Director/Writer: Guillermo Del Toro
Pacific Rim is arguably the most polarizing movie of 2013 (although it did very well overseas) so I can see this decision receiving mixed reviews. However, few can question the look and feel of the film as a whole and the epic and grandiose fight scenes between the kaijus and Jaegers, particularly the one within Hong Kong. Furthermore, he directed and/or wrote arguably the two best Horror/Fantasy Superhero Movies, “Blade 2” and “Hellboy”. In fact, those movies might have been the two best darker themed Superhero Movies not made by Nolan and Bale. Many people have been clamoring for Marvel’s darker characters and they just wouldn’t be a good fit within Joss Whedon’s Avengers team. They also might not get their due-dilligence with such a crowded and star-studded cast. In my opinion, Del Toro would be the best option for Blade: Rise of the Midnight Sons, which would be the intro to a Midnight Sons film franchise that can launch the characters to dark to release within the Avengers universe.
Producer/Effects Artist: Joe Johnston
Joe Johnston was the director of “The Wolfman” which was in my estimation a flawed, but underappreciated Horror movie. It won an Academy Award for best makeup, and I think in conjunction with Del Toro’s imagination the two could make movie magic. He was also the director and producer of “Captain America: First Avenger”, which was also a pretty good movie. He also did a lot of costume and makeup work with the original three Star Wars movies. I considered him as the director, but Captain America wasn’t quite dark enough, although solid, and “The Wolfman” was flawed, but the look and feel was pretty good.
Cast:
Blade: Idris Elba (Others Receiving consideration Wesley Snipes, Michael K Williams, Michael B Jordan)
Wesley Snipes was almost my choice here, since he’s only a few years older than Robert Downey Jr. and redefined the characterization of the Blade character. But, he hasn’t been Blade in over 10 years (and the last Blade movie was god awful) and I can see Marvel wanting to distance itself from something a different cinema studio already did. Idris Elba is already under contract with Marvel with the Thor franchise, but it’s a minor character. He, just like Snipes, is a great combination of leading looks, an on screen presence, charisma and actual acting chops. He also has a super hero’s build and should make a convincing leading superhero. Michael K Williams from “The Wire”, “Boardwalk Empire” and “12 years a Slave” encompasses many of these same attributes, but doesn’t quite have the leading man look or the name recognition to carry a film even with legit acting chops. Michael B Jordan is an up and comer, and I’d be shocked if he didn’t get a Superhero gig in the future, but he’s too young to be Blade within the next 5-10 years.
Dr. Strange: Liam Nesson (Others receiving considering Hugo Weaving)
Liam Nesson has vast action movie experience and always gives a sense of wisdom to all of his characters. Also, I expect him to get his own stand alone film and he is a big enough actor to carry it. Although he is somewhat long in the tooth, Dr. Strange is the Sorcerer Supreme and doesn’t need to be young. I believe Hugo Weaving could possible do an even better job than Liam Nesson as Dr. Strange, but due to the fact that he’s already been Red Skull in Captain America; I imagine Marvel is far from done with him as that character.
Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider:
I am not a Nicholas Cage fan outside of his crazy rants in movies, but I actually didn’t hate him as Ghost Rider. My biggest complaint is that I didn’t buy him as a former dare devil. I can picture Chris Pine as a former daredevil and he has the potential to lead his own movie. Furthermore, he has shown the potential to be serious, but he does have some comic relief since this will be a somewhat heavy movie.
Jacob Russoff/Werewolf by Night: Michael Fasbender
Michael Fassbender was born to play a monster in a movie. He has the acting chops to be in isolation the way men who battle with an inner demon do, but also can show great fits of anger that a man within a wolf would show. Also, Werewolf by Night is a European character and Michael Fassbender, although can speak with a solid American accent, is a European and would fit the role. He’s obviously a great actor and I think would’ve been a much better protagonist in the movie “The Wolfman” no offense to Benicio Del Torro. Even though Werewolf movies often do not do well, I think he too could get a movie spinoff.
Dormammu: Madds Mikkelson
He is best known for portraying the villain in Casino Royale and more recently Hannibal Lecture in the show “Hannibal”. His characters are so evil and cunning, I think it appropriate for Mikkelson to be the main antagonist for Nesson’s Strange. I also think it appropriate that there is demon symbolism within the show “Hannibal” with Mikkelson’s character.
Future Movies:
I do not think this franchise needs more than four people within this team due to the presence of these characters. I also think all four of these characters could carry their own solo movie and a team up Midnight Sons franchise could have a somewhat revolving cast. The reason I consider calling it “Blade: Rise of the Midnight Sons” because Blade is probably the most well known character of the four due to the fact that non-comic book fans know who he is from his film trilogy.
Possible Future Cast
Punisher: Josh Brolin
Technically the Punisher isn’t a midnight sons character, but he’s extremely popular and has teamed up with Werewolf by Night in the comics. Furthermore, I am somewhat scared to pulled the trigger on this due to Jonah Hex, but other roles due point to Punisher being a fit for Brolin.
Dracula: Javier Bardem
He’s too great a villain to not work as Dracula. I am aware that Dracula has already been involved in a Blade movie, but I choose to act as if that movie didn’t exist due to its flaws.
Mephisto: Daniel Day-Lewis
Same thing I said about Javier Bardem times 10. Might be the best actor of this generation, and only does about one movie every four years. I do think though that if the script was right, Day-Lewis could consider playing the devil.