7 Actors Who Deserve To Play Aquaman More Than Jason Momoa

Most people think Aquaman is the worst superhero of all time, right? Warner Bros. Pictures clearly don’t think so, as they recently announced that a solo Aquaman movie is currently being developed for release by 2020. Bizarrely, it’s been reported that the studio have hired two writers to work on two separate scripts, both competing to be selected as the final choice. Nothing like a bit of healthy competition to motivate people, right? Before that, though, comic book movie fans will first see the King of Atlantis onscreen in the upcoming blockbuster Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. After months of rumours and speculation, Jason Momoa is all but confirmed to be taking on the role of Aquaman and many fans are excited to see the Game of Thrones star bring credibility to a role which has drawn unfair criticism in the past. While we applaud the decision to cast Momoa for his badass screen presence, there are several other actors that are far more suited to the role and who could still make Aquaman credible while remaining more faithful to the original source material. Join us then as we select seven actors who deserve to play Aquaman on the big screen more than Jason Momoa does. Perhaps they'll get a shot at the character in a future reboot? We can only hope. 7) Ryan Gosling Mainstream audiences may regard Aquaman as a joke, but in the comics, the King of Atlantis is an intense, brooding character who carries a huge amount of responsibility on his shoulders. It’s time people took this iconic superhero seriously once more, and Ryan Gosling could be the perfect actor for the job. After rising to fame for his role in The Notebook, Gosling has since attracted critical acclaim for a variety of darker roles, most notably in Drive, Only God Forgives and The Place Beyond The Pines. He is one of those rare actors who enjoys both heartthrob status and the respect of the industry, all of which could help audiences perceive Aquaman in a more positive light. However, the issue with Gosling is that he isn’t typically known for starring in commercial blockbuster movies anymore and some would argue that the likelihood of him taking on a comic book role is slim. However, many doubted that Heath Ledger would be able to convince as The Joker and that performance is legendary, so it’s unfortunate that we’ll now never see Gosling’s interpretation of Aquaman. Why he deserves to play Aquaman more than Jason Momoa: He has more star power. 6) Tom Hardy Some of you may wonder if Tom Hardy could play an iconic superhero after starring as the villain Bane in The Dark Knight franchise, but that didn’t stop Ben Affleck, Chris Evans or Halle Berry from tackling numerous comic book movie roles in a similar space of time. Hardy has already proven to be adept at playing tough, rugged roles in movies like Bronson and Warrior, which required him to transform his body to fit the part, so bulking up to become a superhero certainly wouldn’t be an issue for him. As the next Mad Max, Hardy also possesses the intensity required to play a solemn leader like Aquaman. Did I mention he has the perfect look, due to his slim, but built physique and sandy blonde hair? In a similar vein to Ryan Gosling, Hardy is both a critical darling and a box office draw, which could have improved Aquaman’s chances of success on the big screen. We have a Welsh Batman with Christian Bale and a Scottish Professor Xavier with James McAvoy, so an English King of Atlantis would hardly be a stretch, right? Why he deserves to play Aquaman more than Jason Momoa: Hardy excels in transformative roles. 5) Josh Holloway Thanks to his fan favourite role on the TV show Lost, we all know Josh Holloway looks good walking shirtless out of the sea, but why would he make a good Aquaman? Ever since he first rose to fame on Lost, Holloway has been plagued with rumours regarding a potential role as the X-Men’s Gambit, but the actor would also be an excellent fit for DC’s Aquaman. Physically, he has the build required and his experience as James Sawyer on Lost shows he can play the anti-hero with ease, a trait Warner Bros. may wish to pursue with their new interpretation of the character. As one of the older actors on this list, Holloway would also be more believable in the role of a monarch. After finding fame as Sawyer, Holloway’s career post-Lost has not lived up to the potential that viewers saw back at the show's peak. Aside from a few minor cinematic roles and a brief appearance in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, the only significant project Holloway has starred in is the TV show Intelligence, which was cancelled after just one season. I think it's about time he gets another break, don't you? Why he deserves to play Aquaman more than Jason Momoa: Holloway would be more convincing as the King of Atlantis. 