There’s no doubt that since being announced as the creative head of a rebooted DCU, James Gunn has been letting everyone know who’s in charge. It’s clear that the Suicide Squad director has a vision that he’s keen to see realized, but that hasn’t stopped DC die-hard fans from trying to use the power of the internet to get some ideas on his radar.
In a recent popular post on the DC_Cinematic subreddit, a fan pointed out that we’ve not really had a chance to see Vandal Savage do his thing. This isn’t the first time that the prehistoric bad guy has been touted to appear in Gunn’s new reboot, but now it seems the calls are getting stronger.
The immortal supervillain, who’s been trying to take over Earth for over 50,000 years, has plenty of pedigree, appearing in dozens of different DC Comics and also being a member of the Injustice Society and Legion of Doom. With a combination of advanced healing abilities, super strength, and a genius tactical brain, he’s a worthy foe for anyone — especially the Justice League (hint hint, James).
So far, the character has appeared in CW’s seemingly sidelined Arrowverse a couple of times, played wonderfully by Casper Crump. However, fans are now keen to see the master fighter in Gunn’s reboot, and for good reason. Savage’s immortality — gained from contact with a meteorite during the prehistoric period and later found to be the result of subatomic robots called tektites — has allowed him to become an unparalleled hand-to-hand fighter, as well as giving him the ability to expertly use lots of different weapons.
Even though there’s no indication that Gunn is considering including Savage as a villain – or even the main villain – in his Justice League reboot, the fan castings have already begun. A predictable, but also relevant, favorite is the legendary Javier Bardem, who has shown his brilliance in these kinds of roles with his standout performance as a robot-like, determined villain in No Country for Old Men.
Kiwi actor Manu Bennet has also had his name thrown into the ring by some fans, which makes sense considering his fantasy experience – and the fact he just looks like the sort of man who’s spent 50,000 years getting swole.
Savage also appeared in three animated films: Justice League: Doom, Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League – Cosmic Clash, and Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay. In the first two of these films, Phil Morris reprised his voice acting role, whereas, in the Suicide Squad film, Savage was voiced by Jim Pirri.
So, while the character hasn’t appeared in too many live-action DC shows and movies, he’s also not just someone who’s only appeared in the comics. He’s also been a foe of the Justice League outside of the comics multiple times. Perhaps Gunn really does have something to think about.