The superheroes we want to see on screen
In honor of Avengers: Infinity War, featuring the biggest imaginable cast of superheroes across too-many-to-count Marvel franchises, we decided to do a little crusader casting of our own. These female comic-book characters are yet to make it to the big screen, but when they do, this is who we want to see don the costumes. By ANNABEL BROG
ANNA KENDRICK AS SQUIRREL GIRL
In the spirit of transparency, this was actually Anna Kendrick’s call, who in our cover interview said: “My brother sent me a Squirrel Girl comic because he thinks I should play her. I don’t know what Squirrel Girl does other than be half squirrel, but I could be half squirrel!” In fact, Squirrel Girl’s story arc involves her saving Iron Man from Doctor Doom, so there’s quite a bit of kicking ass involved. We’re with Kendrick all the way on this one, and look forward to the franchise coming soon.
STORM REID AS ROBIN
Batman’s trusty sidekick Dick Grayson meets an untimely end in Frank Miller’s cult Dark Knight series, leaving Bruce Wayne with an (even bigger) guilt complex and the role of Robin vacant. Enter a scruffy 13-year-old called Carrie Kelly, who picks up the ‘boy’-wonder mantle, immersing herself deep undercover in feral teenage street gangs and making clever use of a slingshot. Reid has proven she can helm a massive Hollywood blockbuster with this year’s A Wrinkle in Time, so she’ll more than hold her own in the DC Justice League universe opposite the likes of Ben Affleck (Batman) and Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman). Bring it.
SAOIRSE RONAN AS DESTINY
Austrian mutant Irene Adler may be blind, but her precognitive ability to predict the future also allows her to ‘see’ targets when she’s firing her crossbow, which is helpful – and deadly. As Destiny, she is foe to the X-Men and the lover of shape-shifting mutant Mystique, played on-screen by Jennifer Lawrence. Only an actor of Ronan’s skill, stature and incandescent beauty can take that on. Fun fact: the original comic-book writers intended for Destiny and Mystique to have a child (Mystique takes the male form to circumvent biological restrictions), but the idea was censored. Shame. Maybe they can revisit the idea for the films?
BELLA HEATHCOTE AS DEATH
Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman is the most lauded comic-book series yet to be adapted (not through lack of effort on the part of the studios, we might add). When it happens, and it will, expect full-on Hollywood campaigning to win the part of The Sandman’s sister, Death – incongruously but brilliantly written as a young, pretty goth with a chirpy, optimistic demeanor and down-to-earth approach to the job. Whoever wins the role will need a cute smile, a PhD in tough love, and cheekbones sharp enough to cut diamonds. And, in the case of our choice, Australian actress Bella Heathcote, industrial-strength black hair dye.
EMILY BLUNT AS SHE-HULK
Shy lawyer Jennifer Walters receives an emergency blood transfusion from her cousin Bruce Banner and the result is She-Hulk: a milder, more rational and – because this is comic world, where females must fit a certain mold – more aesthetically pleasing version of her male counterpart. After a stint with the Avengers, Jennifer goes solo and eventually adopts her She-Hulk form permanently, preferring the freedom that comes with being a big, strong, green (but still very attractive) Amazon. Enter Emily Blunt – tough, cool, funny, gorgeous and such an amazing actor that she will easily be able to do for She-Hulk what Mark Ruffalo has done for the He-version.
BLAKE LIVELY AS BLACK CANARY
Combat pro Dinah Laurel Lance is a mean, dirty, fighting machine – skilled in boxing, martial arts, gymnastics and covert-ops spy-mastery. She also rides a motorcycle and has a ‘Canary Cry’ superpower, which loosely means she screams sonic, matter-shattering vibrations. In some incarnations, she can scream downwards and glide through the air on the reverb, too. So, long honey-colored hair, killer body, a proven ability to handle tough guys: we give you Blake Lively, who looks the part, acts the part and lives the part in real life, keeping husband Ryan Reynolds, aka Deadpool, in line.
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