SCRIPT TO SCREEN: Part 4: DC Heroes (Aug 8 Update)

And now we'll cover the DC characters by starting with the major heroes roster. There have been a lot of characters making cameos (especially in the Smallville series) but have not appeared in their respective costumes so I've decided to leave them out for the time being.

UPDATE Aug 8 2012: Black Canary, Captain Marvel
UPDATE: July 25 - Green Lantern

Part 1: Marvel Heroes | Part 2: Marvel Teams | Part 3: Marvel Villains | Part 4: DC Heroes | Part 5: DC Teams | Part 6: DC Villains | Part 7: Miscellaneous

GREEN LANTERN Portrayed by: Ryan Reynolds [Green Lantern (2011)] Interesting move by the producers to do Green Lantern's costume as CGI - their reasoning being that the suit is alien so it shouldn't be anything like what we have on Earth. Ryan Reynolds looks extremely slim  from the movie still I've seen. (I haven't watched the film and will wait for it to come out as a torrent)

BATMAN Portrayed by: Lewis Wilson [Batman Movie Serial (1943)]; Robert Lowery [Batman and Robin Movie Serial (1949)]; Adam West [Batman TV Series (1960), Batman The Movie (1966)] The Batman's costume sure has come a long way since those 1940's movie serials. For more info and pics of the later incarnations of Batman on screen, read my previous feature on the Batsuit's evolution here.

SUPERMAN Portrayed by: Kirk Alyn [Superman Movie Serial (1948)]; George Reeves [Superman & The Molemen, Superman TV Series (1951)]; Christopher Reeve [Superman (1978), Superman II (1980), Superman III (1983), Superman IV: The Quest For Peace (1986)]; Dean Cain [Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman TV Series (1993)]; Michael O’Hearn [World’s Finest fanfilm (2004)]; Brandon Routh [Superman Returns (2006)] I intentionally did not include Tom Welling's Clark Kent character from Smallville here since he's never worn nor is he ever supposed to wear the Superman costume in the TV series.

ROBIN Portrayed by: Douglas Croft [Batman Movie Serial (1943)]; Johnny Duncan [Batman and Robin Movie Serial (1949)]; Burt Ward [Batman TV Series, Batman The Movie (1966)]; Chris O’ Donnell [Batman Forever (1995), Batman & Robin (1997)]; John Fiorella [Grayson fanfilm (2004)] I did not include the 3rd and 4th costume worn by Chris O' Donnell in Batman & Robin since those were more akin to the Nightwing costume design than the traditional Robin's.

BAT-GIRL Portrayed by: Yvonne Craig [Batman TV Series (1966)]; Alicia Silverstone [Batman & Robin (1997)]; Dina Meyer [Birds Of Prey TV Series (2004)] I liked the Batgirl costume worn by Dina Meyer which I'd guess was very much influenced by the Batman Animated Series Batgirl. The latest comics version of the character now wears a very BDSM-like leather mask covering the entire face.

THE FLASH Portrayed by: John Wesley Shippe [The Flash TV Series (1996)]; Kenny Johnston [Justice League of America TV Pilot (1997)] I watched the 1996 TV series regularly and I thought the costume was pretty nifty. Looking back at it, I guess it still is but now I question why they decided to make Barry Allen ultra-muscular. The 1997 JLA pilot was a joke so the costumes and even character adaptations were askew as well. Trust me, I watched it.

SUPERGIRL Portrayed by: Helen Slater [Supergirl The Movie (1984)] Again I did not include the Smallville version of this character because as far as I know, just like her Kryptonian cousin, she hasn't appeared in costume yet.

STEEL Portrayed by: Shaquille O'Neal [Steel (1997)] Did they really need to cast a 7-foot tall man to play John Henry Irons? Sure Shaq is charismatic & all but my god did he look akward in that suit.

WONDER WOMAN Portrayed by: Lynda Carter [Wonder Woman TV Series (1975)] Lynda Carter sure was hot enough to play the Amazonian Princess. The live-action movie slated for 2011 is looking more and more like a no-go but I never had my hopes up for it anyway unless they write her character like the later comics version where she's a much more headstrong and even slightly unbalanced Warrior Princess.

HELLBLAZER: JOHN CONSTANTINE Portrayed by: Keanu Reenes [Constantine (2005)] Total miscast here. Keanu just wasn't anywhere near as interesting (or British) as his comic book counterpart. Costume-wise, it's really hard to screw up the trench coat look so besides the darker color choice, it's pretty much alright. Oh and it's pronounced Constan-TYNE!

HONORABLE MENTIONS The Spirit (2008) Gabriel Macht; Swamp Thing (1982)/Return Of The Swamp Thing (1989) Louis Jourdan; Adventures of Captain Marvel (1941) Tom Tyler; Black Canary [Birds Of Prey (2002) Rachel Skarsten; Smallville (2008) Alaina Huffman]; Huntress [Birds Of Prey (2002) Ashley Scott]; Green Arrow [Smallville (2007) Justin Hartey]; Aquaman [Smallville (2007) Alan Ritchson]

Next up we shall take a look at the DC "teams": League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Justice League Of America, & Watchmen.