Josh Brolinis an incredibly talented actor who would make a great addition to theDCU, but evidently, he didn’t resonate with the role of Hal Jordan. Brolin has been acting since he was a child, with his breakout role beingThe Goonieswhile he was still a small boy. While his passion for acting remained, it took time for the actor to shed the identity of a child star and be viewed as an actor who could compete with other greats of the day, but that all changed when he appeared in 2007sNo Country for Old Men. Since then, Brolin has consistently been able to tackle pretty much any role he sets his mind too, and turn down the offers that don’t suit him.
While he remains a talented drama star, Brolin is not afraid to venture into the world of sci-fi and fantasy, as seen by his appearance in the MCU. In the last films of the Infinity Saga, Brolin took on the role of Thanos, the Mad Titan who would single-handedly battle and win against the Avengers. He also appeared inDeadpool 2, where he played Cable, a man on a mission from the future. However, he has yet to find the right fit in the DCU, despiteBrolin being offered the role of Hal Jordan in the DCU showLanterns.
10Josh Brolin Is A Perfect Choice For The DCU’s Deathstroke
While Brolin may not resonate with the heroic Hal Jordan, he may find himself a better fit with a more villainous character like Deathstroke. Brolin clearly has a history of playing the bad guy. Thanos, Cable, Tom Chaney inTrue Grit, and many other roles have seen Brolin embrace being the bad guy. So, if Brolin would rather be the villain, why not make him one that can really present a serious threat to the heroes of the DCU.
How do we feel about the DCU’s New Hal Jordan and John Stewart castings?
It’s recently been reported that Kyle Chandler has been cast to play Hal Jordan in the DCU’s upcoming Lanterns series, while Aaron Pierre has been cast as John Stewart. I find both castings to be incredibly exciting, particularly with Chandler, who should be able to provide a dynamic version of Jordan who’s been at the Lantern gig for some time. Likewise, I’m really looking forward to seeing Chandler and Pierre’s chemistry as partners investigating a new mystery on Earth.
Deathstroke is a villain whose enhanced physiology, through the use of a super soldier serum, makes him a formidable threat to anyone, but his combat prowess and military experience combine to make him a rival to even the most powerful heroes in DC Comics. Deathstroke uses a variety of weapons, and in many ways, he shares striking similarities to characters like Cable. There have been several live-action adaptations of the character to date, with Joe Manganiello tackling the role most recently in the DCEU, but if the rebooted universe is looking for a change in actor, Brolin would be a great choice.
9Josh Brolin Could Redeem His Role As Jonah Hex
On the other hand, rather than wrestle a role from another actor who has a claim on it, Brolin could pick up a DC role from his own filmography. In 2010,Brolin starred as the titular anti-hero, Jonah Hex, in a self-titled film. Hex is a bounty hunter who becomes a legend thanks to his incredible skill, and his determination to complete the job. While he is clearly very violent and aggressive, he also lives by a strict moral code that helps to keep the anti-hero in line.
Considering Brolin has already played the role in the past, it would be a simple matter to revisit the character and look at ways to improve on that earlier performance. Brolin was clearly willing to accept the part in 2010, so he may feel some connection to it, and given the opportunity to do it the right way, it could be highly appealing. Especially considering how much more experience he has had to play major villain parts on a much grander scale, Brolin could absolutely redeem Hex for the DCU.
8Josh Brolin Could Be A Perfect Fit For General Zod
But, if revisiting a character from the past seems like too much of a chore, General Zod could be a much better fit. Zod is one of the few surviving kryptonians, and a villain who seeks to destroy Clark Kent and his precious new home, Earth. Zod is powerful, possessing all the same abilities as Superman, but he chooses to wield them to destroy and murder, while Clark sets out to save and protect. In order to capture the scale and power of such a villain, it requires an actor with presence and strength.
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Brolin is just such an actor who can’t help but have a presence whenever he appears on-screen. He is large, broad, and physically powerful, which would make him a great fit for the visual side of Zod. However, when matching up Brolin’s previous experience, he becomes an even better fit. As Thanos, Brolin embodied a character with a singular mission, who would be able to overthrow even the most powerful heroes who stood in his way. Zod is a similar role, and one that could be ideal for Brolin.
7Josh Brolin Could Be A Father Figure As Jor-El
However, none of the above should indicate that Brolin is incapable of playing a more heroic figure. Someone likeJor-El, the father of Superman, could be a great casting choice for Brolin. It requires many of the same traits as Zod. However, Jor-El is also someone who is highly influenced by his emotions and love for his son. In most iterations of the Superman story, Jor-El sacrifices himself while his child escapes, but he continues to communicate and train his son through advanced alien technology that creates a virtual copy of himself.
Brolin has been a more soft-hearted and loving figure in several of his more dramatic roles. InDune, he plays a father figure and close friend to Paul Atreides as Gurney Halleck. Gurney is a tough warrior, who wants to help train Paul to deal with any potential threats, and ensure that he is safe. Jor-El is also a tough, but loving father figure, who seeks to help his son on his journey to becoming the hero, by training him and putting him through rigorous trials.
