Now that Marvel’s The Avengers recently crossed $1 billion at the worldwide box office, many have been wondering if this success would spur DC Comics to intensify their film development. After all, outside of Batman (seen next in The Dark Knight Rises) and Superman (in Man of Steel), none of their heroes have made much cinematic impact lately – especially after Green Lantern fell-short of studio expectations.
That said, if Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is to be believed, another DC adventure may be closer than previously thought.
In response to a fan’s musing on Twitter - stating that Johnson should be cast as a DC hero (Gravedigger or John Stewart), the actor quickly responded with simple but cryptic tease:
Funny U say that.. RT: @krystal_burt:@ron2smoove I could see Rock playing in DC movies. Gravedigger or John Stewart (JL’s Green Lantern)
While there is no indication which (if any) character Johnson would play – or even if he is in talks for an actual role, the possibility of the wrestler-turned-actor starring as a DC character is not entirely unfounded. Back in 2009, rumors circulated that Johnson was in line to play the villainous role of Black Adam in director Peter Segal’s long-gestating adaptation of DC’s Shazam. Segal and Johnson previously worked together on 2008’s Get Smart.
However, Johnson could also potentially be up for a role in the Lobo film DC has in development with Journey 2: The Mysterious Island director Brad Peyton. That film has been in various states of development since Guy Ritchie passed on helping the project – to make Sherlock Holmes instead.
Should Warner Bros. cast Johnson in one of their DC adaptations, they would be hard-pressed to find a star with as glowing a track record. In just the last year or so, Johnson has revitalized audience interest in three franchises with his roles in Fast Five, Journey 2 and the much-anticipated G.I. Joe: Retaliation.
A DC film would also not be Johnson’s first foray into comic book films. He is already signed to appear in the film version of upcoming Oni Press graphic novel Ciudad and will star as the title character in an upcoming adaptation of Hercules: The Thracian War from Radical Publishing.
Check back for more on this story as it develops.
If this story is true, who do you think Johnson would be perfect to play? Let us know in the comments.
Source: Twitter
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I still say he would make a good Man-Ape but Lobo? /shakes head.
Personally, I can’t believe he gets as much work as he does. He has a modest physique, in comparison to the Arnold and Sylvester of old, and he is a worse actor than either of them…
His physique is far from modest. The dude is jacked. I’d say he’s in the same category as Arnold and Sly, both physique-wise and acting-wise, and I say that as a guy who loves both Sly and Arnold. The Rock is one of the few true action stars out there that doesn’t come from the 80s. It’s basically him and Jason Statham.
His acting is still pretty mediocre though IMO.
And every time I look at that guy, I just imagine him in those kiddy movies like the ‘Tooth Fairy’ or that one where he plays a football star. Stuff like that can hurt ones image…
ok i think his actually a better actor than sly and arnold dont get me wrong arnold and sly are cool action actors but dwayne actually has more talent i know what you are saying about tooth fairy but he couldnt help that the movie wasnt his style and not a very good movie (kid movie) but in things like walking tall great movie fast 5 and believe it or not he showed emotion in game plan even though it was a family movie he has enormous potential and not to mention faster which was also a good movie
Yea the reason he did the family movies, he even said in an interview, one time that those were because of his own family, and he wanted to do something for them, and he said he wanted to change up the action, for a little bit of the fun, and light stuff, before getting back into some of the more serious stuff.
He just wanted to do those movies for his own kids really, plus it was still a paycheck.
Walking Tall was a great movie. Every actor has s***ty movies though, even Arnold did Kindergarten Cop…
If you haven’t seen ‘be cool’ you should check it out. He shows he can act in that film, albeit comically.
I think he’s one of the best action stars for acting ability around at the moment.
As an action star, I agree: he’s great, and as a comedic-ish actor he’s also pretty good (for your more average movie lover), but he isn’t a great ACTOR IMO.
I just can’t see him in the same group as guys like RDJ, Bale, Ledger, Hewsworth, Hiddleston, Cavil, Reaves, Evans, Ruffalo, Renner, Johansson, Jackman, Fassbender, etc. etc. — those guys are tremendous actors and fantastic superheroes/supervillains, but I can’t picture The Rock joining that list.
I don’t think ANYONE would put him on that list, BUT he could probably handle being certain characters…I really can see him playing Black Adam who, though intelligent, usually succumbs to his own fiery (often irrational, ALWAYS melodramatic) temperment. There are several others I can imagine him as, but I want hear what other people come up with first…
I agree about Black Adam (that was my first guess as well), but my point is, I just don’t think that the Rock has the potential to be one of the main stream Marvel/DC heroes — he’s an action star and should continue to do action movies (not superhero movies) IMO.
