Casting The Champions
I’ve been reading Miles Morales comics lately. That being said, I’ve come across some new characters and I thought, what with this being a place where I can do pretty much whatever I want, I could try my hand at casting a Champions movie.
To be fair I don’t know much about the Champions, I have read Civil War II which I think they are a part of and I’ve read most collected issues of the Miles Morales stories including both Spider-Men Graphic novels. My point is sue me if this isn’t your favourite Champions line up. It’s the one I’d like to see on the big screen.
Team Member:
Amadeus Cho/The Totally Awesome Hulk
Casting Choices:
Actor:
Ross Butler
Why Though:
I gotta say for a team of teenagers, 28 is pretty old. But I’d see these characters more as university aged, and I feel like Amadeus should be played as older and sort of the Iron Man-esque cocky guy who thinks he’s in charge. Seeing him all over Netflix in the first season of Riverdale and 13 Reasons Why, I feel like Ross can bring that energy.
Actor:
Brandon Soo Hoo
Why Though:
Yes I did say I’d cast him as Iceman on Spoiled Rotten, but that’s kind of crazy talk. Brandon could definitely be the more age appropriate (at 22) Amadeus Cho who isn’t played like a leader, but, more like a Raphael type who brings discord to the group because he’s such a lone wolf/loose cannon.
Actor:
Ki Hong Lee
Why Though:
Yeah I know, I’ve casted him in the past as a potential Dick Grayson/Nightwing on Spoiled Rotten. I hate to look like I don’t have an endless mental rolodex of actors to cast, but it looks like that’s the case. Another thing He’s got going against him is that he’s definitely the oldest choice at 32. However, he’s got a youthful look to him and I think he could pull off likeable leader. It’s jut down to whether or not that would be the best way to go with the Totally Awesome Hulk on this team.
Team Member:
Kamala Khan/Ms Marvel
Casting Choices:
Actor:
Geraldine Viswanathan
Why Though:
My vision for Ms Marvel is that she’d be the lead by example type. Just like Captain America, the audience will just like her because she’s a good person. She’ll be funnier and make more self aware references, however, I see her as a leader of the team and from the two movies I’ve seen her in this year, Geraldine is the goods. She’s in the right age range and I find her very funny as well as strong. I really don’t want it to be anyone but her but for fun let’s also take a look at…
Actor:
Sunita Mani
Why Though:
She’s older which might help with the whole leader vibe. I like her for the same reasons as Geraldine. I’ve seen her in Mr. Robot, The Good Place and Glow and got a different vibe, for the most part, every time which shows range, which shows she could be great in this role.
Actor:
Tiya Sircar
Why Though:
I’ve gotten to know Tiya more on The Good Place and as such I’m aware she’s older than the character she played in The Internship. I just can’t shake the idea that she’d also be a good Kamala Khan. Especially if Ms Marvel is the leader I envision. Like the other options on this list I truly believe she has the perfect blend of humour and ability to take charge.
Team Member:
Lana Baumgartner/Bombshell
Casting Choices:
Actor:
Cailee Spanee
Why Though:
I started off the year with Cailee in the sequel to Pacific Rim and was impressed with her plucky nature. But I just saw Bad Times at the El Royale and I feel she could really pull off what I envision for Bombshell on this team. I’ve only read Bombshell in the aforementioned Miles Morales graphic novels and I recently read one where she gets pulled into evil doing by her villain mother, also named Bombshell. I would definitely explore Lana’s inner conflict as she struggles with allegiances to friends like Miles and family like her mother.
Actor:
Brigette Lundy-Paine
Why Though:
I’ve only seen Brigette in Atypical even though it says they’re in Downsizing… but we don’t talk about that movie over here. I think they can pull off dark and mysterious as their teammates have to figure out if they’re loyal to them or their mother.
Actor:
Hailee Steinfeld
Why Though:
I’d want Hailee from back in the True Grit days. Not her Pitch Perfect vibe. I wouldn’t even want her to be as upbeat and positive as she seems in the Bumblebee trailer. I don’t know if she could pull off the conflict and GRIT I see for this character, but she impressed me with that first big role and I’ve been looking forward to another great performance like that. That Edge of Seventeen movie was pretty close!
