Guillermo del Toro may have abandoned ‘Justice League Dark’ after spending years developing it (under the title ‘Dark Universe’), but Warner Brothers is still keen on bringing the supernatural side of the DC Universe to the big screen.  In the comics, the JLD has included nearly every hero whose powers were supernaturally granted, but the film will feature the biggest names John Constantine, Swamp Thing, Deadman, Zatanna, Madame Xanadu and Jason Blood a.k.a. Etrigan the Demon.

There is some form of script, which is why WB chose to move forward with the project after del Toro’s departure, but at this point, there is no director. But despite this, WB is already eyeing some pretty hefty names to bring this mystical super group to life.

First up is the main character, John Constantine, the roguish chain-smoking, hard drinking paranormal investigator that has already appeared in his own solo movie in 2005 with Keanu Reeves in the role and most recently, played by Matt Ryan in a short-lived NBC series.

WB reportedly wants roguish, chain-smoking , hard drinking Irishman Colin Farrell for the part.  Farrell recently made something of a come-back in the acclaimed ‘True Detective’ and is currently working with WB on ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them’.  He’s apparently impressed the studio enough for them to pursue him for this major part.

But things aren’t 100% in Farrell’s favor as it seems WB has a second choice:

The ever impressive Ewan McGregor.  McGregor is a familiar face having starred in many high-profile films, including the ‘Star Wars’ prequels.  But lately, he’s stuck to smaller budget films.  A big super hero movie could be his reentry into the tentpole world.

Interestingly, it seems that although WB is interested in both of them for Constantine, the studio has a backup plan in place.

Whoever doesn’t get the part of Constantine, will be offered the role of Jason Blood, the human host of Etrigan the Demon.  Apparently, although it could go either way, it is most likely that Farrell will play Constantine while McGregor will play Blood.  But this is all speculative at this point.

It appears that fortuneteller Madame Xanadu will be the female lead.  And for her role, WB is said to be looking at current Bond girl woman Monica Bellucci.

Over a decade ago, Bellucci showed off her action movie chops in the ‘Matrix’ movies as Persephone.  But her current role in ‘Spectre’ proves she’s still got it!

Ron Perlman, who previously played ‘Hellboy’ in the two live action movies, was del Toro’s selection to play plant elemental Swamp Thing.

WB agrees and would still like Perlman for the role.

No names were mentioned for the other characters but it is known that the studio wants a comedic actor to play Deadman:

While they want an ethnic actor, either black or Hispanic, for Zatanna:

In the first arc of their comic series, the team found themselves battling The Enchantress.  Cara Delevingne will portray the evil sorceress in next year’s ‘Suicide Squad’ but it’s rumored that she will return in ‘JLD’ creating a bridge between these movies and the DCCU as a whole.

What do you think so far?  Personally, I think the choices are nearly perfect!  No, Farrell isn’t blond, but he has the swagger and swarthiness that Constantine embodies.  McGregor is excellent in pretty much any type of role and Bellucci has the right balance of maturity, strength and exotic intrigue.  Ron Perlman is an old pro at makeup and prosthetics so he should be great as Swamp Thing.  And regarding Delevingne’s Enchantress?  We’ll see after her debut in ‘Suicide Squad’.

What do you think?  Do have any better casting picks?  What about choices to play Deadman and Zatanna?  Comment below!

Source: Latino Review