Cannes Film Festival 2013

Jason Momoa may be Marvel's Drax The Destroyer for 'Guardians Of The Galaxy'

This cast just keeps getting weirder, and we wouldn't have it any other way

<p>It's so weird... at first glance, I thought this was a photo of me, but then I realized my hair isn't that long.</p>

It's so weird... at first glance, I thought this was a photo of me, but then I realized my hair isn't that long.

Credit: Lionsgate

Are you a fan of Motion Captured?

Sign up to get the latest updates instantly.

It looks like we're going to end up hearing the rest of the key casting for James Gunn's "Guardians Of The Galaxy" in the next few weeks.  Gunn just relocated to London, where he'll be through most of this year, and they're looking to kick off the shoot in April.

That means they're doing everything they can right now to build that ensemble just right, and if they end up hiring Jason Momoa as Drax The Destroyer, that sounds like a nice step in the right direction.

Drax, who did not originate in the "Guardians" series, is directly tied to to Thanos, the character introduced in the very end of "The Avengers," and I'm guessing they'll try to maintain some of that in the film.  Drax began life as a human character, Arthur Douglas, and it is only after Thanos kills his family and leaves him brutally wounded that Douglas managed to transfer his soul into a new body.  That's Drax, and in his earliest incarnations, he was a powerful figure with super strength, the ability to fly, and magic power lasers he shoots from his hands.

With those powers, he had only one job: find and kill Thanos.

Jason Momoa is one of those guys who is one perfect role away from really cementing himself as an action star.  I think he's fascinating in person, I think he is charismatic enough to hold the audience's attention, and when you look at him, that dude is about as close to perfect for a superhero movie as you can be.  I also think he's got weird streak a mile wide, which is perfect for a film like this.  If you can't find the absurdity in what you're doing and you take this too seriously, you can come off like a stiff.  If you can embrace the inherent silliness of being a grown man in a brightly colored form-fitting body stocking who gets paid to stand in front of a camera to pretend to beat the holy hell out of other people in form-fitting body stockings, then there's a chance you'll really nail it.  Momoa struck me, in the two conversations we've had, as a guy who knows he is a cartoon, physically, and he likes that.

Keep in mind, Latino Review seems very sure of this story, while Borys Kit of the Hollywood Reporter says...

Whatever the case, I like the choice and I think he is, as yet, a largely untapped resource as an actor. I can't wait to see what Gunn has him do.  And, boy, does Marvel love "Game Of Thrones" or what?  Dinklage for "X-Men," Momoa here, Alan Taylor directing "Thor: The Dark World."  Can't wait for Emelia Clarke to be announced as She-Hulk.

"Guardians Of The Galaxy" will invade our space August 1, 2014.

Drew-mcweeny-sm
Drew McWeeny
Film Editor
A respected critic and commentator for fifteen years, Drew McWeeny helped create the online film community as "Moriarty" at Ain't It Cool News, and now proudly leads two budding Film Nerds in their ongoing movie education.

Comments

  • Option 1

    Comment instantly as a guest Guest
  • Option 2

    Connect
  • Option 3

    Login or create a HitFix account Login Signup
  • Default-avatar

    Logo Lou

    Seems like a good choice. Marvel's casting has been pretty good. Chris Pratt for Starlord was like Downey for Stark: An amazing choice that never even would have occurred to me.

    February 15, 2013 at 8:32PM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    Mike

    Hey Drew, any thoughts or feelings you could share on the casting of Chris Pratt and Star Lord?

    February 15, 2013 at 8:37PM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    Mojo CoCo

    Im excited as hell about this. Momoa has a physicality that most action stars just can't seem to grasp. You can tell that he puts a ton of thought into every single movement he makes. Now we just need to get him cast as Arnold's nemesis in the King Conan movie. Screw that working title theyre using atm lol

    February 16, 2013 at 3:16AM EST Reply to Comment
  • Solid_talkback_profile

    Solid Muldoon

    Drax is a huge green guy full of rage. Isn't that going to seem a little familiar?

    February 16, 2013 at 3:56PM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    Cash Bailey

    The saddest thing about Momoa's CONAN sucking and bombing is that they will never get to make the sequel, which actually had a really good script and was based directly on Howard's story A WITCH SHALL BE BORN.

    Same thing with SOLOMON KANE. Bassett planned to go to Africa with the second one, but that movie's poor performance scuppered that too.

    These wannabe franchises always think that if they play it safe and dumb the first time out then they'll be successful enough to push the material harder in the sequels. Which never turns out.

    Rant over.

    February 16, 2013 at 9:52PM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    Chris

    Emilia Clarke actually tested for the role of Sharon Carter in THE WINTER SOLDIER. So yeah, Marvel loves them some Game of Thrones, not that I blame them.

    I really want this movie to be good. I don't know what to make of it yet, but I like the things I've heard so far. Chris Pratt as the lead of a space opera is an unconventional and interesting choice and Jason Momoa would add a strong dynamic to the cast. Plus I finally caught up with the movie Super the other day, and loved it. Bolty!!!!

    February 18, 2013 at 11:20PM EST Reply to Comment

Get Instant Alerts on Motion/Captured

Latest Posts
More Posts
Recent Activity on Facebook
Most Popular on Facebook
Top Stories From Around the Web