Comic Book Casting: Teen Titans Movie

With a sequel to The Dark Knight and a revamp of the Superman franchise underway, DC needs to start planning its next big moves when it comes to movies – and I’ve got just the idea for them – a team movie. While the idea of a Justice League film seems appealing, it might be out of reach for a few years yet and I would instead put my money on a Teen Titans movie.

Think about it. The Teen Titans are second only to the Justice League in terms of popularity inside the DCU, and the 2003-06 Cartoon Network series did a lot to educate the public on just who they are. And now that those kids watching that have grown up a couple years, now is the time to strike and bring Teen Titans to life.

The Concept:

Teen Titans isn’t just the Justice League for the adolescent set – they’re teenagers who happen to have super-powers. They want to be heroes the same way your kid nephew wants to be a race-car driver. Most super-hero movies show the heroes ready for action, but Teen Titans are about inexperience, akin to the early moments in the Spider-Man movie or the students in the X-Men movie.

For a storyline, the rough outline would be that Teen Titans is a informal gathering of would-be heroes and heroes-in-training done without their parents’ (or guardians’) knowledge. It’s Goonies set in the DCU – it’s too bad they step into the crosshairs of the world’s foremost assassin, Deathstroke.

The Director:

To bring this to life, you need more than just an action movie director; you need someone who can balance action, special effects, and most importantly – immaturity. For this, I’d enlist director/actor Stephen Chow of Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle fame. Although he hasn’t helmed an English-language picture (yet), Chow would be a spirited import that could bring some untraditional Hollywood thinking to a concept far removed from DC’s movies to date.

The Cast:

Robin – Logan Lerman: 19 year old actor Logan Lerman has become one of the most in-demand teen actors, whether it be supporting roles such as in 3:10 To Yuma and Gamer as well as starring roles in Percy Jackson & The Olympians and The Three Musketeers. He would be perfect to cast as a young Dick Grayson in a Teen Titans movie, acting as a would-be leader amongst a team of teens who can’t agree on anything.

Starfire – AnnaSophia Robb: For the otherworldly bombshell Starfire, I’d enlist former chil actor AnnaSophia Robb. Although best known for her role in the Charlie & The Chocolate Factory remake, it’s her recent performance in Soul Surfer landed her this part in my book. Give her a good script and a great make-up artist, and you’d be set.

Cyborg – Tristan Wilds: Although he’s known by most for his role in 90210, Tristan Wilds will forever be to me a castmember of The Wire. Wilds could definitely handle a young Cyborg role as he comes into his digital domain.

Beast Boy – Callan McAuliffe: It takes a special kind of actor to play the amorphic Beast Boy, and after seeing I Am Number Four I’m sold that McAuliffe could wow audiences as Beast Boy. Even beneath some green make-up (and sometimes voicing his transformations), McAuliffe could give a real personality to what could be a one-dimensional character in a live-action movie.

Raven – Elizabeth Gillies: Thank my niece for bringing this one to my attention. Currently starring in the Nickelodeon sitcom Victorious, actress Elizabeth Gillies has an on-screen presence that should take her far.. and she has the look to make a convincing (and entrancing) Raven

Deathstroke – Ron Perlman: After hearing Perlman voice Slade in the Teen Titans cartoon, it’s a no-brainer that I’d want Ron Perlman to continue that into a live-action feature. He would kill this role.