Fancast: Dark Avengers

What mainly inspired me to do a Dark Avengers cast was mainly pure boredom and that the concept of it interested me. I just find it baffling that the government would give Osborn not only his own espionage organization, but also his own team of Avengers composed of criminals disguised as Superheroes. Anyway, as an added bonus, I have the Dark Reign line up of the New Avengers as their "enemies". It just makes sense to me that the Dark Avengers would see the New Avengers as their enemy. And if that sounds too confusing, then just think of this as a double cast. Anyway, enjoy.

"Heroes":

Dark Avengers:

Sean Penn (Mystic River, 21 Grams) as Norman Osborn/Iron Patriot: The head of H.A.M.M.M.E.R., who leads the Dark Avengers under the moniker of Iron Patriot (an amalgam of Captain America and Iron Man). As Iron Patriot, Osborn wears a version of the Iron Man armor colored red, white, and blue. The suits features include superhuman strength, enhanced durability, flight, magnetic impact blasts, heat seeking missiles, miniaturized lasers, flamethrowers, and a communications system housed in his helmet which allowed him to interface with any U.S.-controlled satellite or computer network. Unlike other Iron Man suits, Osborn's does utilize repulser technology, and it has a weaker unibeam due to it being shaped like a star.



Reason for Casting: I decided to go with an original pick for Norman Osborn, because Jason Isaacs has become quite overused (even though he's a great pick). Anyway, Sean's a terrific actor who has the talent to play the cold and amoral Osborn and the manic and insane Goblin. Also, in his new movie "The Gangster Squad" (where he plays crime boss Mickey Cohen), he has this Norman Osborn vibe to him.

Charlize Theron (Monster, Young Adult) as Karla Sofen/Moonstone/"Mrs. Marvel": A former member of the Thunderbolts, who joins the Dark Avengers as "Mrs. Marvel", and receives her original costume. Sofen's powers are derived from a Kree gravity stone, which grants her the powers of gravity manipulation, flight, photon blasts, intangibility, light generation, minor molecular control, superhuman strength, speed, and durability. However, if she is separated from the stone, she'll die within 72 hours.



Reason for Casting: Charlize is a great actress, but it was her recent roles in Prometheus and Snow White and the Huntsman, where she played spiteful and manipulative, convinced me to cast her.

Dominic Purcell (Prison Break, House Of the Rising Sun) as Mac Gargan/Venom/"Spider-Man": The third incarnation of Venom, who is a cannabalistic psychopath under the symbioses' influence. He joins the Dark Avengers posing as "Spider-Man" after being given a formula that resets the symbiote to the size it was when it possessed Spider-Man. Gargan possesses superhuman physical attributes, which are greatly enhanced by the symbiote. The symbiotic grants him the powers of webshooting, wall crawling, limited shapeshifting, and can remain undetectable to Spiderman's "Spider-Sense".



Reason for Casting: Purcell's a decent actor, as seen on Prison Break and John Doe. He can easily play the brutal and savage side of Gargan.

Zachary Quinto (Heroes, Star Trek) as Bullseye/"Hawkeye": A psychotic assassin and archenemy of Daredevil. He joins the Dark Avengers under the name of Hawkeye. Bullseye is a expert marksman with pinpoint accuracy, and can turn any day-to-day object, such as pencils or paper clips, into lethal projectiles. His spinal column is laced with the indestructible metal alloy adamantium. As Hawkeye, he uses a bow and quiver.



Reason for Casting: I have to thank cardiakid for this pick. Quinto played a cold, creepy, scary-as-hell and psychotic serial killer named Sylar on Heroes. He fits a character like Bullseye more than Namor.

Rain (Speed Racer, Ninja Assassin) as Akihiro/Daken/"Wolverine": The psychotic son of Wolverine, who joins the Dark Avengers under his father's name and wears the tan and brown version of his father's costume. Daken has similar powers to his father's including an accelerated healing factor, enhanced senses, and retractable claws (two extend between his knuckles, and one extends from the underside of his wrist). Daken is also telepathically immune, and possesses the ability of pheromone manipulation that suppresses his scent and alters emotions and sensory perception of others (e.g. sexual attraction, psychotic rage, rational thinking).



Reason for Casting: I've decided to use a pick for Daken that is not Taylor Lautner (I'm not against using Twilight actors in fan casts, but Jesus, this kid id terrible). Anyway, while Rain may not have the right height, he has the right look, and has played hyper violent before in Ninja Assassin.

Cillian Murphy (In Time, Red Lights) as Noh Varr/Marvel Boy/"Captain Marvel": A Kree from an alternative universe who joins the Dark Avengers under the name Captain Marvel. However, he defects from the group when finds out that they are actually super villains posing as superheroes. Noh Varr has been enhanced with insect DNA, giving him enhanced reflexes, strength, speed, and stamina, making him triple-jointed, and allowing his fingernails to grow into a deadly crystalline spike. He also has access to advance Kree weaponry, such as self-replicating grenades and plasma guns.



Reason for Casting: Murphy's a terrific actor whose otherworldly looks work well with Noh Varr. And if anybody (and by anybody, I mean Mistress Kizuna) is going to complain about him being typecasted as villains, may I remind you that Noh Varr reformed and has joined the Avengers under the name Protector.

Joe Mangianello (True Blood, Magic Mike) as Ares: The Greek god of war, who is the brother of Herucles and an enemy of Thor. Ares is immortal, and possesses superhuman strength, speed, agility, and stamina. In battle, he wears Olympian battle armor, and uses a mace, a sword, and a battle axe forged from Adamantium.