4) Jensen Ackles As one half of the demon hunting Winchester brothers, Jensen Ackles has starred in Supernatural for nine seasons to date and the series' success shows no sign of slowing down, as Warner Bros. have just renewed it for another season. The popularity of Supernatural has created a huge fan base for Ackles, but it’s also prevented him from taking on larger roles that would propel him to the A-list. As his fans would attest though, Ackles certainly has the charisma to appear in a larger cinematic role and a character like Aquaman would be the perfect springboard for the star to take his career to the next level. Ackles may be underrated in the mainstream, but his powerful screen presence is exactly what an Aquaman franchise would need to succeed outside of his initial Batman V Superman appearance. Utilizing the built in fan base of Supernatural certainly wouldn’t harm Aquaman’s chances of striking a chord with the public, either. Let’s just hope his hit show doesn't keep Ackles prisoner for another ten seasons… Why he deserves to play Aquaman more than Jason Momoa: Ackles is far more charismatic than Momoa. 3) Garrett Hedlund Garrett Hedlund may be less well-known than some of the other actors mentioned in this article, but it feels like the young performer has been on the brink of stardom for ages now, and he’s still only 29 years old. Many thought his starring role in TRON: Legacy would be the turning point for Hedlund, but the A-list still eluded him even after the film’s release. A role like Aquaman would be exactly what Hedlund needs to hit the big time. As one of the youngest actors on this list, Hedlund would be perfect for the role of Aquaman if the studio decide to use the latest version of the character from ‘The New 52’ reboot. This would make sense, too, as the King of Atlantis is currently enjoying newfound popularity in the comics under the watch of DC chief creative officer Geoff Johns. Also, did we mention that Hedlund is ridiculously handsome and fits the look of Aquaman perfectly? As DC’s competitors would say, "Nuff said." Why he deserves to play Aquaman more than Jason Momoa: Hedlund has a youthful energy that could capture the spirit of the current comics. 2) Alexander Skarsgard In many ways, Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgard is a similar proposition to Jensen Ackles. Both men are charismatic TV stars who have built up huge fan bases with their shows and both have the potential to become popular leading men in their own right... so why has Skarsgard been placed higher on this list than Ackles? In the role of Eric Northman on HBO’s True Blood, Skarsgard plays an authoritative anti-hero whose outsider status often thrusts him into conflict with humanity. Sounds familiar, right? Skarsgard brings intensity to every one of his scenes on the show, and this is one of the key traits that Aquaman needs to set him apart from other heroes in the DC Cinematic Universe. While he is obviously more than just a pretty face, it also doesn’t hurt that Skarsgard has a large following based on his looks, generating the kind of appeal Warner Bros. needs if Aquaman is to ever become its own successful franchise. It’s only a matter of time before Skarsgard becomes a leading man, and this would have been the ideal platform to use as a kick off point. Why he deserves to play Aquaman more than Jason Momoa: Skarsgard has proven that he can pull off a role very similar to Aquaman in True Blood. 1) Charlie Hunnam Before people began discussing Momoa as the lead contender, many fans believed that Charlie Hunnam would be officially cast in the role of Aquaman. The actor infamously pulled out of the upcoming book adaptation Fifty Shades of Grey due to scheduling issues, but now that the last season of Hunnam’s TV show, Sons of Anarchy is airing, he’s finally free to tackle a time consuming role like Aquaman. The one key issue an Aquaman franchise will inevitably face from the casual moviegoer is a lack of respect. As the lead protagonist on Sons of Anarchy, Hunnam proved in the role of Jax Teller that he can play a layered anti-hero who demands to be taken seriously. If anyone can convince audiences of Aquaman’s potential, it’s him. The physical demands of the role shouldn’t be too much of a stretch for Hunnam, either, as anyone who has seen him on Sons of Anarchy could attest. His performance in Pacific Rim also shows that Hunnam is a capable leading man and it doesn’t hurt that he resembles Aquaman more than any other actor on this list. After one look at this guy in the role, audiences will quickly realize that there is far more to Aquaman than just a guy dressed in orange who swims and talks to fish. Why he deserves to play Aquaman more than Jason Momoa: Hunnam has both the experience and the look to be the perfect Aquaman. Tell us, do you wish one of these actors had been cast as Aquaman instead, or do you still think Jason Momoa is perfect for the role? Whether you agree or disagree with our choices, remember to let us know what you think in the comments section below.