After years of anticipation and speculation, Jason Momoa has officially been cast as Lobo, the notorious antihero from DC Comics, for the upcoming film Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. The announcement has been met with excitement from both fans and the actor himself, who has long expressed his desire to play the character.
Momoa shared the thrilling news with his followers on Instagram. Accompanying the post, he included screenshots from past interviews where he had discussed his affinity for Lobo. "I collect comics, and I don’t do so much anymore, but he was always my favorite, and I always wanted to play Lobo, because I’m like, ‘Hello? It’s the perfect role,’" he stated during one interview, noted by Deadline.
The actor’s eagerness was palpable when he added, "If they call and ask me to play him, it’s a f*ck yeah," leaving no doubt about his excitement for this new role. His Instagram caption, simply reading "They called," confirmed the long-held dreams of both Momoa and his fans.
Lobo, who first appeared in Omega Men #3 back in June 1983, is known for his violent and irreverent personality, superhuman strength, and regenerative abilities. He is often depicted as both a bounty hunter and mercenary, taking on contracts to pursue chaos and destruction. Created by writer Roger Slifer and artist Keith Giffen, Lobo has become one of the more popular characters among comic book fans, even though to the general moviegoing audience, he may still be relatively unknown.
Despite his background as the titanic Aquaman, Momoa’s transition to Lobo is noteworthy and significant. The casting keeps him within the expansive DC universe but positions him decidedly differently, as Lobo's character juxtaposes Aquaman’s heroic qualities with his anti-hero tendencies. Amid the changes at DC under the new leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran, fans have speculated who might take on the mantle of iconic characters.
The plot details of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow are currently under wraps, but the film will star Milly Alcock as the titular hero, Kara Zor-El, and is directed by Craig Gillespie. The movie is based on Tom King’s 2022 comic book series of the same name, with Ana Nogueira handling the screenplay.
Production is set to kick off on January 13, 2024, and the film is slated for release on June 26, 2026. The casting of additional characters has commenced, including Matthias Schoenaerts as villain Krem of the Yellow Hill, and Eve Ridley taking on the role of Ruthye Mary Knolle.
James Gunn has teased fans about the film, drawing comparisons between Supergirl and Superman and hinting at the darker themes this film will explore. "We see the difference between Superman, who was sent to Earth and raised by loving parents versus Supergirl, who was raised on a rock chip off of Krypton, and watched everyone around her die and be killed in terrible ways for the first 14 years of her life," Gunn noted to Variety.
With Momoa stepping boldly back onto the DC stage, this casting decision raises expectations for Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. Given his history of successful portrayals and the immense box office success of the Aquaman films—which collectively grossed over $1.5 billion—Warner Bros and DC are clearly banking on Momoa's star power to draw audiences.
Interestingly, various attempts to bring Lobo to the big screen have previously stalled. The character has seen many filmmakers, including Guy Ritchie and Michael Bay, circle the project without any fruition. Previous incarnations of Lobo have struggled to find footing at the theatrical level, but with the unique storytelling angle provided by this new release, fans are hopeful.
Jason Momoa, alongside the excitement of taking on Lobo, continues to add to his impressive filmography. He is already set to appear in the live-action Minecraft movie and the highly anticipated Apple miniseries Chief of War. Also on the horizon is Fast X: Part 2, where he will play the villainous role.
The transition from Aquaman to Lobo not only highlights Momoa's versatile acting skills but also showcases the new direction DC Films seems to be taking under its current leadership. It appears they are willing to explore more unconventional narratives as they revamp and expand their cinematic universe.
Fans are now left enthusiastic about what the future holds for Momoa and this bold new version of Lobo. With the star's fervent backing and input, this undertaking is positioned for success among DC's illustrious lineup of characters.
All eyes are on Supergirl as it navigates its way through the cinematic sphere, with hopes pinned on how Momoa's dynamic performance will reshape the narrative dynamics of this beloved comic universe.