Stranger Things star Caleb McLaughlin wants to play the hero Static Shock in the DC Extended Universe. Known as Virgil Hawkins, the Milestone Comics/DC hero Static first appeared in 1993 as a metahuman who developed his abilities after exposure to a radioactive chemical. Drawing inspiration from the Spider-Man archetype, Static is a geeky high school student and working-class hero, struggling to balance his responsibilities as a hero with the demands of teen life. The character has electromagnetic powers and has been known to team up with other heroes such as the Teen Titans. Static appeared in the animated television series Static Shock, which ran for four seasons from 2000 to 2004 and featured Phil Lamarr as the titular character. A live-action DC film about the hero is currently in the works.
McLaughlin shot to fame as a result of his role as Lucas on Stranger Things, a part of the core kid group that often acts as the voice of reason and shares a close bond with Sadie Sink's Max. Outside Stranger Things, the actor has starred in films such as Concrete Cowboy and the upcoming movie The Deliverance. McLaughlin's charisma and talent as an actor have previously seen him fan-cast as a live-action version of Marvel Comics hero Miles Morales, placing the actor in a major franchise as an iconic hero. However, McLaughlin has revealed that he has his eyes on a different superhero role.
At Heroes Comic Con Belgium 2022 in Brussels, McLaughlin revealed what movie roles he hopes to take on in a video posted by Insert Coin. He commented that he is open to playing any character that speaks to him, leaving the door open for a variety of future roles. In an exciting response for fans of the DC universe, the actor expressed an interest in playing Static Shock specifically. Check out what McLaughlin had to say below:
"What other movie would I like… I want to do a superhero film. I would love to play Static Shock honestly… I would want to do something like a superhero, or even something… it doesn’t matter. I’m really open to being any character. I feel like I can play anybody honestly. It really– I feel like how I pick my films is really what speaks to me. Also, I’m also developing other projects myself that will be coming out. Not soon, but soon. But yeah, it really doesn’t matter actually. It’s just whatever like project speaks to me and my creativity."
How Static Shock Could Fit In The DCEU
Given McLaughlin's rising popularity as an actor, the imminent end of Stranger Things, and the development of a live-action Static Shock movie, McLaughlin's proposal could be a real possibility. The actor has proven his ability to play a geeky, funny teen on Stranger Things, a role which has also shown the actor's prowess for nuanced and serious character moments. Though little is known about the Michael B. Jordan-produced Static Shock movie, an update from one of the creators implied that the film is safe among the shake-ups at Warner Bros. Discovery. With no updates about a potential director or casting news for the film, it's clear that the already long overdue project is still in the early stages of production, meaning that the character isn't likely to appear or be mentioned yet in upcoming DCEU projects such as The Flash Movie, Blue Beetle, or Shazam! Fury of the Gods.
If McLaughlin were to come onto the DCEU as Static, he would be swapping out one major franchise for another, which could greatly benefit his burgeoning career. Whoever does play the role of Static eventually will be joining the DCEU's growing slate of young heroes such as Billy Batson (Asher Angel) and Blue Beetle (Xolo Maridueña). With the Marvel Cinematic Universe's inclusion of a younger generation of heroes post Avengers: Endgame, it's possible that the DCEU is looking to create its own lovable crop of teen heroes for audiences to latch onto, of which Static Shock would likely be an integral part due to the hero's Spider-Man similarities.
Source: Insert Coin
