Now that the Justice League business is all done, the DC film universe is kicking it into high gear, and just announced various casting moves. There will be some new faces in Hall H if we ever get to go back there.
• Finally Pierce Brosnan has joined the comic book movie world! The former Bond will play Dr. Fate, aka Kent Nelson, in the upcoming Black Adam film. The Rock, who plays the title role, was excited by the news, and so are we.
Such a pleasure to announce the final member of our #JusticeSociety, the bad ass statesman,
Mr @PierceBrosnan as the iconic and all knowing, DR. FATE.
I’m grateful to have such a talented, diverse and hungry cast. #BlackAdam⚡️https://t.co/3gyTgP9MQ9— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) March 24, 2021
Brosnan joins the Justice Society in the film, a group that also includes Aldis Hodge as Hawkman, Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher, and Quintessa Swindell as Cyclone. Marwan Kenzari is also playing an unknown role.
Production gets underway in Atlanta next month, with Jaume Collet-Serra directing, and a script by Rory Haines, Sohrab Noshirvani and Adam Sztykiel,
Dr. Fate was created by Gardner Fox and Howard Sherman and goes back to the olden days of DC, a well worn tale of an ordinary guy who gets powers from a mysterious object. Besides wearing a cool helmet, Dr. Fate brandishes various magical powers.
Brosnan is, of course, best known for playing James Bond, but his post-007 career has veered from indie fare (The Matador) to crowd pleasers (Mamma Mia) and most recently, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. In addition to being suave and handsome, Brosnan has a nice touch for comedy, so he covers all the bases. He’s also been seen sporting a Colonel Sanders look of late, but these pappy vibes should suit Dr. Fate just fine.
• Speaking of covering all the bases, Dame Helen Mirren has joined Shazam: Fury of the Gods as the villain, Hespera.
Shazam 2 picks up where the first movie left off, with Zachary Levi in the title role, David F. Sandberg directing and script by Henry Gayden. Rachel Zegler is also in the cast, and reportedly she and Mirren will play sisters. The film is set for release in June 2023, and the plot is shrouded in secrecy, but based on the title, we can expect to encounter some angry gods.
Mirren is no stranger to comic book movies, having appeared in Red and Red 2 previously. She’s also appeared in several Fast and Furious films, so she’s definitely ready for action.
As for Hespera, the character doesn’t seem to be an existing DC character — or a mythological one, for that matter. But whoever it is, we’re sure that Oscar-winner Mirren will be up for the task.
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• Finally, Ron Livingston will join The Flash movie, taking over the role of Henry Allen, Barry’s dad, from Billy Crudup. An uncredited Crudup was seen in Zack Snyder’s Justice League in the role, but scheduling conflicts with Apple TV’s The Morning Show meant he had to step aside.
Livingston is a veteran who has been in tons of movies like The Conjuring, but you probably know him best as Peter Gibbons in Office Space.
While the Flash film has been perpetually postponed, it looks like it will be speeding into production relatively soon. Ezra Miller will reprise his role as the Flash, with Kiersey Clemons returning as Iris West. Sasha Calle, Saoirse-Monica Jackson and Rudy Mancuso are also in the film — as are, reportedly, both Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton playing various Batmen. Based on this, is seems that Barry’s dimension-hopping skills will be put to the test — one assumes in a quest to change the fate of his mother, Nora.
Andy Muschietti directs The Flash, from a script by Birds of Prey‘s Christina Hodson.
