Casting DC's Authority - Jenny Sparks, Midnighter, Apollo, and Jack Hawksmoor

[@BlazeMakesGames]

Maybe one thing you could do with Jenny is have it be that once their century ends, they resume aging like normal, so that could justify a slightly older actress as she's now aged to be biologically 35-40 despite being 120 years old

[@NandovMovies]

I like that

[@brysonlambes7175]

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe set the first movie or two in the 90s and then she starts aging as this big dramatic thing. Perhaps they even think she'll die on new years, and her starting aging again is a big twist.

[@FoggyBogFrog]

And you can also let exist Jenny quantum as a daughter for Midnighter and Apollo, the contrast with them on the battlefield and them at home could be exemplified by the love to their daughter.

[@dedrik1461]

I was also thinking maybe Quantum hasn't been born yet and Sparks doesn't know why, she's been waiting and expecting to die for the last 20 years which has fueled her cynical and perhaps more aggressive brand of justice and maybe as Supes manages to change her perspective and she's ready to start living again, Quantum is born and Sparks passes at the end of the movie for that emotional gut punch?

[@Paradox-es3bl]

I wish I scrolled down literally 2 comments before posting mine lol. I had the same idea.

[@StellarAvenger]

I was thinking Matt Bomer as Apollo and Zachary Quinto as Midnighter, but I like your casting.

[@newonyarb3562]

Zachary Quinto could nail the “smile-while-killing” and slick confidence

[@ClaireWritesSometimes]

@@newonyarb3562 Came here to basically say the exact same thing, he'd be great

[@ayo4325]

Absolutely Zachary Quinto as Midnighter!!! FTW!!!!

[@takeachance5881]

@@newonyarb3562 Exactly, him in the 47 movie is a shiny point and exactly what you are describing.

[@StephenDukenski]

Lee Pace and Luke Evans as Apollo and Midnighter is CHEF’s KISS. Kaluuya as Hawksmore would rock it.

[@PrimordialBeing360]

Facts I agree with all casting choices .

[@coolgreenbug7551]

Can you imagine if Midnighter and Apollo were played by Ben Afflec and Henry Cavil

[@miqueasrodriguez3249]

Ugh

[@epicbruhmoment6985]

I mean that'd be a terrible idea but I'd love it. Cavill already works in a white wig lol

[@Bearded_one1]

😂

[@kadegetslaid634]

Horrible casting ☠️

[@theirongiants]

They won't play them. They just won't. Why play knockoff versions of characters they could've played.

[@IanMSantos]

I can kind of see how James Gunn may be building towards Kingdom Come, with The Authority and The Elite leading the escalation of violent heroes to Magog and the rest of those characters. I’m excited to see if that actually happens, ‘cause it’d be so cool to see in live action.

[@Smartlad09]

That'd be cool, but the main problem is that kingdom come is basically the end of the DCU, so we probably won't get a live action adaptation of it, unless it's in another universe.

[@uncannydcmarvelous5732]

Actually word around has it that in the Gunnverse they're trying to do a Superman vs The Elite movie but replacing them with The Authority (as the Elite are based/pastiches of the Authority) on the whole "Superman's old school morals are obsolete in this violent modern world"

[@MrBazBake]

​@@uncannydcmarvelous5732Considering the Authority movie comes out after Superman Legacy, I wonder how that'd work.

[@TheDrexLord]

​@MrBazBake it could either be a sequal to superman, or they could be the villian of legacy and at the end have them become more heroic

[@TheDrexLord]

I think this universe might actually be a reverse kingdom come. And have superheros before superman be extremely violent and in some cases murders, but after superman heros will be more heroic and optimistic and against killing

[@tysonbarber5019]

I had no idea about this team beforehand, but the way you describe Jack Hawksmoor feels like Jon Bernthal to me. his physicality and intensity in Punisher feels like Jack, and I feel like he could nail the gritty dad aspect

[@argo27]

It feels too on the nose tho

[@dirkdelacroix5949]

“‘meask you sumn” - jack hawksmoor

[@ayo4325]

Im down with John Henry actually!

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoirlHWierOCesk

[@yuvi3000]

I think, given the popularity and potential return of many of the Marvel characters, seems like Nando skipped those options.

