Yesterday we brought you news of the dream cast that Warner Brothers was reported to be seeking for ‘Justice League Dark’, a super hero flick that will explore the mystical side of the DC Universe. Now comes a new bit of potential casting news. WB is reportedly looking to ‘Dark Knight Rises’ baddie Ben Mendelsohn (he played Roland Daggett) to take on another antagonist role, Anton Arcane.
Arcane is the arch nemesis of the Swamp Thing, who the WB would like to be played by ‘Hellboy’ vet Ron Perlman. Arcane is a mad scientist who has experimented with creating Frankenstein-like creatures called Un-Men. His ultimate goal is to perfect his construction of bodies in order to transfer his brain to achieve immortality. In the New 52, Arcane is an avatar of the Rot and can cause death and decay at will.
Arcane’s daughter Abigail is, ironically, the great love of Alec Holland, the Swamp Thing. In classic continuity, they were married.
Louis Jordan played Anton Arcane in the 1982 B-movie ‘Swamp Thing’ (and in its 1989 sequel) while Mark Lindsay Chapman assumed the role on the subsequent TV series.
Medelsohn is an in-demand character actor who has been nominated for numerous awards. Besides ‘The Dark Knight Rises’, he has appeared in ‘Animal Kingdom’, ‘Exodus: Gods and Kings’, ‘The Place Beyond The Pines’ and on the TV series ‘Girls’. He is currently starring on the Netflix original series ‘Bloodline’ for which was nominated for an Emmy Award.
Warner Brothers is currently seeking a director for the project after the departure of Guillermo del Toro who originated development of it, under the title ‘Dark Universe’. There is a completed script, so presumably Arcane’s role factors heavily in that.
The movie will introduce or re-introduce movie goers to scruffy paranormal investigator John Constantine, plant elemental Swamp Thing, Etrigan the Demon, murdered trapeze artist Deadman, sorceress Zatanna and fortuneteller Madame Xanadu. It’s entirely possible that Cara Delevingne’s Enchantress, who debuts in next year’s ‘Suicide Squad’ could also play a role, to tie this movie in with the larger DCCU.
More news as it develops. Do you think Anton Arcane is a suitable threat for ‘Justice League Dark’? Is Mendelsohn a good pick to play him?
Source: Screen Rant
