7 Fancasting Ideas for Giancarlo Esposito Entering James Gunn’s DCU

The multifaceted Giancarlo Esposito is best known for making chicken and selling meth in AMC’s Breaking Bad as the cold-blooded Gus Fring. Since then, he has made his way into the hearts and minds of cinephiles everywhere.

He was Adam Clayton Powell in Godfather of Harlem, the surprising role of Paul in CODA, and the voice behind Dear White People. Esposito is no stranger to geekdom as a strikingly intimidating Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian, the voice of Lex Luthor in DCAU’s Harley Quinn, and most recently, Stan Edgar in the Prime Video smash series The Boys.

The guy was primed for massive roles, but many would be surprised the “primer” was the genius of Spike Lee who gave Giancarlo Esposito his break as “Dean Big Brother Almighty” in School Daze. Lee cast him in three more substantive films, Do the Right Thing, Mo’ Better Blues, and the Oscar-nominated Malcolm X.

He has been a cop and a drug dealer, an assassin and a political radical, a nerd villain and even a malevolent Greek God. And now, he’s talking to James Gunn about the blossoming DC Studios’ Universe. Our fearless leader Alex Duthie ran straightaway to his laptop and broke it all down in a riveting post–the chatting is confirmed and he wants to be a hero.

Since he doesn’t know (and Gunn won’t tell us if he does), CoveredGeekly has some scientific and artistic ideas for the role he could fill in the DCU. Here we go…

HM. Martian Manhunter

DCU stans, this will not happen, at least it shouldn’t. Giancarlo Esposito could pull off being the venerable J’onn J’onzz, but this is a mutant who can whoop up on Superman. There’s a stature assumed with that role. Ant-Man doesn’t have it, so he grows. The Flash doesn’t have it, so he runs away. Aqualad doesn’t have it, but then again, he hasn’t mastered puberty.

For this role, the DCU requires a daunting presence. Esposito is a marvelous talent, but dude is 5′ 8″ and 130. Diminutive doesn’t work in the kick-ass department. Manhunter is a force for DC. All the CGI in the world still doesn’t hide the fact that Tom Cruise sits on a phonebook when he drives a pickup truck. Allow this man’s expertise to shine with his brain and swagger.

Another thing that won’t happen is casting Esposito as Mister Terrific. That’s already Edi Gathegi, and we’re better for it.

7. Simon Baz

Baz is an understated member of the Green Lantern Corps and given James Gunn’s commitment to bringing the heroic green light to the big screen, what a fantastic opportunity to bring the protector of Sector 2814 to life.

A Lebanese American from Detroit, Simon Baz has a similar stature, one Giancarlo Esposito (of American and Italian descent) can leverage brilliantly. And the actor is no stranger to portraying a Muslim being in Malcolm X, as one of his alleged NOI assassins.

Simon Baz is a Lantern with a peculiar background who was a thief and accused terrorist. Then, a ring finds him as he helps raise the Third Army of the Corps (a dope crossover comic if that’s your thing). Esposito would create gravitas, purpose, and origin in a forceful manner.

6. Steel

Now, now, hear me out. Numbers 5 through 1 were immediate thoughts to cast in cement. Simon Baz was a must on this listicle, but he couldn’t be six because of his limited notoriety. Who would it be?

James Gunn would be foolish not to bring over Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta to the DCU. Bronze Tiger could fit Giancarlo Esposito’s agility but take a good look at Michael Jai White. #Dopplegangers. Icon must be brought to life from Milestone Comics, but as important as that is, that’s not for Esposito. Cyborg is a teenager and a scorned role in DC because of the travesty of justice Ray Fisher experienced.

John Henry Irons is an older man inspired by Superman’s heroism. He’s also a master inventor, one of the brightest minds in DC Comics. Imagine Cyborg’s dad suiting up with a real mean streak. Esposito is encased in a steel fortress and could still be himself–stoic, reserved, a leader. (Forget Shaq and that mess. This character deserves better, and he could do it.)

5. Black Lightning

Jefferson Pierce is a thoughtful and mercurial superhero, one fitting for the skillset of Giancarlo Esposito. It’s a shame that James Gunn isn’t considering the CW shows for casting because Cress Williams was perfect in that role.

But, since we are moving on from the CW experience and the “Arrowverse,” this is a man who would possess all that Williams brought to the role. Considering how he went from caring principal to protective father, then proud black man to vengeful hero, Esposito has that dynamic range and could bring that power to this role in the DCU.

4. Firestorm

With respect to Franz Drameh in CW’s DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, it’s fun to imagine what Giancarlo Esposito could do in this altered role. Ronnie Raymond is feared dead in a nuclear accident when the mental giant Professor Martin Stein is discovered in the same explosion. As the story goes, they become one person–so why not make Firestorm more Stein than Raymond?

Stranger things have happened in CBMs, and Esposito could channel his creativity as the “Nuclear Man” since this would forge new ground for the character. He doesn’t have to worry about earning the love of the classics in the Justice League. Instead, he could teach them a thing or two. Now, how entertaining would that be to watch?

3. Brainiac

There are four benchmarks for this dynamic and canonic stirring character to be on this list and to get to James Gunn’s DCU:

• He is the preeminent reason Syfy fans feel screwed out of a sleeper hit of a series, Krypton
• Brainiac is one of the only villains to bring the pain to Superman, as he is ultimately responsible for destroying Kal-El’s home planet
• Even if Superman bested him in a fight, Brainiac can replicate himself like, via Bluetooth
• Look at that face and imagine Giancarlo Esposito there

It’s a given. That man would be mesmerizing in this role, without reservation.

2. Lex Luthor

It doesn’t matter what Giancarlo Esposito wants. If James Gunn handed him a dump truck of cash to become the cerebral desecrator Lex Luthor, he’d bank it and kill this role. Can you imagine his methodical speech, determined stare, and sinister presence that he mustered as Moff or Gus?

Please! As a foe to Superman, he would provide the dire lacking and omnipresent fear factor this role hasn’t had in more than a decade. Even he knows he would shatter this role because he has done it before in the DCAU, so it’s still not out of the question. (Yes, that’s “him.”)

1. John Stewart

If that man insists on becoming a hero, there’s one that Warner Bros. has ineptly overlooked and never considered — Green Lantern John Stewart. There may be more impressive candidates for this necessary superhero, like Idris Elba, Sterling K. Brown, or John David Washington, but the third human to ever sport a Lantern ring is more than brute force, he’s a strategist.

He is a Marine, an architect, and a social activist–all three Esposito would convincingly portray. After he got the Hal Jordan treatment, they put some “respeck” on his name and made him a leader of the Oan Honor Guard. Stewart suffered through domestic abuse, the loss of a sibling, the hate of a father, and the perils of protecting a country.

That man could be this man, and it would be wonderful. Giancarlo Esposito has become a fan favorite among many fandoms. Get him in the DCU because even Highfather knows James Gunn needs all the help he can get.