[@jonasquinn7977]

My theory for the Authority is that they’ll be introduced in Superman Legacy, get their own movie to flesh them out a bit and then we’ll get a Superman vs The Elite type story with them taking the Elite’s place

[@Neosisl]

Jack's superpower sounds really cool and I'm sure James Gunn can find a way to use his powers in mind-blowing ways. This is really exciting stuff.

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoirlHWierOCesk

[@CousinCreepy]

He really is a fascinating character, I hope they do right by him!

[@Getwright-]

No Karen gillian for Jenny? Shes a Gunn friend, shes from the U.K. And she can definitely pull off cynicism and toughness. And shes got that look that seems both youthful and aged at the same time somehow.

[@chubbyblackboi]

Absolutley

[@yuvi3000]

And because she's been in full costume for her biggest role, her face isn't too common on the screen.

[@Boatanga]

I don’t see it at all tbh

[@RobOlivierbjr64]

Luke Evans and Lee Pace nails it…superb choices. Luke MacFarlane is also a great choice for Midnighter. You should see him in Killjoys, great action and at times menacing 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾😎

[@Dalesworth]

For Jenny Sparks, there's also the version from the recent reboot, The Wild Storm. She's over 100 years old and has powers tied to whatever the current technological trends are. She can jump into or out of phones or television screens and travel through the internet. She's kind of a combination of Sparks and Quantum and has a pretty unique powerset that's never really been done before, which is a huge plus in this industry. I think it would be pretty neat to see this version in live action.

[@Getwright-]

That kind of sounds like the drummer from planetry. Of couse hes not over 100

[@brycelloyd3592]

Sounds like a more serious/modern take on Freakazoid. I'm in.

[@eastvandb]

A Daniel Kaluuya Hawksmoore would be really interesting. If so, I'd love it if they started him off as the Spirit of Liverpool. I want a whole SpiderPunk movie someday.

[@mrterrific2323]

I want a Scouse accent 😂😂

[@Vo_Siri]

I knew Lee Pace would be your pick for Apollo. He is the perfect choice in my book. He’s got the look and the vibe nailed.

[@mckenan3578]

I am a huge Authority fan. I’m so freaking pumped for an Authority Superman movie. It’s pretty much my dream film.

[@misti-step]

i think tom hardy should play midnighter-- he deserves to be able to kiss a man on screen!!!

[@somerandolad]

He already kissed himself once.

[@marcelcjr9313]

Real

[@tatianaoliveira2191]

He did that on ''RocknRolla''... he kissed Gerard Butler

[@ashleighcalvert8937]

I was thinking of him for Apollo actually as an actor that has the charisma to carry a flat character and bring some life to it

[@bio2189]

Just like the GOTG I never heard of these guys until the movie was announced, hope they can have as strong a debut!

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoirlHWierOCesk

[@rodrigoarturobretonrosario2659]

I hope you eventually get to casting a Batman, I feel it is quite hard considering Gunn is looking for someone around the age of Superman but not as young

[@Markcrazeer]

He has cast the entire batfanily before. But he can run a recast video. As long as you Get views.

[@rodrigoarturobretonrosario2659]

@@Markcrazeer I don't think a recast of those is necessary. I think those casts are terrific, they just need a Batman around his mid to late 30's so it all falls into place

[@Getwright-]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE that someone shouted out Pushing Daisies. Loved that show

[@michealdarnell2623]

It's kinda funny he wanted Matt Bomer to play a Superman type because he actually has played Superman in Superman: Unbound

[@mk6rfc1]

and was up for superman one time

[@Getwright-]

Grifter is actually Redhood mixed with Gambit, with a little Mavrick thrown in. (Because Jim Lee really likes trench coats and guns, and doesn’t like drawing noses)

[@nkemnoraulmanfredini7286]

Grifter is basically Batman,Martian Manhunter,Red Hood,Wolverine,Gambit,Deadpool and Punisher fused together

[@Livey_SM]

Grifter was made before redhood

[@billay100795]

Ever since Gunn announced they were doing this movie ive always been intrigued by it. Now after this video im staring to get pretty hyped for it.

