ETERNALS Star Kumail Nanjiani Wants To Join The DCU... As Ambush Bug!

ETERNALS Star Kumail Nanjiani Wants To Join The DCU... As Ambush Bug!

Kumail Nanjiani made his MCU debut as Kingo in Eternals, but the actor also has designs on joining the DCU - though not as a major player like Superman or Batman! No, it's all about Ambush Bug...

By MarkCassidy - Jan 18, 2023 12:01 PM EST
Filed Under: Eternals

Kumail Nanjiani had a blast playing Kingo in Eternals, and has already expressed his desire to return for a sequel (should it ever materialize), but it seems the actor also has designs on joining another prominent superhero movie universe.

While being interviewed for the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Nanjiani admitted that he'd "love to tackle" a role in the DCU, but he's not exactly aiming high with his choice of character!

"[Do] you know who Ambush Bug is? Okay, well, I want to do an Ambush Bug movie. He's like this news reporter guy. He's weird."

A somewhat unusual pick, but Nanjiani has his reasons!

"Because there's no pressure on it, you know? If I do Superman, everybody's got a different idea of Superman and if it doesn't match up, they're upset. Ambush Bug, nobody cares about."

Ambush Bug was created by Keith Giffen for 1982's DC Comics Presents #52. The comedic character was originally pitched as "Bugs Bunny as a supervillain," and has gained something of a cult following over the years.

While it's highly unlikely that DC Studios co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran have any immediate plans to introduce Bug, he is right up Gunn's alley, and has appeared in the pages of Suicide Squad.

Who knows - maybe Nanjiani will get his chance to suit-up as Ambush Bug down the line?

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FilmGuy7878
FilmGuy7878 - 1/18/2023, 12:46 PM
This role would be so much better suited for him then Kingo. My fancasting for Ambush Bug has always been Danny Pudi but Kumail would kill it!
tmp3
tmp3 - 1/18/2023, 12:46 PM
ehhh his comedic timing's not really the best. feel like someone like hasan minhaj would be a lot better.
FilmGuy7878
FilmGuy7878 - 1/18/2023, 12:48 PM
@tmp3 - OMG I never even thought of Hasan. He would literally be perfect! Either him, Danny Pudi, or Trevor Noah.
dracula
dracula - 1/18/2023, 12:47 PM
Could always get Henry Winkler again
FilmGuy7878
FilmGuy7878 - 1/18/2023, 12:49 PM
@dracula - Oh yeah I forgot he voiced him on Brave and the Bold.
dracula
dracula - 1/18/2023, 1:10 PM
@FilmGuy7878 - that finale was so meta

The original shark jumper trying to save a show from jumping the shark
RolandD
RolandD - 1/18/2023, 1:00 PM
If they wanted to do Ambush Bug like he was in his own mini series or two, the DCU would have to be more established so that audiences would see what he is poking fun at. Of course he could always poke fun at any superhero tropes that are out there. I loved him in the comics but I don’t know how successful a movie would be. Like raw said, this would be right up James Gunn’s alley.
Mankzin2
Mankzin2 - 1/18/2023, 1:00 PM
Would love a movie about Ambush Bug, he is one of my favorite DC characters. Lets Do This. BAWHAAAAA
DocSpock
DocSpock - 1/18/2023, 1:02 PM


I thought I had an ambush bug earlier, but it just turned out to be all those dicey burritos I ate last night.

slickrickdesigns
slickrickdesigns - 1/18/2023, 1:02 PM
Great idea…
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 1/18/2023, 1:24 PM
I liked him as Kingo, but think he'd be more interesting in this role.
KaptainKhaos
KaptainKhaos - 1/18/2023, 1:51 PM
Yes please, I'm 100% down with this
mountainman
mountainman - 1/18/2023, 2:02 PM
Nanjiani used to be funny but he’s too full of himself these days.
THEDARKKNIGHT1939
THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - 1/18/2023, 2:41 PM
All these actors and directors pretending they're proper nerds by namedropping obscure comic book characters.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 1/18/2023, 2:47 PM
He's right. When it's a relatively unknown, nobody cares how much is changed. Kingo himself is a very good example of this.
Scarilian
Scarilian - 1/19/2023, 5:00 AM
@bkmeijer1 -
True, to an extent. Though if its relatively unknown then you'll have the diehard fans who will be pissed if you make changes and those who don't care at all about the character and as such won't be interested in seeing the character explored on-screen.

Sure you'll have the casual audience who will be fine with a character as long as the actor is someone they like or they are developed well - but generally if the character is so obscure why even bother making it that character.

Could take these traits and just have them be a new character.

Honestly though, this speaks more to him wanting to do independent roles without the creative pressures or fan judgement of him trying to portray a well-known character.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 1/19/2023, 7:35 AM
@Scarilian - yeah, there will always be fans upset about something.

Thing is, I think it still helps taking something from the source material and just completely reinventing it. Kinda like Scarlet Scarab in Moon Knight.
Scarilian
Scarilian - 1/23/2023, 6:20 PM
@bkmeijer1 -
Perhaps that was well adapted, I've yet to give Moon Knight a watch. I think what most fans want ideally is to see the comic brought to screen, rather than changes though. Granted the comic may need to be updated slightly to the modern aesthetic but I don't think that logic should also apply to iconic aspects such as who the character is, what they look like as a person, etc...
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 1/24/2023, 5:06 AM
@Scarilian - ''I think what most fans want ideally is to see the comic brought to screen''

And to those people I say pick up the comic then if you want that. I think change is necessary, but indeed not to the core of the character (unless that character appeared like 5 times and is basically an unknown).
dragon316
dragon316 - 1/18/2023, 3:56 PM
Ha he looks like kickass with antenna
Toonstrack
Toonstrack - 1/18/2023, 9:51 PM
Im very ok with this
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