As much as i don’t like DC and wouldn’t want to sacrifice him to them. Vin Diesel could play a comic book hero easily (I mean.. riddick basically is already)
hey dude I think he canbe good as luke cage from marvel
I wouldn’t put him in the same category as RDJ, Bale, Ledger, or Reaves, But I think he is easily as good or better than any one else on that list. He has charisma and wit, not to mention the fact that he is one of the best action stars working right now.
The second half of that list is full of actors, who before they were great action/CBM actors, they were romcom or teen sex comedy stars.They were given their shot, and didn’t have half the action cred that The Rock has. Their movies turned out great, who’s to say a JLA or single hero movie wouldn’t be great with Johnson in it? I think he certainly deserves a shot to play a DC hero/villian. John Stewart, Hawkman, Killer Croc, Darkseid, Black Adam, or even J’onn J’onnz.
Actually I think his acting is fine. It’s just he’s been in too many Disney kids movies and NOBODY acts well in any of those!
Yeah Joah is right an Rock is actually pretty damn big. The guys is 6’5″ and about 275 lbs. NOT someone I would screw with.
I also wouldn’t say he’s a bad actor but he is an action actor and thus not really suited to more demanding roles. So he could probably play Lobo but white make-up and long hair? I’m just not seeing it (at least not w/o being ultra cheezy)
/sigh…..sorry Joah, I mean Josh!
I have to respectfully disagree. He has nowhere near the physique of the Arnold or Sylvester of old, especially Arnold, but of course, he was Mr. Universe. As concerns acting, I am sorry, but I cannot see the Rock nearly as good as Arnold was in Predator, Terminator, or Conan, nor as good as Sylvester in Rocky or Rambo. So then, we agree to disagree.
Actually, his acting, while far from stunning, is light years ahead of Arnold…Seriously, Arnie may make for a fun action star, but the word “acting” should NEVER come up in the same sentence with his name. Johnson, at least, comes across as personable and (usually) real.
He definately has the physicality, I just don’t know any characters that I could see him play. I’ve just never seen him in a role similar to a comicbook superhero. Maybe after I see GI Joe,but right now I’ve got nothing.
I’d rather see him in a Marvel movie, you know one that is done right. He could be Luke Cage, Moonknight, Falcon, any number of heroes.
He could NOT be Moon Knight or Falcon.
A commentor on SR suggested that the Rock could be the next Bruce Wayne when they do the reboot – I honestly can’t see that happening.. ever
I’m really at a loss as to what character he might play… I doubt it’s John Stewart or Lobo… maybe Black Adam?
I really have no clue lol…
Hell..he could have been Bane
Amen brother
Black Panther?
That’s a Marvel character… and he’s definitely not the right guy to play BP anyway.
The Rock is Black Adam if Marvel Studio wants him he can play Luke Cage. before u say it The Rock is half black.
The Rock is Hawaiian. Not half black.
his mom is samoan and his dad is black.. black nova scotian to be exact..
Dwayne Johnson’s father is black and his mother is Samoan.
Well he looks Hawaiian, I remember in the extra features on The Rundown him saying something about his islander heritage, never mentions his father, just that he was a wrestler.
Well he looks Polynesian which just so happens to be Samoan/Hawaiian
The Rock is not Hawaiian… He was born in the USA but is a canadian citizen. His dad was a Black Canadian and his mom was Samoan.
WTF u talking about The Rock is half Black and half Samoan for crying out loud. know your stuff before u reply like that.
Dwayne Johnson, the son of Ata Johnson (née Maivia) and Rocky Johnson, was born in Hayward, California. His maternal grandfather, “High Chief” Peter Maivia, was also a professional wrestler. His maternal grandmother, Lia Maivia, ran Polynesian Pacific Pro Wrestling from 1982 until 1988, following her husband’s death, becoming one of wrestling’s few female professional promoters. His father is of Black Nova Scotian (Canadian) origin and his mother is of Samoan heritage.
I don’t care what his ethnic background is or what nationality his parents were… he doesn’t LOOK like Luke Cage, Sub Mariner, Black Panther or even Falcon, so therefore, he shouldn’t be playing those characters.
I’m actually kinda shocked that people are suggesting those in the first place – it’s either ‘The Rock’-fanboy love, or maybe it’s that some of these guys are so desperate to see the before-mentioned characters on screen that they’re seeing what they want to see.
IMO
I agree.
If they ever get the Shazam movie off the ground, “The Rock” should be cast as Captain Marvel, not Black Adam.
Red Tornado or Martion Manhunter
Sub-Mariner. c’mon. I didn’t realise G.I. Joe was highly anticipated
G.I. Joe: Retaliation has become very highly anticipated since the first trailer came out.
That’s just what I was gonna say. He sur wouldn’t fit for DC’s Aquaman.
Sub Mariner c’mon
Dude, the Sub Mariner is a Marvel character
(And here I thought Screen Rant was a nerd-friendly site
)
If the rock were to play a DC comics Hero, i think he should play the part of Cyborg.