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoirlHWierOCesk

[@TheRealBSDigitalQ]

An essential read for Jenny Sparks is the Stormwatch three-part arc "Change or Die," (Stormwatch Vol. 1 Issues 48-50) where Stormwatch runs up against a very Justice League/Society style group of superpowered individuals attempting to rapidly and massively change human society (and are in-universe Jenny's inspiration for forming The Authority). A key anchor of that story is Jenny's past relationship with the leader/figurehead of the other team, an explicit Superman clone called "The High." I don't think this will happen, but it would be incredibly fun if Gunn leaned into this story and gave Jenny and Superman a similar relationship as Jenny did with The High, maybe even reversing the roles so Superman has Jenny's role in "Change or Die" and Jenny has The High's role of leading a powerful group of supers attempting to change the world. And "Change or Die" is a great story period.

[@SomethingbyBrian]

I feel like Jonathan Groff should have been part of the Midnighter/Apollo discussion - but super solid choices as always though! Jodie Comer as Jenny is spot on!

[@Nehelenia3000]

Jenny Quantum became Jenny Quark for a while in the comic books so you may still have your rhythm. As for fancasting Midnighter and Apollo, I’ve been doing it for 20 years (in my head) and none of the choices hit me as hard as Pace and Evans. Is it perfect? No. Is it better than seeing countless posts on twitter casting willowy 20-something as men that are meant to be Middle Aged and built like brick houses? By far. I’d be very happy if these were the choices.

[@echoecho57]

I think it’s actually Jenny Quarx, which sounds even better

[@evkey1150]

This is phenomenal fan casting- might be my favorite fan casting you've done so far! Lee Pace and Luke Evans as Apollo and Midnighter feels like PERFECTION??

[@rus.t]

What if they approach Jenny Sparks differently. Make her be played by an old actress, she doesn’t die after the year 2000 but she loses more power as the years pass by. She could become an adversary turned mentor figure to a young Superman (like Yondu in Guardians). She still gets the responsible yet spunky characteristic but with the weight of aging, imagine what could happen if we continue Steve Rogers post-end game (which would have been an interesting watch).

[@wildercerrate7295]

Bubbly older woman is a character type we don’t really get to see would be nice

[@juliiju0484]

Maybe I'm exaggerating, but I have a feeling the Authority could change superhero movies in the same way the Authority changed the landscape of superhero comics in the 2000s. An Authority movie has been needed for years, and maybe now is the right time.

[@canamrock]

The Authority can really do the best of the Boys series and high concept sci-fi in a film and put some real shake-up into the current comic movies direction.

[@SomeGuy-mt4hq]

You think a team of nobodies is going to change the landscape of superhero movies? What are you smoking because I want some

[@fernanoctopus7457]

@@SomeGuy-mt4hqpeople were saying exactly the same about guardians of the galaxy and look at them now

[@SomeGuy-mt4hq]

@@fernanoctopus7457 if you put James Gunn behind the authority, I'll say it has a chance. Gotg came out 2014, thanks to the giant success of the mcu up to that point the movie had audience interest purely by association. Gunn is also phenomenal at what he does, he strikes the perfect balance between serious and comedy. Put Gunn behind any project he's passionate about and the result will be gold

[@richardlyons3849]

@@canamrocka lot of people keep calling them DCs version of The Boys but aside from being brutal when needed i dont really see it. Theyre not really secret psychopaths and serial murderers of innocents like characters in The Seven are, they actually DO want to help innocent people. I guess theyre a bit edgy like the boys but not in the same way.

[@NicoVellaFilm]

Love your videos, man. I needed a new channel to binge and ended up watching three of your full length essays last night.

[@feanaro2712]

I really liked the brief segue into superhero phonetics. And your explanation of the Authority comics really made me want to check them out.

[@levischorpioen]

I’m not familiar with the comics so I don’t know how much this would mess with the canon, but I think the “adapting Jenny” problem could be fixed by making her technology-based rather than electricity-based. Jenny being the spirit of the 21st century as a younger millennial/Gen Zer who influences people and the world through social media in a Black Mirror-y way would be cool. As for casting, Georgia Hirst seems perfect IMO.

