Jared Leto just played the Joker in the so-bad-you-want-to-forget-it Suicide Squad, and now he is going to play C-list villain and sometimes Spider-Man ally Morbius the Vampire in a standalone film. I guess the "hot actors" are who they are, but it's odd to me that there are seemingly so few faces in Hollywood, especially in the superhero genre. I know the genre is pretty overstuffed these days, but shouldn't that be more reason to break out new actors and unexpected casting choices? Just look at this list, and keep in mind this is off the top of my head; I'm sure there are more.
Ryan Reynolds: Hannibal King, Green Lantern, Deadpool
Chris Evans: The Human Torch, Captain America
Ben Affleck: Daredevil, Batman
Halle Berry: Storm, Catwoman
Brandon Routh: Superman, The Atom (TV)
Doug Jones: Abe Sapien, Silver Surfer
Ryan Reynolds has played three friggin superheros? Are you serious? And yes, I know that technically Abe Sapien from the BPRD (Hellboy) isn't an "actual" superhero, but he's definitely some kind of aquatic mutant, and he has powers, so I'm keeping it in there.
With those names fresh in your mind, Deadline has just reported that Morbius: the Living Vampire's standalone film (why we need a standalone film for Morbius is beyond me) will star Jared Leto. Morbius was first introduced in 1971's The Amazing Spider-Man #101, and he started out as a biochemist named Michael Morbius, who fails to cure his rare blood disorder, but succeeds in basically turning himself into a vampire. He develops vampiric superhuman abilities and the physical traits of a vampire, like a jacked up face and chalk white skin. He also has a vampire's insatiable lust for human blood, and despite trying to not eat people, he usually walks the line between tragic figure and nightmarish vigilante. He flies, he bites, he has superhuman strength. You know... he's a "living" vampire.
Daniel Espinosa (Life) will direct the film, and the script is being written by Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama, who did last year's crap-ass Power Rangers movie. You remember; the one where the Power Rangers don't become the Power Rangers until the last twenty minutes of the movie? Of course you do. It sucked hard.
No release or filming date has been set yet, but I gotta tell you, as a big fan of Spidey, I don't have high hopes for all these standalone spinoffs.
You'll know more when we do.
