7 Actors Who Should Appear In Upcoming Comic Book Movies

After months of speculation, Marvel and DC have finally unveiled the specifics of their vast release schedule. The combined plans of both companies will flood cinemas with new comic book movies every year for the foreseeable future, possibly until the end of time itself. While this is yet to be confirmed, what we do know is that comic book fans are now living through a golden age of cinema, where properties as varied as Shazam, Doctor Strange and The Inhumans are all now setting their sights on the box office alongside their more iconic counterparts. Don't like superheroes? Too bad. Even Hollywood's finest are now all clamoring to helm their own comic book movies, but surprisingly, there are still a number of A-list stars who have yet to take the plunge into spandex. Undoubtedly, there is always some risk attached to these projects, but for every Green Lantern and Catwoman, there's also an Iron Man or Guardians of the Galaxy which proves that taking a gamble with Marvel or DC can potentially pay off big time. With the upcoming release schedule in mind, let's take a look at 7 A-list actors who should appear in upcoming Marvel and DC comic book movies. Not sure which character they should play? That's what we're here for, so sit back and imagine how incredible these stars could be in the roles we choose. 7) Jessica Chastain as Medusa (The Inhumans) Jessica Chastain has openly campaigned for a comic book movie role for some time now, and if recent reports are to be believed, the Academy Award nominated actress has started talks with Marvel about a secret starring role. With the announcement that The Inhumans is now officially on the cards, who would be better for the role of Medusa than Chastain? As the queen of The Inhumans, Medusa is a powerful figure who would require the kind of authority that the actress could command with ease. Medusa's ability to control her hair may sound silly on paper, but in the comics, her character is not one to be taken lightly, and Chastain certainly has the ability to pull this off. The Inhumans could be an even riskier gamble for Marvel than Guardians of the Galaxy was before its release, so the casting will help make or break this largely unknown property. Fortunately, Chastain's presence would encourage non-believers to take The Inhumans seriously and her passion for a project like this would be key during the marketing phase. Marvel needs more female heroes in the vein of Black Widow, and Chastain's Medusa could certainly hold her own alongside Scarlett Johansson's character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 6) Mila Kunis as Zatanna (Justice League) While there's been no explicit mention of Zatanna in DC's cinematic plans to date, the spellcaster has been an occasional member of the Justice League over the years and while she may be the least well-known character on this list, Zatanna certainly has the potential to become a popular cinematic hero in her own right. By saying words backwards, Zatanna has the ability to alter reality itself, fighting supernatural forces using a range of powers limited only by her imagination. Teleportation, transmutatation, pulling rabbits out of hats... the possibilities are endless for DC's premier sorceress. Whether Zatanna is eventually used as a member of the Justice League or is featured in Guillermo del Toro's adaptation of the supernatural team Justice League Dark, the role would require an A-list actress who has both the charisma and sex appeal to pull the character off. Mila Kunis has impressed in a number of roles in recent years and the sultry illusionist would be a perfect fit for her, both in terms of looks and personality. Just picture her character from Black Swan in fishnet tights and you've got a brand new female superhero that could rival any of the other heroines out there right now. 5) Emily Blunt as Hawkgirl (Justice League) Emily Blunt has been considered for numerous comic book movie roles in the past, including Peggy Carter in Captain America: The First Avenger and even Black Widow, if reports are to be believed, but the A-list actress is yet to star in a superhero movie of her own. Marvel's loss could be DC's gain though if the company decides to diversify the Justice League further by incorporating more female characters into the roster, as Blunt would be perfect for the role of Hawkgirl. Hawkman may be more prevalent in the comics, but she did have a starring role in the Justice League animated series where she used her wings and mace to fight for justice, often clashing with other members who disagreed with her violent approach. If Warner Bros. doubts Hawkgirl's potential, the writers simply need to use that template and they're onto a winner. Yes, we're suggesting a part for another superhero who DC are yet to mention in their plans, but as the Justice League movie has been split into two films, it's likely that more members beyond the core team could appear in the latter half, either in cameo roles or even more developed roles. Blunt proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that she can kick ass convincingly in Edge of Tomorrow and few heroines are as badass as Hawkgirl. 