Reason for Casting: I mainly casted Mangianello for his height, his low, but loud voice, and his acting skills. He's a giant at 6'5", is ripped, and is a great actor, as seen on True Blood. He'd kick ass as the God of War.

Eric Martsolf (Smallville, Days of Our Lives) as Robert Reynolds/The Sentry: A superhero with the power of "a million exploding suns", who made the world and himself forget that he existed. Due to covering up his past as a thief and addict, Robert projects an entity that is the dark side of his powers called The Void. The Sentry's powers include uperhuman strength, speed, stamina, agility, reflexes, senses and durability, energy projection and manipulation, matter manipulation, flight, telepathy, resurrection, a healing factor, and mental projection.



Reason for Casting: I have to thank DDD for suggesting this pick. Anyway, I've seen high profile actors such as Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio casted as the Sentry, but I believe that a lesser known actor should be casted for the role. His persona fits and he has the tall, buff build for the Sentry. Just give him long blond hair and he's a shoe-in.

"Enemies":

New Avengers:



Scott Porter (Friday Night Lights, Hart of Dixie) as James "Bucky" Barnes/Captain America: The former sidekick of the first Captain America, Steve Rogers, who takes up the mantle after Rogers' death. Barnes is a master of hand-to-hand combat, and possesses a cybernetic arm with superhuman strength and enhanced reaction time, and can also discharge bolts of electrical energy or an EMP wave. Barnes also uses Rogers' indestructable, vibranium alloy shield, as well as a Kevlar/Nomex blend, shock-absorbing costume. He also uses conventonial weapons such as knives grenades, and firearms (mainly a Colt 1911 handgun and a Luger P08 pistol).



Reason for Casting: Porter's a great actor who had audition for Cap. Since he didn't get to play the Steve Rogers Cap, then he should at least get the chance to play the Bucky Barnes Cap.

Chris Pine (This Means War, Ronin) as Clint Barton/Ronin: The Avenger formerly known as Hawkeye, who now leads the New Avengers as Ronin. Barton is an exceptional fencer, acrobat and a grandmaster marksman. As Ronin, he uses a katana, nunchuku that can be turned into a bō staff, and shurikens.



Reason for Casting: I've never been a fan of Jensen Ackles as Hawkeye, mainly because I don't think he can play a leader (remember, Hawkeye has not only lead the New Avengers, but also the West Coast Avengers, the Secret Avengers, and the Thunderbolts). Pine has the quick wit, the looks, and the charm to play a convincing Clint Barton.

Elijah Wood (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Wilfred) as Peter Parker/Spider-Man: A New York vigilante with spider powers, and a founding member of the New Avengers. Peter's abilities include wall-crawling, enhanced strength, and a clairvoyant "Spider-Sense". He also uses a pair of web-shooters that fires artificial webbing, which he developed from his father's research on adhesives.



Reason for Casting: Even though I loved Andrew Garfield's portrayal of Spidey, I think that Elijah would also make a convincing Spidey. He's talented and pretty versatile, and I think he would bring a dry sense of humor to the role.

Henry Simmons (NYPD Blue, Shark) as Luke Cage: A former heroin dealer who gained superpower after partaking in a prison experiment, and a founding member of the New Avengers. Cage's include indestructible skin, superhuman strength, and a healing factor. He is also an experienced Street Fighter.



Reason for Casting: You need an actor that is both a great actor and physically large for Luke. Simmons, standing at 6'4" is large enough for Cage and is a great actor, as seen on NYPD Blue and Shark.

Kristanna Loken (Bloodrayne, Painkiller Jane) as Carol Danvers/Mrs. Marvel: An Air Force officer who gained superpowers when her DNA was fused with Kree genes, and a prominent member of the Avengers. Danver's powers include superhuman strength, speed, stamina, and durability, energy projection and absorption, and flight.



Reason for Casting: I have to thank RoadDogXXIV for coming up with this pick. Loken is tall enough at 5'11", can kick some major ass, and has a deep voice. She'd make a kickass Mrs. Marvel.

Maggie Grace (Lost, Lockout) as Barbara "Bobbi" Morse/Mockingbird: A former S.H.E.I.L.D. agent and wife of Hawkeye. Morse is a Superbly trained athlete and gymnast, and is trained in various unarmed combats. She is also an expert with a use of Battle Staves.



Reason for Casting: Grace is a great actress who has the right height and look for Mockingbird, and knows her way around action. She'd also have great chemistry with Pine.

Stephen Dorff (Public Enemies, Immortals) as Logan/Wolverine: A prominent member of the X-Men, who joined the New Avengers after encountering them in the Savage Land. Logan possesses an accelerated healing factor, enhanced senses, and three claws located inbetween his knuckles. His claws and skeleton are also laced with adamantium.



Reason for Casting: I have to give credit to RoadDogXXIV for this pick. If I didn't, I would have been a complete douche bag, just like this guy. Anyway, Dorff is short enough for Wolverne at 5'7", and has the voice, personality, grittiness, and look for a much more convincing Wolverine (No offense to Hugh Jackman).

Evangeline Lily (Lost, Real Steel) as Jessica Drew/Spider-Woman: A former HYDRA agent turned S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent, and a founding member of the New Avengers. Drew's powers include superhuman strength, speed, stamina, agility, reflexes, senses, and durability, flight, pheromone generation, the ability to stock to walls through bio-electrici attraction, the ability to shoot beams of bio-electricity from her hands (referred to as Venom Blasts), and immunity to all poisons and radiation.



Reason for Casting: Lily is one of my favorite actresses who I believe can play a convincing Spider-Woman. Even though she is not British, she can always work with a dialect coach to get the accent.

Please leave your thoughts and comments below. I hope you have enjoyed this article. Also, rude or mean comments will be deleted,