5 DCU Characters Matthew Lillard Could Play in Man of Tomorrow

James Gunn and Matthew Lillard have been fast friends since the Scooby Doo movies, yet it was still a surprise when Gunn added the beloved actor to the cast of the Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow. This raises the question of just whom Lillard will be playing in the DC Universe.

The fact that Matthew Lillard will be making his DCU debut in Man of Tomorrow suggests a character tied to Superman. However, Gunn has made some unexpected decisions about which characters to introduce in his movies before. Another interesting wrinkle is Lillard’s versatility as a performer. While perhaps best known for his comedic roles, he is also famed for his horror work. With that in mind, here are five likely possibilities.

Toyman

One element of Man of Tomorrow that has comic readers excited is the feature-film premiere of the villain Brainiac. However, there’s another frequent foe of the Man of Steel who hasn’t been in a movie yet — Toyman. There have been several versions of Toyman over the years. Some have been comical thieves who used weaponized toys as a gimmick. Some have been more sinister terrorists or child killers. Given his history of playing fiends with a sense of whimsy, Lillard could easily handle either take on Toyman.

Prankster

The Prankster was originally a conman who strove to make Superman look silly with outlandish stunts. He was later revamped into a children’s show host, who turned to crime after modern kids proved more obsessed with superheroes than his jokes. Given his history in children’s entertainment, Matthew Lillard would be a shoe-in for the role of The Prankster.

Ambush Bug

Before there was Deadpool, there was Ambush Bug. Originally a Superman villain, Ambush Bug had a change of heart after his first appearances. He decided to become both a superhero and Superman’s friend. This made him more of an annoyance to the Man of Steel than he had been as a villain. Beyond being the sort of ludicrous and obscure character James Gunn enjoys, he would be an ideal role for Matthew Lillard.

Plastic Man

Patrick “Eel” O’Brien was a career criminal. However, that changed following a botched robbery in a chemical factory. Wounded and abandoned by his gang, O’Brien was exposed to an unknown chemical. This gave him the ability to stretch his body into any shape. Determined to mend his ways, O’Brien began fighting crime as Plastic Man.

Over 20 years ago, James Gunn pitched a Plastic Man movie as a vehicle for Matthew Lillard. It didn’t work out, but Lillard has been vocal about hoping to play Eel O’Brien someday. It’s possible he may finally get a chance as a new recruit to the Justice Gang in Man of Tomorrow.

Alec Holland/Swamp Thing

Dr. Alec Holland was a botanist who sought to end world hunger by finding ways to accelerate crop growth. However, an encounter with gangsters who sought his work for their own ends saw him doused with chemicals and left for dead in the swamps of Louisiana. It was here that Alec Holland became Swamp Thing, a guardian of the Green and champion of the Earth.

James Gunn confirmed a new Swamp Thing movie as a future DC Studios production. However, nothing has been said about who will play the title role. Given his background in horror, it is easy to see Matthew Lillard having a cameo as Alec Holland in Man of Tomorrow to set up his transformation into Swamp Thing.

Originally reported by Matt Morrison for SuperHeroHype.

Source: Comingsoon.net