4) Armie Hammer as Captain Marvel (Shazam) In an unusual move, Warner Bros. announced that Dwayne Johnson will star in Shazam as the antagonist Black Adam, but fans are still waiting to hear who will play the lead character, Captain Marvel. It will take an actor of considerable charisma to face off against the blockbuster presence of Johnson, so DC are likely to take their time until they can find the perfect candidate. Armie Hammer may have suffered a few blows to his career recently following the disastrous reception that The Lone Ranger and Mirror, Mirror received, but the star deserves another chance after he was initially cast as Batman in George Miller's doomed Justice League movie that never saw the light of day. Captain Marvel may possess the strength of Superman, but the character requires someone who can pull off goofy, physical comedy while still being taken seriously if necessary. Hammer's role in the critically derided Mirror, Mirror demonstrated that he has both the physicality and comic timing to take on the role of Billy Batson's alter ego, so it's time that DC took a chance on the star and gave him the part he deserves. 3) Cate Blanchett as Dream (Sandman) DC have generated a lot of buzz for their upcoming comic book movies, but for many fans, The Sandman is the film that has the most potential if handled right. As part of the Vertigo imprint, DC are currently keeping The Sandman separate from the rest of their cinematic universe, possibly in a bid to develop an alternate franchise that could incorporate their supernatural properties, including Constantine and even Justice League Dark. The story of The Sandman follows Dream, an immortal being who is one of the seven Endless. Older than gods and infinitely more powerful, the Endless are the personification of reality itself. Dream, or Morpheus as he is often referred to, usually appears as a tall, thin man with white skin and black hair, but this can vary widely depending on who's in his presence. Fans may balk at the idea of Dream being played by a woman, but his androgynous appearance and otherworldly presence would lend itself well to a cross-gender performance from a talented actress like Cate Blanchett, who already proved that she can excel in these kind of roles with her part as Bob Dylan in I'm Not There (check her out in the video below). Casting a woman as Dream would be a bold move to take, but Blanchett's pedigree as an acclaimed Shakespearean stage actor and Academy-Award winning star would be perfect for a role which requires poise and elegance, two attributes she possesses in spades. 2) Charlize Theron as Carol Danvers (Ms. Marvel) Fans were ecstatic to hear that Marvel are finally going to release a movie starring a female superhero, but while those hoping for a Black Widow solo outing may have been disappointed, many rejoiced when the title Ms. Marvel was unveiled during the recent announcement. The Carol Danvers incarnation of Ms. Marvel has become a fan favorite in recent years, attracting positive critical attention for both her solo series and for her numerous appearances as a key member of the Avengers. For the part of Ms. Marvel, the studio needs to cast an actress with considerable presence who can believably convey the raw power of the character, while still retaining her charisma and appeal. For anyone who watched the modern version of Battlestar Galactica, Katee Sackhoff is the perfect choice to play Danvers, but for the sake of both the film's financial return and indeed this article, Marvel needs an A-lister such as Charlize Theron to make Ms. Marvel the first successful super-heroine movie. The Oscar-winning actress not only looks the part, but also possesses the necessary screen presence to convince audiences that women can carry comic book movies, too. Just check her out in films such as Prometheus, Monster and Snow White and the Huntsman if you need to be convinced of Theron's dedication to the roles she chooses. 1) Chris Pine as Hal Jordan (Green Lantern) After Ryan Reynolds received an overwhelmingly negative response for his role in Green Lantern, few expected the character to appear on the big screen any time soon, but the bigwigs at DC had other plans, announcing recently that the hero would be rebooted as part of the company's new cinematic universe. Back when the original movie was first being cast, rumors put Chris Pine in the running for the role of Hal Jordan, but we all know how that turned out. In the years since, Pine has become an even more bankable actor, starring in both the Star Trek and Jack Ryan franchises, proving that he's more than capable of taking on leading man status. Pine has the look and the attitude needed to make Jordan a cocky, but still likable character. DC haven't confirmed which character will actually be wearing the ring yet in the Green Lantern reboot, but if Warner Bros. are willing to give Hal Jordan another chance, Chris Pine could soon star alongside Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot and Henry Cavill in the upcoming Justice League movies. Tell us, do you think any of these casting choices could actually become a reality? And can you think of any actors better suited to these roles? Sound off in the comments section below!