Taika Waititi's live-action Flash Gordon reboot has yet to be cast — but that doesn't mean audiences can't fantasize about a dream cast. Flash Gordon has a colorful range within its characters, providing a plethora of opportunities for some major names to join the cast, including, hopefully, some sci-fi genre icons. While some roles could easily be held by multiple talented actors, there are some roles that seem perfectly crafted for just one person.
Flash Gordon started as a space opera adventure comic strip in the 1930s. It was originally created by Alex Raymond to compete with the Buck Rogers comic strip, though it would eventually grow to become a pop culture staple in its own right. The comic follows Flash Gordon, a Yale graduate and popular polo player. When Flash and his girlfriend, Dale Arden, are sent into space by the wild scientist Dr. Hans Zarkov, they come face to face with Emperor Ming the Merciless on the planet Mongo. From there, the three go on wild adventures together, both on Mongo and on Earth. Since then, Flash Gordon has been converted into television series, films, toys, and more. The most popular Flash Gordon media is the 1980 live-action film, which has become an iconic piece of film history; it even features a theme song by Queen written for the Flash Gordon film.
In 2019, Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi was hired to pen the script for a Flash Gordon reboot. The movie was originally intended to be animated, though it was recently revealed that it will now be a live-action film. The movie is still in early development but many are already eager to see just who will appear in this cult classic reboot. The perfect cast could raise Waititi's film far above its predecessor.
Chris Hemsworth as Flash Gordon
Flash Gordon (Sam J. Jones) is the epitome of tall, blond, and handsome — and who is better to portray a modern Flash Gordon than Chris Hemsworth? The Australian actor has plenty of experience playing roles similar to Flash Gordon, working out his comedic muscles in movies like Thor: Ragnarok, the 2016 Ghostbusters, and Men in Black: International. Hemsworth also works incredibly well with Waititi, as the duo are close friends who have worked on multiple films together. While Hemsworth currently has a lot of work on his plate, Waititi's Flash Gordon reboot is still in the very early stages of development, meaning it's possible that the Australian actor could clear a spot in his schedule for this cult classic.
Tessa Thompson as Dale Arden
Dale Arden is Flash Gordon's heroine counterpart; she is tough, clever, and independent, joining the ranks of Princess Leia and Ellen Ripley as great '80s heroines. Dale joined Flash on his adventures, moving away from the stereotypical damsel in distress that previously plagued action movies. Originally played by Melody Anderson, Tessa Thompson would be the perfect choice to bring this heroine into the modern age. Thompson has already proved to have on-screen chemistry with Chris Hemsworth in Thor: Ragnarok and Men in Black: International, and her acting history proves she has the chops to carry Dale's heroine persona, making her a prime candidate to portray Dale in Waititi's live-action reboot.
George Takei as Ming The Merciless
Ming the Merciless's character has recently come under question as the BBC gave the 1980 film a disclaimer for "discriminatory stereotypes" based on Ming's portrayal. The character, who was coded as an East Asian man, was portrayed by a white Swedish actor, Max von Sydow. Waititi's live-action remake would allow Flash Gordon to turn itself around from being another example of yellowface — when non-Asian (traditionally white) actors attempt to appear Asian through makeup and clothing — by finally casting an Asian actor to fill the role of Ming the Merciless. George Takei, a Japanese-American actor, sci-fi icon, and activist, would be the perfect choice to reboot Ming the Merciless. Starting with his role as Hikaru Sulu in Star Trek, Takei became one of the most beloved people in the genre, making him a perfect choice to take on the role of Ming the Merciless. Takei has previously stated that he is a fan of the Flash Gordon comics, and as a pioneer for Asian actors in media, seeing Takei take the helm as Ming would be incredible.
Jeff Goldblum as Hans Zarkov
Sci-fi icons should stick together, but that's only one of the reasons Jeff Goldblum would be the top choice to play Hans Zarkov in the Flash Gordon live-action reboot. Hans Zarkov, originally played by Chaim Topol, is a brilliant scientist who built the rocket that brought Flash and Dale to the planet Mongo to fight Ming the Merciless. Goldblum has played a wide variety of roles, but it was his performance as Dr. Malcolm in Jurassic Park that cemented him in sci-fi cinema history — Jeff Goldblum has even reached meme status. His ability to lose himself in a character makes him a prime candidate for almost any character, but Zarkov is an especially perfect role for Goldblum to tackle. Combining the science of Dr. Malcolm with the madness of the Grandmaster from Thor: Ragnarok, Goldblum was made to play Dr. Hans Zarkov. Zarkov is of Jewish heritage, as is Goldblum, putting the cherry on top for Goldblum's candidacy.
Karen Fukuhara as Princess Aura
Princess Aura is one of Flash Gordon's more complicated characters. Though she is Ming the Merciless's daughter, Aura takes the risk to help Flash in his fight against her father. Despite the fact that her love for Flash isn't returned, Aura still makes the choice to heroically save Flash from Ming. In the 1980 Flash Gordon, Princess Aura was played by Ornella Muti, an Italian actress; but like Ming the Merciless, it's about time for Princess Aura to be portrayed by an Asian actress. While there are plenty of candidates to play her, Karen Fukuhara comes out on top. The Japanese-American actress has been on the rise since she portrayed Katana in the 2016 Suicide Squad, going on to voice Glimmer in She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. She currently plays Kimiko Miyashiro in The Boys, a powerful vigilante who can take out an entire room of villains in only a few seconds. Fukuhara has the perfect range to pay proper homage to a multi-faceted character like Princess Aura.