Who should Warner Bros. get to play unhinged comics antihero Red Hood in its coming slate of DC Comics movies?
At least 900 fans and counting are rooting for unhinged actor Shia LaBeouf. In a petition launched this week on Change.org, DC Comics fans are asking Warner Bros., Zach Snyder, and Ben Affleck to cast LaBeouf in the roll of Jason Todd, Batman’s former sidekick Robin II before he took up violent vigilantism as the Red Hood.
The fans give a number of reasons they want LaBeouf in the role, including his intensity (hard to argue that one), reforming LaBeouf’s soiled Hollywood image, and how closely LaBeouf fits the character.
LaBeouf has had his share of trouble in recent years, from intoxication-related arrests in New York City and Austin, Texas, to oddball performance art like his infamous “Just Do It” motivational video.
LaBeouf told Variety in a recent interview that he has cleaned up and was in talks to play a role in Suicide Squad before the studio shot it down.
“I don’t think Warner Bros. wanted me,” LaBeouf told Variety. “I went in to meet, and they were like, ‘Nah, you’re crazy. You’re a good actor, but not this one.’ It was a big investment for them.”
It’s unclear if Warner Bros. might change its mind about bringing LaBeouf in to the DC fold with a growing number of fans supporting him.
Casting aside, there has been plenty of speculation about Red Hood and what role he might play in future movies. He’s already part of the DC Extended Universe, at least in spirit, via a scene in Batman v Superman when Affleck’s Batman looks up at an enshrined costume that’s been spray painted by the Joker. Suicide Squad director David Ayer confirmed that the costume belonged to the late Robin, who was killed by the Joker.
While that suggests Jason Todd is dead, it wouldn’t be unheard of for DC to bring him back in his murderous Red Hood form.
H/T Geek Nation