Whatever the future holds for the DC Universe, it was hard to imagine that future without Jason Momoa. Even acknowledging the stops and starts of the Warner Bros. cinematic universe, the Hawaiian actor has emerged as both a critical and fan favorite, infusing his Arthur Curry with a comedic himbo energy that has helped offset the self-serious nature of the crossover films. But with the recent ascension of James Gunn and Peter Safran, it seemed anything and everything was on the table — including the future of Momoa’s involvement.
READ MORE: DC Studios May Recast Jason Momoa as Lobo
Back in December, the hot rumor was that Momoa would be out as Aquaman and in as Lobo, an interstellar bounty hunter who could be the DC Universe’s answer to the “Deadpool” franchise. And while Momoa has expressed support in the past of the new creative direction for the studio, it seems that any future will not require Momoa to give up his trident. In an interview with Variety at the Sundance Film Festival, the actor offered his most clear statement yet: he is Aquaman, but he may be someone else, too.
“I’ll always be Aquaman. Ain’t anyone coming in there and taking sh**. There might be some other characters, too. I can play other things, too. I can be funny and savage and charming.”
Would Warner Bros. consider casting Momoa in two different major roles in the franchise? Hell, why not? There’s no denying that Momoa was born to play Lobo, and if Momoa, Gunn, and Safran are interested in bringing Momoa into more roles in the same universe, that might be a win for everyone involved. Gunn tends to bring a kind of comedic indexicality to his features, and one can almost squint and see a buddy action comedy where Momoa plays both roles simultaneously. If it worked for Nicolas Cage in “Adaptation,” it can certainly work here.
Regardless, though, this feels like a vote of confidence shared between star and creators for a property desperately in need of some cohesion going forward. Momoa may not inspire quite the same level of fervor as Henry Cavill, but there’s a reason Vin Diesel is pulling him into the “Fast and the Furious” franchise after years of scuttlebutt and diminishing returns: he brings an uncontested level of good vibes to any media cycle he participates in, and having him on board as an advocate for a transitional franchise period is one of the smartest things a studio could do.
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