Ever since James Gunn was named co-CEO of DC Studios alongside Peter Safran, speculation about Marvel Studios stars the director worked with joining the competition has become something common. And Chukwudi Iwuji, who played the big villain in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 is part of that list.
DC fans would like to see the actor playing Lex Luthor, Superman’s main enemy, after the great job he did bringing the High Evolutionary to life. However, it seems that Iwuji is very clear about what character he would like to play in the Warner Bros. Discovery franchise and it has nothing to do with the Man of Steel.
In an interview on the Phase Zero podcast, the Marvel star revealed that he would be delighted to play the demon Etrigan:
“I was talking to a friend about it: I was like ‘This character… this is Jeykll and Hyde in the DC world. So Etrigan. If you told me to name one it would be Etrigan. Like I just love the idea of having two people existing in one. That’d be my DC one. Etrigan.”
Created by Jack Kirby in 1972 and originally from Gotham City, the demon is tied to the human Jason Blood, something similar to what happens with Venom and Eddie Brock, and that is why Iwuji refers to Dr. Jeykll and Mr. Hyde, a dynamic that is also present in another great Marvel character, The Hulk.
The character has appeared in various titles and has been related to many heroes such as Batman and Green Arrow, as well as having a role in Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing, so it would fit without any problem in the first phase of the new DCU, entitled Gods & Monsters.
In fact, the actor is already part of the franchise. He recently participated in Peacemaker, a spinoff tv show of James Gunn’s first project with DC, The Suicide Squad. But since it is not yet clear if these stories will continue to be part of the canon or remain part of the Elseworld like The Batman or Joker, he could easily play another role.
Could Jason Momoa Also Play a New Character in the New DCU?
Even though The Flash will work as a soft reboot of the previous DC universe and pave the way for a new canon, there are two projects coming out later this year that are still part of the old franchise, Blue Beetle and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The introduction of Xolo Mariduena’s Jaime Reyes is the less problematic of the two, as it will be the character’s first appearance and could fit in with new stories in the future.
But the sequel to the adventures of Arthur Curry does not have the same luck. For now, no decision has been made regarding the future of Jason Momoa as the King of the Seven Seas, whose story was originally conceived as a trilogy. But it will depend on the performance of the second part to give the green light to the third one.
Should Momoa no longer continue playing the character, Gunn and Safran have expressed interest in continuing to work with the current Fast & Furious star, and could give him a new role within their universe. The actor has shown interest in becoming the anti-hero Lobo, a character much loved by DC fans and who has appeared in a wide variety of stories, mainly related to Superman. Whether it’s in the skin of Aquaman or Lobo, it looks like Momoa will have his place in the franchise going forward.
