Gearing up for The Avengers feature film set now to debut in 2012 I run down my choices for the cast and the characters I would like to appear.

Screen writer Zak Penn has stated that the script was loosely based of the events of The Ultimates which, in my opinion, can only be a good thing. As I stated in my Justice League Film post, I feel that the first Avengers movie should be about The Avengers, and, that being the case, i would hope to see a largely faceless villain like the Skrull/Chitauri seen in volume one of The Ultimates. In truth, I'd really like to see The Ultimates Vol 1 in its entirety on the screen from the battle with The Hulk to Giant Man vs Cap to The Ultimates vs The Chitauri.

I have seen that Don Cheadle appears in the cast list as War Machine and, while I look forward to seeing the character in action in any future Iron Man movies and enjoy Mr Cheadle as a actor, I do not think that War Machine belongs in an Avengers movie. This being the case, I would hope that he might only appear in cameo, perhaps as back-up in the climatic battle.

Given that I wish the movie to be based on The Ultimates in should come as no surprise that I would have Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch and the Black Widow appear as secondary characters as members of a Fury run Shadow Avengers. War Machine could even find a home amongst this group.

SHADOW AVENGERS

Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury












Scarlett Johansson as The Black Widow










The actors shown above have been confirmed as being cast in these parts.

Scott Foley as Hawkeye










Foley impresses each week on CBS series The Unit as family man and (super) soldier Bob Brown. If the film were to follow the plot of The Ultimates I cannot imagine another actor filling the shoes of enhanced (this Tim Roth in The Incredible Hulk) sharpshooter Clint Barton.

Zooey Deschanel as The Scarlet Witch










I always imagined Wanda being kind of spacey, as if she were always coming out of a day dream. Zooey Deschanel first struck me as being a good choice for Wanda while playing the unbalanced Kat on Showtime's Weeds.

Now I know what you're thinking: Where's Quicksilver? This would be a personal recommendation of mine in that I do believe he should appear in an Avengers movie. He is a great character but ultimately I believe that he fits in more with the X-Men universe than the Avengers universe. This of course would mean that Wanda would not be Magnetos daughter, or for that matter, a mutant at all. Scarlet Witch is a key character in the Avengers history and I do not believe should could be excluded, Quicksilver however, I do not think. would be missed.

Still reading? Good. Here are my choices for The Avengers and why:-

Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man












Edward Norton as The Hulk










The above actors have been cast in these roles.

Aaron Eckhart as Captain America










Pitt's too pretty, Damon's too fresh faced, at one time I would have liked to have seen Thomas Jane in this role, but after seeing Eckhart's performances in The Dark Knight (2008), The Black Dahlia (2006) and The Pledge (2001) I believe has the right mix of toughness and gravitas to be a believable leader for the Avengers.

Alexander Skarsgård as Thor










Unbeknownst to me when I started writing this post the young True Blood actor and son of veteran actor Stellan Skarsgård (Good Will Hunting) is already rumoured to be in the running for the part of the Norse God as per the Thor movies IMDB page. The casting call for Thor reads: Producers are looking for a "physically powerful, very handsome, occasionally egotistical, petulant, and wild" male lead in his mid-to-late twenties and standing six feet or taller in height. Not only is the naturally blonde actor 6'4" and well built (though he may need a little more bulking up) he is also a fine actor as can be seen in the aforementioned True Blood and excellent HBO mini-series Generation Kill. And I haven't even mentioned his Nordic blood yet. The phrase "born to play" springs to mind.

Patrick Wilson as Giant Man










My initial choice was Greg Kinner though I though he may be a better fit for an older Hank Pym rather than the disheveled cutting edge scientist that appeared in The Ultimates. Wilson was great in Watchman but it was his roles in Little Children (2006) and Lakeview Terrace (2008) that made me think he could play the part of the manic depressive and socially awkward scientist who becomes Giant Man.

Natalie Portman as The Wasp










Christina Ricci would also be good in this role though I do not feel she would fit well with Patrick Wilson and she may just be a little too quirky to play the level headed clothes horse Janet Van Dyne. Portman has proven time and time again that she has the acting chops and I believe she would give the character suitable depth, especially should the movie include scenes that would show the Hank Pym's abusive nature.

So there you have it: The Avengers as I would like to see it.

Sequels could introduce new characters such as She-Hulk and The Vision or feature more established villains such as Loki, Hydra, or possibly Ultron. Though I confess I may find the robots a little hard to accept I do think that She-Hulk might be a good idea if done correctly and can think of no tougher actress than Million Dollar Baby's Hilary Swank.