[@rodrigobertini8257]

Luke Evans and Lee Pace... perfection.

[@bigfunnyfilms7548]

I gotta say. This is the one part of Gunn’s universe that makes me nervous. Like The Authority in phase 1?!? With a young Superman??

[@Juggernaut560]

I can’t believe we had the same picks for two of these (Midnighter and Jenny Sparks) and my picks for Jack Hawksmoor (Joel Egerton) and Apollo (Matt Bomer) were in your runner up lists. I love the pick of Lee Pace as Apollo by the way. Great video. Can’t wait to see who you cast as the rest of the team!

[@brigo1744]

Tbh all the authority members have such awesome character design. I especially like Apollo

[@spazemunky]

It’s a shame The Boys came out first and stole soo many aspects of The Authority. Warren Ellis is a criminally underrated writer.

[@CousinCreepy]

I really hope they get Jack's unique physicality right! Punching and kicking faces right off the bad guys and his acrobatic agility should play well if done right!

[@JiubTheGod]

I had no idea who the authority were. After watching this video and getting some more insight on the characters, I'm getting more excited about how their interactions will be with the more well known DC characters.

[@youcangonowproductions]

I think Matt Boomer would also be a great Midnighter, although he already is in Doom Patrol, I doubt that is in the DCEU, and you barley see him. He plays crazy well as seen in his role in The Nice Guys, he’s great in Doom Patrol, he’s very charming too.

[@JOEYFMISFIT]

You really sold me on The Authority, characters actors and all!! Bravo!

[@zarinaa1135]

11:56 Elle Fanning's English accent is flawless! And The Great is amazing, thanks for the shout out! Huzzah!

[@lukemartin8211]

This is your best casting video yet! Each time you announced your winner, it was a surprise, but also the perfect choice.

[@BlamoStramo]

I think it's pretty funny that in this video you bring up 2 actors who have voiced transformers in the rebooted Bumblebee movie universe, truly tf touches everything

[@noah_j_mc]

I could see the authority movie being “superman: what’s so funny about truth, justice, and the American way” but just merging the elite and the authority

[@johnmichael_]

This is such a top tier casting, great job!!!

[@davidalexander-dhs-baltimo2708]

Thanks for breaking down the Authority. I now understand why Gunn wants to put them on the big screen.

[@wesolonski]

That city kaiju would be awesome to see on screen (as long as they take their time with cgi)

[@andresperez9301]

Maybe for Spiderman video you could make who could be his new friends during college. While it likely that Zendeya will return as Michelle, I feel like it would be interesting to see other charaters that Peter would interact and befriend. Wither they be friends, other heroes or love interest. here would be my top ten charaters I would like to see in a new trilogy. 10) Jean DeWolff 9) Randy Robertson 8) John Jonah Jameson III (Man-Wolf) 7) Martha Franklin 6) Johney Storm (Human Torch) 5) Cindy Moon (Silk) 4) Sophia Sanduval (Chat) 3) Angelica Jones (Firestar) 2) Robert Louis "Bobby" Drake (Iceman) 1) Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat)

[@uncannydcmarvelous5732]

Cindy was already in Homecoming in all of the scenes of the school, but as a normal powerless classmate.

[@Melkac]

Iceman and Johnny Storm 🙏

[@SamDotGov]

19:55 idk about Midnighter and Apollo being around before Superman, I’d like to imagine that Apollo was a Superman fanboy which is why his suit is so similar to Clark’s and his willingness to go through the experiments that gave him his powers

[@thomasregis9748]

I hope they pull some of the fresh ideas introduced in The Wild Storm by Warren Ellis. It was such a fun fresh take on all of the Wildstorm characters. I liked the idea of Jenny Sparks as the earth’s defense system, with The Doctor as the earth’s repair system.

[@the1b219]

Very glad you put me on to Jack, seems like such a complex character that could be played out in so many different ways

[@eri55]

This was a great video, the art of these comics is amazing. I missed the authority series but may start reading it now.

[@marcelcjr9313]

They should cast me for all the roles actually.