6Darkseid Could Be A Great Villain Fit For Josh Brolin
Returning to more villainous roles, there are some other incredible villains in the DC Comics that seem like they will inevitably join the fray in the DCU at some point. Characters like Darkseid are incredible rivals to Superman who present astonishing threats. Darkseid wields incredible power to disintegrate, teleport, or even heal those who face him with the rays from his eyes. However, he uses his considerable power to acquire power and control all life in the universe.
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Darkseid is the biggest DC villain of all, but there are many great villains in the DC canon who could replace him as the big bad of the DCU.
This is evidently a more brutal and cruel tyrant than Thanos, with his purpose being to make all living beings into his own slaves, but it does feel like the characters and motivations could have links which Brolin could dig into. Perhaps a character like Darkseid would be a new challenge to see how intense the actor can make this figure, pushing th darkness which Thanos possesses to its limits. Darkseid would be an interesting challenge for Brolin, and his presence could really shift things for the heroes in a similar way to what happened in the Infinity Saga in the MCU.
5Josh Brolin Has The Authority To Play Commissioner James Gordon
However, if Brolin toned down some of his other characters, like the cowboys and the space cowboys, he could embodysomeone like Commissioner James Gordon. Gordon is the chief of Gotham Police Department, and while many of his colleagues are corrupt in a city swimming in corruption, Gordon wants to fight back. Equally, he understands that the rules can help, but occasionally hinder progress, and so he is more than willing to call on Batman and his vigilante agenda to try and push progress forward.
If Brolin is aiming to have less physical roles, considering he is now entering the latter half of his 50s, he could play someone like Gordon to continue being a large part of the story, with less of the physical intensity. Gordon is passionate, driven, and intelligent. All of these attributes are things that Brolin has proven himself very capable of playing, and it could be the perfect fit for the actor to tackle a role where he can take a few steps back, but still be very involved.
4An Older And More Experienced Jay Garrick Could Be A Perfect Fit For Josh Brolin
In a similar vein, Brolin could tackle a role like Jay Garrick, the Golden Age Flash, and mentor a younger Barry Allen. Brolin was offered the role of Hal Jordan in order to see that hero, now a little older and wiser, providing his invaluable experience to the next generation of Lanterns. Jay Garrick could be a very similar role, but it would not be set in some distant, futuristic space city with aliens and tons of CGI. If Brolin wants to be physically present, with real actors around him, playing Garrick would make sense.
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Yes, Garrick is a speedster, and CGI would obviously be used to explore those powers, but beyond that, he’s a mentor and friend to the others in the Flash family. Like Gurney Halleck, Garrick would be looking out for the safety of his friends, but he would likely be more light-hearted and positive in his approach. Brolin could use this role to settle back into more heroic stories, and still avoid a huge amount of green screen and motion capture.
3Josh Brolin Could Still Be A Green Lantern As Kilowog
But in saying that, the actor may feel the opposite. Rather than spending more time on set and around others, he may want to take a step back and engage in a less demanding role. Potentially voicing a character that could be made digitally. Kilowog could be the perfect character that would still see Brolin join the newLanternsshow, but also allow him the freedom and flexibility of recording his lines and doing little else. Or, with just a touch more work, they could employ face tracking and have the character look like him.
Kilowog is an alien and amember of the Green Lantern Corps. Because of his intimidating and intense nature, he is typically a drill instructor, barking orders at trainees and helping them find their path, although with less compassion or emotion than some others. Brolin has appeared in several films where he played a military man. This experience and the lower level of commitment could make a role in theLanternsshow more appealing, while still being able to get the actor’s name attached to the show.
2Josh Brolin Could Play A Demon As Etrigan
Another character that could offer this same level of commitment, or be more flexible by providing some live action time and some where CGI takes over is Etrigan the Demon. Etrigan is a large monster who resembles a dragon and is one of the demons of Hell. However, his soul was bonded to a mortal, Jason Blood, by Merlin, many centuries in the past. Now, Jason Blood is essentially immortal, while he wrestles with the demon spirit that possesses him, Etrigan.
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Brolin could be used as the face and voice of Etrigan, or, if a larger commitment is suitable, he could play both the demon and Jason Blood to give continuity between the characters. Either way, this kind of role would be more flexible, and potentially more dynamic and interesting for Brolin to pursue. It would certainly be interesting to see him play dual roles, but if he was only voicing a demon monster, that would still be fun and exciting.
1Josh Brolin Has The Versatility To Play A Mentor Turned Rival Like Ra’s al Ghul
Finally, returning to the world of Batman, Brolin could play Ra’s al Ghul. Ra’s was formerly the man who trained Bruce Wayne when he travelled the world after his parents' murder. Ra’s pushed Bruce to train hard, and become a new man who was capable of defeating any rival. However, eventually, Bruce learned that Ra’s was not exactly who he said he was. Ra’s is a dangerous man who has lived for centuries through the use of magical Lazarus Pits. In addition, he has formed a League of Assassins who perform terror attacks against targets chosen by Ra’s.
Having Brolin play a complex character who has a unique relationship with the hero like Ra’s does would be an interesting challenge for the actor. Dynamic characters with unique or complex histories give actors more to work with, and try to explore. For this reason, it could be an effective way to convinceBrolin to join the DCU.
