Comedic actor Marlon Wayans has revealed that the comic book role he'd most like to tackle is that of Plastic Man. Created by Jack Cole, the character originally debuted in Quality Comics before being acquired by DC. He has since served as a member of the Justice League, while also carrying numerous solo runs in the comics.
Plastic Man has come even more prominently into the comic book mainstream over the last decade. Grant Morrison notably added him to the Justice League roster, while Mark Waid explored the character further in his Divided We Fall run. Greg Rucka and Geoff Johns have also contributed to shining a fresh spotlight on the quirky hero. Most recently, a limited series penned by Gail Simone was released last summer, casting him as the savior of The Justice League. In the wake of such successful comic runs, rumors soon emerged that Warner Bros. was producing a big-screen adaptation.
No further news or details have since emerged regarding a Plastic Man film. However, should the studio push forward, they already have themselves a volunteer for the role in Wayans. Speaking exclusively to Screen Rant, the actor revealed that the character had long been at the top of his superhero wishlist. With the subject of the old rumor of his being up for the 90's Batman and Robin film and superhero films in general, we asked about this idea and what his take on the character would be. Here's what he had to say:
"I would love to play Plastic Man. I think he works with the comedic skill set that I have, in terms of how I'm physical, I'm bendy. And I think it'd be cool to just do it without... You know, what's great about Black Panther is he's a black superhero, right? But sometimes [it's fun] to just do something. Like, you wouldn't think Plastic Man was a black guy, but it's not black - it's just, he's plastic. I think it'd be fun for me, because I know I got to add my humor to it. The only two superheroes I ever really wanted to play was Plastic Man and The Mask. Those are the two superhero films I would love to play."
Wayans is currently promoting his upcoming Netflix film, Sextuplets. Also starring Molly Shannon and Michael Ian Black, the film follows a father-to-be as he shockingly discovers that he was born a sextuplet. Reuniting with one of his long-lost brothers, Russell, he embarks on a road trip to reconnect with each of the others. Wayans plays all six of the siblings. The film continues the comedic traditions of the Wayans family established in such films as the Scary Movie franchise and White Chicks. A sequel for the latter was recently rumored. Wayans himself, however, downplayed talk of White Chicks 2.
Fans will no doubt have their own ideas as to who should play the malleable superhero. Ben Schwartz, for example, was envisioned in the role previously and not long ago reaffirmed his desire for the role on Twitter. Following his work on Parks and Recreation and BoJack Horseman, casting Schwartz would certainly be fitting, especially considering Plastic Man will apparently include a blend of comedy and action. Then again, those reasons could also apply to Wayans, who, as mentioned, does have uniquely comedic sensibilities that would fit the role. Whatever the case ends up being regarding the casting of the character, however, there's no doubt that such a film as Plastic Man would fit right into the newly reshaped DCEU.