Team Member:
Miles Morales/Spider-Man
Casting Choices:
Actor:
Niles Fitch
Why Though:
Yeah I watch This is Us and I like watching it! The other upside is that I know Niles can do angsty, which is sorta Miles’ M.O. Niles is definitely the youngest which is good since I want Miles to be the entry point for the audience. The young kid who is figuring out his powers and the superhero world in general. Niles casting would be connected to who plays Ms Marvel and Bombshell as those three characters have a sort of love triangle thing going on. I don’t think I’d focus on that but I’d still want the choice to go down that route at some point. Initially I’d just want Ms Marvel and Bombshell to be like confidants for Miles. The team members he fully embraces and who fully embrace him.
Actor:
RJ Cyler
Why Though:
What can I say? I’m an RJ fan. He’s shown range to a certain degree. You can’t say he’s doing the same thing in White Boy Rick, as he’s doing in Power Rangers, or even that Sierra Burgess is a Loser movie I watched some of with Pauline. So while he presents as tough, I know he can do sensitive which is a big part of Miles for me.
Actor:
DeRon Horton
Why Though:
I appreciate DeRon on Dear White People. I think that’s the vibe I’d want from Miles, this guy who doesn’t trust his instincts and is desperately trying to figure out his identity. But DeRon has got range as well. It took me like two episodes to realize he’s in season two of American Vandal. He just has a completely different vibe in that show and that interests me as an audience member and potential casting director of this movie.
Team Member:
RiRi Williams/Ironheart
Casting Choices:
Actor:
Quavenzhané Wallis
Why Though:
I want Ironheart to be the youngest on the team. I think the fact that the brains of the team is the youngest could lead to some nice character beats. I also want her to be the character having the most fun, because who wouldn’t be having fun if she was the smartest super hero with access to Stark technology before she was even 18? Like Shuri, but without the famous brother and family history. Enter Quavenzhané. She has fun doing pretty much anything! She was the best part of that Annie movie because she sold that positivity and she gave the very sad Beasts of the Southern Wild its fun moments.
Actor:
Storm Reid
Why Though:
I didn’t like A Wrinkle in Time, but I like Storm Reid. I want to see her do more and this could be a great role for her. She’s the same age as Quvenzhané, but doesn’t’ bring the same energy. She feels a bit older and more methodical which could be good for getting out some of the science talk.
Actor:
Aja Naomi King
Why Though:
Yeah this would be a different direction for RiRi. Casting Aja would mean she’s an elder statesman of the team along with the Hulk and possibly Ms Marvel. I’d be ok with that. Aja definitely knows how to deliver dialogue in a way that makes you forget she’s acting. I believe everything she says on How to Get Away With Murder. Which would be important, again, for the science talk.
Team Member:
Sam Alexander/Nova
Casting Choices:
Actor:
Jason Genao
Why Though:
I tried to cast him as a Green Lantern and thought better of it. I don’t care that he’s already played a hero in Logan. This would be his defining super hero role. I don’t know much about Nova but I do know that Sam was part of that show where Spider-Man went to school with Luke Cage, Nova, and White Tiger. Anyway, I see Nova as Miles’ friend the same way Zack and Slater were friends. There’s a rivalry but they’d never be able to leave each other alone.
Actor:
Tyler Alvarez
Why Though:
I really like Tyler because of American Vandal. I think he does a great job on that show. For no real tangible reason, I think that means he’d do a great job as Sam Alexander. If I had to guess it’s because I’m really interested in young actors that can switch it up. I don’t think Tyler’s American Vandal character is anything like his Orange is the New Black caharacter. There’s a different posture and vibe to both of them. I’ve only noticed him in those two shows so there may be more examples. Showing that kind of diversity always catches my eye.
Actor:
Alex Wolff
Why Though:
The fact that I didn’t remember while watching Hereditary, that Alex was the same dude in Jumanji goes back to that range. Obviously I’d want him to bring the Hereditary energy and really get into it with Miles but then also know that they have each other’s backs.
-YG