[@dinofacedindividual9462]

The Millar discussion really was just perfect timing

[@weusedtobeangels]

Here we go again. I watch one of these videos and immediately dive into the filmography of the fan casting winners, fall in love with them and now I can't think of a better actors that will play these roles than them

[@caesar0frome950]

Jenny could be the The spirit of technology like they did in 2018 wild storm reboot

[@BaithNa]

I have a feeling we'll see some of the Elite characters in the Authority.

[@mckennaa3641]

I was shouting Lee Pace at my screen during the Apollo section and I was very pleasantly surprised

[@bshaddo]

Your two favorite Apollos went to high school together.

[@TheJohnGill]

As soon as The Authority was announced I thought of Emma Mackey as Jenny Sparks.

[@kylecarter1599]

Can you please do some kind of video on the phonetics of superhero names? Because that section of this video blew my mind, and I need answers on that incredible correlation.

[@vevevy9397]

17:56 bro look at that shot, it's gotta be Billy Butcher himself, Karl Urban.

[@vevevy9397]

33:44 would you look at that

[@cheesydawg371]

What you said about Superhero names is very useful.

[@Kade_Kapes]

I would love a fancasting video about Wonder Woman and the other Amazons and side characters, maybe a couple villains.

[@tarawalker7193]

I never considered that logic on the names! Brilliant!

[@Toastman30K]

You saying all the heroes' names for your point about syllables sounds like you're doing a superhero version of the Pokerap, I find that hilarious

[@NyctoPhobia197]

I cant believe you havent considered karl urban for midnighter, his perfomance as billy butcher is basically a maskless midnighter, he even has a black trenchcoat

[@brigo1744]

The authority look like such a fun team I’m super excited

[@epicbruhmoment6985]

My prediciton, Waller - Amanda Waller creates Stormwatch led by Manchester Black. Superman Legacy - Stormwatch goes too far and is taken down by Superman. The Authority - Jenny Sparks reforms the team as the Authority without government oversight and they get start getting even more nuts. Maybe even have Jenny sacrifice herself at the end and Jack takes over putting them on a new path. Lanterns - The Lanterns meet the Authority members possibly having Hawkgirl take the place of Swift to establish the Hawkgirl John Stewart relationship. And finally after all this we get a Justice League vs The Authority Movie based on Justice League New World Order. I think Apollo and Midnighter are especially well suited for that comics story which I won't spoil. But all of this would make for an amazing over arching story.Maybe even have Jenny die and Jack takes over

[@bellcurve0]

Bomer actually for midnighter would be solid with lee pace as apollo

[@madnessarcade7447]

Wasn’t Apollo in a Netflix superhero show recently I was thinking of Jupiter’s legacy nvm

[@dylantoll2637]

I think Matt Bomer would be a sick Midnighter. Just saying…

[@omega-xk4gj]

Jenny Sparks can be both the Spirit of the 20th Century and alive in the 21st Century and have Electronic powers and be the leader of the Authority. Simply make her immortal. Make Her struggles and Arc relate to the fact that she is the spirit of a century long past. She is an outcast, who has to lead a team to save a world in which she doesn't belong in

[@marioclonazepam7872]

So... Midnighter is a mentat? I mean... His brain works like a a super computer that can calculate the outcome of future events, right? Just like a mentat!

[@bradleyhudson2740]

Crazy that Nando just broke out the PokeRap mid video.

[@laxrulz7]

You left off one option... she could be Jenny Sparks, spirit of the 20th century who has give up her title and began aging again at 2000 (instead of dying). This would let you cast a mid 40s actress (a criminally underrepresented demographic). I do think that the Authority will be a mix of characters rather than a direct port of the crew from the Authority v Superman comic... I hope you talk more about the characters that might replace Wildstorm characters for better recognition (like Midnight might get dropped in favor of a different character just to avoid the Batman comparisons for example... though I think that's unlikely).

[@brandonjohnson994]

Lee Pace in Holt and Catch Fire is fantastic. Huge fan of him and he has played a huge range

[@paragonjones13]

I'm loving these fancasting videos :)

[@peterm1925]

I've been dying to see Midnighter and Apollo on the big screen.

