan, Swindell, Hodge, and on TV with Williams (Black Lightning) and the strong, but ultimately misused Rose in Batwoman. I never believed it was possible to have so many casting winners in the same era, but it was achieved.

One can only wonder if the DCU will match that number of wise choices that made the comics come alive.

Sorry to double post, but you posted just as I did....

I still haven't seen Black Lightning or Batwoman (so many shows and movies, so little time) but I agree. From the Nolan Batman movies to many of the Arrowverse shows and current DCEU movies, almost every actor nailed it. Margot Robbie IS Harley Quinn, for example. To me, Stephen Amell and Grant Gustin nailed it for those versions of Arrow/Green Arrow and The Flash.. I will always keep in mind that we are talking about version of a character. For example, even though I didn't enjoy this take on The Joker, for the part that was created, Jared Leto made it work in a way.

And as for the Holy Trinity of DC..... Affleck, Cavill and Gadot just pulled it off. To me, they are the parts they played.

 

[The Realist]

Lynda Carter is still out there, so this is a given.

Yeah, I think Carter also qualifies for the "born to play" club.

 

[Supervisor 194]

Lynda Carter certainly qualifies for the ‘born to play it’ club. Christopher Reeve is probably the most perfect comic book casting ever; his Superman just worked even when the material was not up to par. Bale is probably the most definitive Batman, at least to date, though I hope to see the Batman of the comics fully brought to life one day.

Cavill had potential that was never seen to the fullest. Affleck never worked for me; I only saw him as Ben Affleck in a Batman suit and nothing more. Gadot was excellent casting but lived or died based on the strength of her given material.

 

[USS Firefly]

Routh was very good as Superman in the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" episode

 

[Supervisor 194]

Agreed on Routh; another case of squandered potential.

 

[The Realist]

Routh holds the fourth-place spot in my ranking of live-action Supermen (following Reeve, Reeves, and Hoechlin).

 

[Christopher]

While a number of the live-action Batman actors from 1989 onward have been good, I've never found any of them perfect. Somehow, I've never looked at one of them and thought, "Yes, that's Batman" in the same way that Reeve, Cavill, and Hoechlin have made me feel "Yes, that's Superman" or Gadot made me feel "Yes, that's Wonder Woman." I don't know why that is. Partly it's that few of them really look the part, though Clooney probably came closest, followed by Affleck. Neither did Adam West, really, but he was terrific as a Silver Agey Batman in other ways, and of course he was my first Batman, so he'll always seem right to me.

Routh was very good as Superman in the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" episode

Yeah. I didn't feel he was right for the part in Superman Returns, but once I saw him as Ray Palmer, I realized he could've been a great Superman; the problem with SR wasn't the casting, but the direction and writing. So it was good that he got a chance to return to the role.

 

[Supervisor 194]

Bale did have moments in which his Bruce Wayne resembled artist Jim Aparo’s lean take on the character.

Patrick Wilson’s Orm at times was a dead ringer for Aparo’s take on Aquaman. I would love to see an alternate reality in which Wilson played a more traditional version of the King of the Seven Seas.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

I still haven't seen Black Lightning or Batwoman (so many shows and movies, so little time) but I agree.

Batwoman's first season--the Ruby rose season--had so much potential, with Rose coming into her own by the end of the season. If anything, one might come away with a "what could have been" feeling if she remained with the series.

Cress Williams' Black Lightning was stellar casting, with Williams often showing the clashing of being a very conscious instructor and being pulled back into the superhero side, which had no room or patience for addressing the realistic struggles he--and his city--had to endure.

From the Nolan Batman movies to many of the Arrowverse shows and current DCEU movies, almost every actor nailed it.

Agreed; instead of playing into the "comic book" stereotypes, which constantly produced Saturday morning cartoon interpretations, the named 21st century performers realized the fantasy had to feel as if it was engaged with the viewers' real world--not just a live action actor in a costume prancing about.

Margot Robbie IS Harley Quinn, for example. To me, Stephen Amell and Grant Gustin nailed it for those versions of Arrow/Green Arrow and The Flash.. I will always keep in mind that we are talking about version of a character. For example, even though I didn't enjoy this take on The Joker, for the part that was created, Jared Leto made it work in a way.

Leto's Joker channeled the increasingly sadistic (and not so much insane) version of the character, which was re-defining the Joker since the 70s and 80s, and for a character placed in a troubled world, he worked for many viewers.

And as for the Holy Trinity of DC..... Affleck, Cavill and Gadot just pulled it off. To me, they are the parts they played.

Agreed. Others will take on the roles in the years to come, but each actor will have a near insurmountable challenge in trying to make their version the version of the character in the shadows of Cavill, Affleck and Gadot.

 

[Set Harth]

At one point in MoS Cavill looks like Reeve, due to the effect the gravity beam is having on his face.