Casting for Cash?

About fifteen years or so ago, a little-known Australian actor named Hugh Jackman was cast to play one of Marvel Comics' most famous characters, the mutant superhero known as Wolverine.

For years before and thereafter, that was basically the rule, with few exceptions: cast low key, not-so-well known (or sometimes completely unknown) actors in superhero roles so that the larger-than-life persona that actual movie stars such as Tom Cruise or Leonardo diCaprio would bring would not overshadow the characters themselves. Sure, fairly well-known actors like George Clooney and Val Kilmer played Batman at one point, but it was when the lesser-known character actor Christian Bale played him that the character really shone. Casting Hollywood stars as comic book characters rarely works out well, with probably the most famous exception being Robert Downey, Jr., the one-time up-and-coming prince of Hollywood laid low by drug abuse who belatedly fulfilled his potential superstardom thanks to a red-and-gold suit of armor.

Things are changing, though. Many of the current generation of young actors currently eyed for superhero roles, even the so-called "A-listers" actually grew up on superhero comic books and loved the adventures of the characters they read. Many of these actors, like Nicolas Cage and Ryan Reynolds, as a result, eagerly court roles in the adaptations of these books to the big screen. The latest such actor to chase, and land such a role is white-hot "A-lister" Channing Tatum, who, in 2012 alone, starred in three movies that grossed $100 million at the North American box office, which, inflation notwithstanding remains both a benchmark of a movie's success, and the bankability of its actors.  Tatum had a misstep last year with White House Down, but is still very much regarded as a hot Hollywood property. Arguably as a result of that success, 20th Century Fox and producer Lauren Schuler-Donner have agreed to have Tatum play the mutant Gambit, a popular X-Men character who previously appeared in 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, as played by Taylor Kitsch.

As far as Tatum's acting talent goes, about the best thing I can say about him is that he isn't a terrible actor or necessarily even a bad one. I can probably think of one of two people I'd rather have in that role.

As far as commercial prospects are concerned, though, I can hardly argue with the logic Fox and behind the decision. It doesn't take a degree in rocket science to figure it out; the guy's movies make lots of money. Full stop. Imagine if the Gambit character, by virtue of his X-Men connection, could attract about $240 million worth of fans to the theaters around the world without Channing Tatum. Now add everyone who paid to see Magic Mike who would not be caught dead near a comic-book-based movie, and that's a boost of nearly another $200 million.  Boom.

I actually liked Tatum in 21 Jump Street, and I was basically blown away by X-Men: Days of Future Past (review coming next) so I remain cautiously optimistic that Fox will maintain the standard of quality they have rediscovered in 2011 with X-Men: First Class, and have even improved on with their latest movie.