Star power is one of the most important resources that a big blockbuster franchise has. Their biggest names are tied to their characters, and recasting a role halfway through the series could be lethal. However, what happens when a huge movie star changes roles within the same massive franchise? Some say thatAquamanfans might have to deal with that question soon.
Jason Momoa is oneof the biggest stars still tied to the DC Extended Universe. James Wan’sAquamanfilm gave him a solid showcase to demonstrate his regal screen presence. The entire franchise is caving in on itself, so Momoa might find himself changing roles and taking on the mantle of the Main Man next year.
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If the rumors are true, next year’sAquaman and the Lost Kingdommay be the last time Momoa takes on the role of Arthur Curry. If he does leave the role, fans have tossed out some other roles he could take on. A clear favorite has emerged, both among hardcore DC Comics fans and some members of the DC Studios crew. Momoa is reportedly being considered for the role of Lobo. The leap from Aquaman to Lobo would be a substantial one. They’re two wildly different characters with entirely separate worlds and stories. The difference in tone between the two works is sizable. When examining this possible change, it’s worth wondering whether recasting Momoa would be an improvement for thenew DCEU as a whole.
So who is Lobo? The vast difference in public profile between the two characters may be the first thing raising eyebrows among fans.Lobo was introduced asa villain in 1983, but his popularity gradually got him reassigned. In 1990, his mildly unoriginal backstory was retconned, and he starred in his own four-issue solo series. Lobo was designed as a parody of Marvel Comics characters like Wolverine and The Punisher. He was designed to beat them at their own game with ultraviolence, colorful language, and a comical biker motif. Lobo rides around the universe on a big metal Space-Hog, and he’s known on every planet as the best bounty hunter who ever lived. Naturally, writers Keith Giffen and Roger Slifer vastly misjudged the tastes of comic book fans. Instead of enjoying him as the parody ofgrim and gritty edgelords, fans celebrated his complete lack of self-awareness. Lobo’s creators still have no idea why he became popular, but Stan Lee did repeatedly name him as his favorite DC character.
If the new DCEU does intend to make a movie about the Main Man, Jason Momoa is a pretty great choice for the role.Lobo is the kind of characterwho is instantly amazing at anything he tries. His primary goal in life is enacting violence and his capabilities in a fight are so outlandish as to regularly be humorous. His abilities change based on the writer, but he’s almost always exactly as strong as he needs to be to kill whatever’s in front of him. Personality-wise, he’s arrogant, brutish, and angry. The role could be portrayed with a straight face, but people tend to hate Lobo when there’s no comedy in his presentation. It’s much more likely that a Lobo movie would be an action comedy with Momoa doing most of the jokes. If played right, Momoa would make a perfect Lobo. He even has a long history of other roles to parody with a more comedic performance. It’s a solid choice, but does the franchise lose more than it gains by giving up its Aquaman?
The DCEU has had a weird relationship with Aquaman over the handful of works he’s appeared in. He was portrayed like an underwater cryptid inBatman v Superman’s handful of trailers. He gets a full backstory and narrative in his first solo film, and he’s somewhat important inJustice League. The franchise seems obsessed with portraying the character as the edgy goth of the DC Universe. In some scenes, he feels like he’strying to out-gritty Batmanof all people. Aquaman is still trying to outrun the apparently corrosive label of “the sensitive one” he picked up in the 60sSuper Friendscartoon. His story is, in many ways, the opposite of Lobo’s. Aquaman dared to be wholesome and paid the price, while Lobo tried to push edginess to its breaking point and earned universal acclaim. There’s something poetic in taking Jason Momoa from Aquaman and putting him in the role of Lobo.
Jason Momoa would make a great Lobo. Lobo is a perfect fit forJames Gunn’s take on the DCEU. Aquaman would lose the star power, but this could give the franchise a chance to step back and realize that the guy who talks to fish doesn’t need to feel like he wandered out ofGame of Thrones. If the rumors are true and Momoa is switching roles, it’s likely to be an improvement for the DCEU as a whole.