Yeah, a TERMINATOR cyborg… BUT that’s Dark Horse, not DC.
sorry but u fail, Cyborg is a DC comic character geez
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyborg_%28comics%29
He’s too big and muscular a guy to be John Stewart; sure Stewart is ripped and ex-Military, but he isn’t huge like the Rock. Dwayne would have to shrink way down in bulge just to not look even more ridiculous in the GL outfit than Ryan Reunolds did in the first round of GL promos. I could see him as Hawkman, though… Gotta be someone huge who can pull off the no-shirt look
Steel – potential sub character to be introduced in MOS. For some reason, I don’t think he’ll get a major lead role as one of the bigger name superheroes
Awesome. My thought exactly. A small scene where JHI falls from a building during construction and is saved by Supes with some small connection made to it inspiring the survivor. Seeds planted.
sinestro
BLACK ADAM! Just that…
My mind goes to Guy Gardner for some reason.
Cyborg
really , wow I am completely amazed at some of the comments made first half of you don’t know the difference between Marvel and Dc and the rest that do don’t have any idea who any of the other characters are other then the big three. Here are a few Ideas of some real ideas of DC Characters.
Mister Terrific *
Icon *
Cyborg
Hardware
Shazam (Captain Marvel)*
Black Adam*
Black Mantis
BloodWynd
Battalion*
the ones with the stars are my favorites
u dont need to point that out to them they need to learn themselves LOL
I could definately see him playing Black Adam. In ‘Driver’ he had that attitude, that barely contained rage, plus he looks the part, he could pass for middle eastern.
Or Icon, he has the physical presence to pull it off, but who would you get to play Rocket?
Cyborg would also fit, he’s shown he can play lighter toned character.
I don’t see him doing Bloodwynd though, Bloodwynd is too subdued.
I think he would a cool John Stewart. Shoot, Tony Stark is 6’2″ and muscular, a physique contrary to Robert’s. It,s the aditude that sales the character. I also think he might also make a terrific Icon. Thick outside the envelop. Comics, like most medias in America are dominated my white characters. Characters of color are most often created by white writers with weak powers and even weaker story lines which no one black, white or in between would want to immulate. It’s even worse when they attempt to include ethnicity, it’s usually so far over the top it actually detracts peoples ability to relate to the character. Make them a hero who happens to be of color not a black or Latino hero (not focused on his race alone). That’s a statement you wouldn’t have to make about a white superhero.
I think there are more white characters because they were a product of their time i.e the 40′s 50′s 60′s.
I think there are more white characters because they were a product of their time i.e the 40′s 50′s 60′s
I say Captain Marvel (again).
Come on that would kick ass, imagine after MOS we get a Shazam movie in the new 52 design. The hardest part of that would be casting an actor so they don’t make Billy Batson annoying. We better get so more DC movie’verse info @ comic con, that makes me all excited.
How about a lesser known hero….Captain Atom?
Actually, though in the comics he’s white (I’m talking W.A.S.P.-white, not merely skin color), I can see him as Nathaniel Adam/Captain Atom. I think he would play the character quite well…Good call–that was not one of my initial considerations.
Hero: Cyborg
Villain/Anti-Hero: Black Adam
I think Dwayne would be an awesome Lobo. Or maybe John Stewert, although I doubt DC is anxious to reboot Green Lantern, especially with a second-stringer. Maybe Wildcat. Personally, I would love to see that. I’ve always liked the Rock as an actor.
They may not want to try another Green Lantern but putting a more likely candidate to play as Green Lantern might help redeem the first one. The Rock might be one of those candidates but DC might not think. But you never know with Hollywood and comic movies.
I didn’t think the acting in Green Lantern was bad, just everything else. Reynolds was an ok Hal, but I think it has a stigma now. Hopefully no more Green Lantern movies anytime soon.
How about black canary,Ha Ha.
I really have to say that I don’t care for the site redesign. I liked the old front page better.
Ditto
There’s a voting poll on the most recent Open Discussion.
You can go vote there and make your voice heard…
Personally, I agree with you, but until/if Vic goes back to the old design, you can use this one: http://screenrant.com/archive/
Not sure he just doesnt have the John Stewart look to me. Yes I think he would make a very Good Lobo or Black Adam,or even a Kilowog if they redo GL.
Out of all the movies that came from cartoons, I can’t believe noone ever made a “Jonny Quest” live movie. I think The Rock would make a great Race Bannen. Just grows a little hair and dyes it white.
it was rumored long time ago WB wanted to do a Jonny Quest movie, and The Rock was going to play Race Bannen
i’ll say Kratos
I could see that actually, good call.
Black Lightning! is that dc?
Yes, Black Lightning is DC, but Black Lightning is…… black. Same as John Stewert. Dwayne Johnson isn’t black. He’s Samoan.
EPIC FAIL, The Rock is Black and Samoan not your stuff first.