Hilary Swank as She-Hulk










Swank's Jennifer Walters, rather than be a cousin to Bruce Banner, could be a S.H.I.E.L.D agent who has been selected by Fury to receive the now perfected (apart from the mutation) Hulk/Super Solider formula.

Looking forward to see if any of these predictions come true but, in all honesty, I'm not holding my breath.

To start off I have to tell you that I would not want Batman any where near it. Nolan's vision of the Dark Knight is everything I ever dreamed of in a celluloid Batman. Hey, I actually don't necessarily even like Batman as part of the regular DCU, but that's a different matter.

So that being said, where some would put Batman, I put Oliver Queen - The Green Arrow. Queen will act as per the comics mythology as the source of the leagues funding as well as operating as the Green Arrow.

See Marvel have the right idea with the Avengers movie, in that the major characters will be introduced in their own movies first.

So, I know four potential JL tie in movies are in development at the moment, those being: -
The Flash
Super Max (featuring Green Arrow)
Green Lantern
and Wonder Woman

Superman: Man of Steel is also "In development" but while I think the Jutice Leage needs Superman but I would like to see a younger actor in an planned solo reboot. Henry Cavill (left) would be great in that role in my opinion. For the likes of the Justice League though I would like to see an older actor in the role. A leader.

So my vision of the films would go: -

Super Max - introducing Green Arrow and leading into The Flash with the escape of a villain (Captain Cold?). I heard Deathstroke is also in this.
The Flash - introducing Barry Allen.
Green Lantern - introducing Hal Jordan and teasing at the threat the JL will encounter.
Wonder Woman - introducing Diana and perhaps also teasing at the threat the JL will encounter.

Now I'm not sure about the villain(s) so what follows is a cast for the members of the Justice League. My initial thoughts would be villains requiring little back story like the White Martians or even the Amazons.

Thomas Jane as Green Arrow











Some will say that Jane is too old for the part but I always think of Ollie being a little older than the rest of the league. Jane has the right mix of tough and charm to bring the emerald archer to life.

Jim Caveziel as Superman











Caveziel is no stranger to iconic roles after playing the son of God himself. I feel he can bring the necessary gravitas to the leader of the Justice League.

Ryan Gosling as The Flash












I've heard Gosling is in the running for the GL movie but for me Gosling would be perfect as nice guy Barry Allen.

Chris Evans as Green Lantern











Forget his roles in the regretable Fantastic Four movies, check out Cellular and Sunshine to see why I feel he would be great in the role of cocky flyboy Hal Jordan.

Jennifer Connolly as Wonder Woman











Her age will be a big problem for many of you, I know, but whenever I think Wonder Woman I think Connolly. She is a great actress and would be believable as a warrior and diplomat, plus she is just a perfect example of a woman. Flawless.

Vin Desil as The Martian Manhunter











I know many see Dennis Haysbert in this role and while I don't exactly disagree I just feel the Haysbert's commanding presence may overshadow Caveziel. Desil in a fine actor who could easily portray the disconnected martian. Plus his voice in exactly what i imagine J'onn's to be.

Diora Baird as Black Canary











I won't lie, lung capacity was was a factor here. Baird wound bring some mush needed youth to the film.

Lee Pace as The Atom











I would probably want to see The Atom in the third act of the film while Ray Palmer could be an employee of Oliver Queen who helps the league for the first two acts. Pace would be great as the quiet and thoughtful Palmer but can also bring the dynamic Atom to life.

Sequels could introduce threats from Atlantis, The Kryptonians, Braniac, The Star Conqueror, Sinestro Corps, or The Society (featuring villains from the solo movies and introducing the likes of Dr. Light, Amazo, The General etc.) These films could introduce the likes of: -

Sean Bean as Aquaman











The King of the sea should have great on screen presance and no one grabs my attention or fits the part more that the Lord of the Rings actor.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Red Tornado











Meyers is great as nut ball king Henry VIII on The Tudors and I thing would fit the part of the disconnected soul searching android well.

Max Martini as Hawkman











Martini regularly tears apart the bad guys as Mac in The Unit and was great in in David Mammet's Redbelt. He has the right mix of rough looks and demeanor that would be perfect for Hawkman.

Navi Rawat as Hawkgirl











Rawat is great in TVs Numb3rs and I think would fit well in the role as Kendra Saunders.

Chiwetel Ejiofor as John Stuart











John Steuart always seems very cerebral to me, a master tactician. Ejiofor can bring the necessary depth to bring the character to life.

Zach Braff as Plastic Man











Braff's comic antics on Scrubs and his slightly rubber like features make hiom the perfect choice for Plas. No question.

I confess I would have no idea how to introduce the hawks or Plastic Man but, eh, who cares?