According to Bloody-Disgusting, Channing Tatum (G.I. Joe, Step Up) has been cast in the latest comic book-cum-movie, The Darkness. The film is to be directed by The Pang Brothers, who were responsible for the original Asian version of The Eye and Bangkok Dangerous (both the original and the English language remake).
The Darkness comic series was created by Marc Silvestri, Garth Ennis and David Wohl, under the banner of Top Cow/Image. It follows Jackie Estacado, a hitman who “was targeted for assassination by the don of the New York mafia, ‘Uncle’ Paulie. He finds his body possessed by ‘the Darkness,’ a malevolent spirit that has inhabited his family for several generations, with the benefit of giving Jackie supernatural powers that feed off the dark.”
Apparently Dimension paid a six-figure sum to develop The Darkness back in 2004, originally hoping for a release in 2008. Needless to say that year has passed and we’ve had no Darkness movie, so either that deal fell through or this version that Tatum has been cast in is the same as the 2004 one.
My first thought when looking at the Darkness artwork and reading the basic plot is that it’s got the same feel as The Crow (also first a comic then made into several movies), mixed with Spawn to some extent. The initial run of the comic involved Jackie Estacado first discovering his powers to manifest shadow creatures, only to become embroiled in two wars: a war between mobs, and a war between the forces of the dark and the luminescent army of “The Angelus” (see pic below). The film will likely follow a similar vein.
Late last year it was reported that a Crow reboot is on the way, so I think it’d be wise for The Pang Brothers to distance The Darkness as far as possible from that movie to avoid confusion from the general movie going public who don’t understand the subtle differences between comic book anti-heroes.
The Darkness comic artwork
.
Night & Day: The Darkness vs. The Angelus
I really don’t see why Channing Tatum keeps getting so much work. In my opinion he’s not the best of actors (to say the least), and has managed to make a career out of his pretty boy looks (ironically enough, he played Pretty Boy Floyd in this summer’s Public Enemies) and with Step Up, his dancing ability. I think we’ll all agree, even for a comic book movie, that acting skills are far more important than good looks.
Or am I way off?…
What do you think about Channing Tatum (apparently) being cast in The Darkness comic book adaptation? Are you a fan of the comic, and if so is Tatum a good fit for the lead role?
The Darkness is currently in the development stages and doesn’t have a release date as of yet.
Source: Bloody-Disgusting
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NOOOOOOOO!!!
WHY?!
The guy is one of the worst actors on screen today. Outside of movies/tv, in real life, he comes off as an arrogant prick.
Darkness deserves as special kind of treatment in order to convert it into a movie. It’s not just your regular “costume” superhero.
They did a pretty good job with the video game (one of the most “emotional” scenes ever in video games is in there)
Going with a “mainstream” actor in such a movie is a bad sign.
I usually don’t judge movies before they come out, but this will SUCK 100%
@ ogb
Yeah I don’t usually jump the gun, but this is very disappointing news for me as well.
I loved The Darkness comic (at least the first 24 issues or so) and hearing Channing Tatum taking on this role is just a straight let down.
There are many other young actors, even pretty boys, who could bring the necessary, well, DARKNESS to the role of Jackie.
being that i read the “Graphic Novel” once in a while and Loved the Video Game…
This is an Epic Fail!!!
someone like cassy Afflek (i cant say he looks the part) would as far as acting abbility do Justice for this Role
The video game was good. I actually know the guy that they modeled Jackie’s face off of in the game.
I echo NoName, this is total epic fail. I mean, as a red blooded woman, I openly admit that I like looking at the guy. But his acting makes me itch. It’s just so…not good.
But I haven’t read the comic so maybe I’m missing something…
meh…. i dont like the actor chosen personally, the video game was pretty awesome though. i hope they manage to portray the city as darkly as the comics and the game.
This is a terrible idea.Casting Channing Tatum is just stupid.He really doesn’t have the charisma to capture that character,not only that,I’m really not convinced that the Pang Bros. will be able to make a good movie.
Sometimes I wish people would leave well enough alone.This is one of those times.
Please let this stay in developmental hell, please!
At least they are not thinking of making him play Captain America. Oh, wait…
Terrible news, but not surprising in the least. So far the guy has shown a history of non-acting, and what do they do? Keep giving him bigger parts in bigger movies. Ultra predictable, because you see, in Hollywood, talent matters none. After that big break, you can suck out loud, but you’ll eventually get oscar consideration for being mediocre(Julia Roberts, ahem). In the movie biz, you either succeed, or you fail upwards.
Channing Tatum.
no
..just no
@ ROss Miller
Well he is playing Duke in the GI Joe Movie, so some one must be enchanted by him. But yeh his mediocrity of acting knows no bounds. I played the game and it was pretty decent but witht hat said the movie will flop like a catfish on dry land. Channing Tatum will be THE ROBOCOP.
DUN DUN DUUUUUUNNNNNNNN!!!
He was great with robert downey jr. in “A guide to recognizing your saints” and Samuel Jackson in “Coach Carter” I would say its not a terrible choice…the guy has hollywood clout. I dont know if he could pull off the look but i disagree with anyone that says he cant act. Like I said not the worst choice.
ummmmm yikes……deffinatly my first choice,personally i would go with Ian Somerhalder who has the acting chops and the look to do Jackie justice,and he isnt a house hold name yet,and as for the director,i have to pick Darren Aronofsky with Paul Jenkins
and David Goyer as writers