[@9Maciej]

Ok, so I was going to propose to just reinterpret Jenny as a spirit of 21 Century but just make her powers tie to something electronic but still tie to the era, and I thought the best way to do this is to make it about cyberspace aka, internet/social media. But to my surprise DC actually already did what I was thinking. They made the Wild Storm reboot series in 2017 when they introduce a rebooted version of Jenny, now called Jenny Mei Sparks who seems to be sort of amalgam of both Sparks and Quanton, and yes and she's now a spirit of the internet called "techne". So, she could be used for the Authority movie.

[@Joemanji]

Great picks, really nailed this one.

[@willhamm6088]

Wait a minute Nando…. I watched the Superman video on my break at work, went to nebula to catch the authority vid. Came back from work and my brain broke looking at the thumbnail

[@theirongiants]

Been waiting for this since you posted about it on Twitter.

[@xSessrumnir]

Somehow I wanna hear a full length Poké-Rap style song consisting only of super hero names now

[@christianiguess7039]

CRAZY that you listed nearly all of Daniel Kaluuya's film roles lol but even his breakout role in black mirror was about the same rebelliousness

[@Film_Addict]

Nando: Let's see if i can do this in a minute KZbin: here's an unskipable ad

[@drfruitsalad]

I had Bruce Campbell in mind for Midnighter, the glee, insanity and charm et flawlessly projects would be very fitting

[@nanu421]

Luke Evans as Midnighter would be just an ideal choice

[@PatrickBoyda]

1:05 in every dystopian alternate future DC has ever written, from Flashpoint to Apokolips War, there has yet to be a bombed out wasteland city where Grifter isn't in the rubble, running around shooting marauders. He is the DCU's linchpin across all dystopias lol.

[@Reevnar]

This casting is fantastic.

[@willsmith5076]

for the live action it would be interesting to see apollo have that more "backseat" attitude. like flare up and get angry, but in a tantrum way. that would be the seed for the midnighter/apollo fights in the comics. give him a new character angle as well.

[@jakehamilton1589]

My picks: Luke Evans as Midnighter Halle Bailey as the Engineer Jack Quiad as the Doctor Gemma Chan as Swift Matt Bomer as Apollo John David Washington as Jack Hawksmoor Saoirse Ronan as Jenny Sparks

[@dimensionkid5921]

An entire video about superhero names would be very nice

[@tatianaoliveira2191]

▪︎ Midnighter - Luke Evans ▪︎ Apollo - Zane Phillips ▪︎ Jenny Sparks - Jodie Comer ▪︎ Jack Hawksmoor - Gerard Butler / Andrew Lincoln OTHER MEMBERS: ▪︎ Swift - Choenyi Tsering ▪︎ The Doctor - Casper Van Dien ▪︎ Engineer II - Eiza González ▪︎ Flint - Naomie Harris ▪︎ Grifter - Jensen Ackles ▪︎ Jenny Quantum - Miya Cech ▪︎ Rainmaker - Q'orianka Kilcher

[@nahumgale9738]

Idris Elba could play Jack. He’s older, more grizzled and noir-like. He’s also worked with James before, which is always a plus.

[@ДимчоДимов-ж7е]

But he plays Bloodsport.

[@legendswarble2845]

I suppose it depends on if Gunn is keeping The Suicide Squad as cannon

[@nahumgale9738]

@@ДимчоДимов-ж7е mm, in the old DCU. I doubt he’ll be referenced again. His character arc wrapped up well in that movie

[@nahumgale9738]

In saying that, happy for Amanda Waller to stay the same

[@federicomarintuc]

Haven't you consider Babs Olusanmokun for the role of Jack. I love him in Strange New Worlds

[@bonjouremily]

the casual delivery of "our generation of star wars" actually made me laugh (but inserioueness we do need joel edgerton in more things 🥺)

[@michaelmartinez3893]

Love your casting choices 😊

[@youtubeuniversity3638]

24:20 Imagine they just had Superman and Apollo be played by the same guy.

[@skrrskrr]

Matt as Apollo was my immediate thought.

[@JayeKelz]

I don't think the Authority will be the villain in Legacy. They exist and will appear in Legacy but won't be an antagonist.

[@phantomprobz9823]

They'll probably play a similar role to the Illuminati