DC Studios is developing Booster Gold as a TV series for Max. While rumours of production beginning imminently appear to be incorrect, it seems casting may be heating up as the DCU readies itself for a superhero unlike any other.
In the comics, Mike Carter was a college football star in the 25th Century who ruined his career by wagering money on his own games. Forced to take a job as a security guard in the Metropolis Space Museum, he stole future tech to travel back in time and become a “superhero” (all while hoping to monetise being a good guy).
He’d later become a genuine time-travelling superhero and is a character who might be a game-changer for the DCU. While casting such a complex character won’t be easy, we have some suggestions which could do Booster justice both on streaming and in theaters.
To see who we think would be a good fit for the role, simply click on the “Next”/”View List” buttons below.
7. Antony Starr
Best known for his role as Homelander in The Boys, which is based on the comic book series of the same name by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, Antony Starr likely seems an odd suggestion on the surface.
After all, we’ve seen him play a terrifying, unhinged villain extremely well for the past few years. However, giving him a chance to do something different as an actor would be no bad thing, and we think Starr would enjoy sinking his teeth into the fun of playing a washed-up football star who travels back in time to pose as a superhero.
Interestingly, Starr and DC Studios boss James Gunn started following each other on social media this weekend, right as rumours of Booster Gold being cast have begun circulating online…
6. Dan Stevens
Many of you will remember Dan Stevens best for his breakout roles in The Guest and Legion. He continues to be one of Hollywood’s most unappreciated actors, though, something that’s evident from his scene-stealing turns in Abigail and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire this year.
Another superhero role is long overdue and we think Booster Gold is a near-perfect fit. For starters, working on the character’s all-American charm and avoiding making him too zany will be a must for Stevens.
Once he’s nailed that, we’ve every reason to believe he’ll do this hero justice in the DCU. Booster is a little nuts, of course, and we’re sure the actor can dial it back enough to make sure audiences buy his transformation into a card-carrying member of the Justice League.
5. Glen Powell
We’re well aware that Glen Powell’s name is cropping up in lists like these on a regular basis. There’s good reason for that, however, and a superhero role feels like the natural next step as his star continues to rise.
He’s impressed in the likes of Top Gun: Maverick and Anyone But You, and it’s the cockiness and swagger he’s shown in those movies which have left us convinced he’d be a better fit for Booster Gold than, say, Batman or Green Lantern.
Picturing Powell suited up as Booster is effortless and, of all the actors here, we think he’d gel best with Xolo Maridueña’s Blue Beetle. The fact he’s a little younger than many of the other suggestions here also goes in his favour.
4. Alan Ritchson
Another name we’re sure you’ll remember seeing in various DCU casting suggestions is Alan Ritchson. No stranger to superheroes after starring in Smallville and Titans, he’s said on multiple occasions that he’d love to don Batman’s cape and cowl.
It’s a compelling suggestion, albeit one we believe is topped by Booster Gold. Similar to Powell, there’s a confidence the Reacher star exudes on screen which instantly brings to mind the sort of cockiness and self-assuredness which makes Booster so interesting.
Ritchson also has the potential to bring a harder edge to the time-traveller, something we’ve seen in slightly more serious stories revolving around the hero in recent years.
3. Asher Angel
Asher Angel is a major talent, something that was evident from the fact he outshined Zachary Levi in the largely disappointing Shazam! Fury of the Gods. Heck, many fans now want to see him replace the Chuck alum as the DCU’s Big Red Cheese!
It’s an interesting suggestion, sure. In our minds, though, Angel would be better served by playing a different character. As Booster Gold, he’d be quite a bit younger than every other actor listed here and even how the wannabe hero is typically portrayed on the page.
Still, making him Blue Beetle’s contemporary rather than a mentor has a certain appeal to it. So too does giving Angel the chance to make Booster his own over several years.
2. Chris Pratt
Perhaps the most obvious suggestion on this list, there’s arguably no better way to bring Chris Pratt into Gunn’s DCU than by casting Guardians of the Galaxy‘s Star-Lord as this Justice League member.
We have no doubt whatsoever that he’d be a great fit for the character, but is this too on the nose? Booster Gold and Peter Quill are very different, yes, though Pratt might benefit more from taking on a less comedic role instead of suiting up as yet another wise-cracking goof.
On the other hand, there’s a genuine complexity to Booster Gold that he could find in the DCU. After all, going from being a failed celebrity to a money-chasing fraud and, eventually, a bona fide superhero is quite the journey!
1. John Krasinski
After starring in The Office, John Krasinski has become a legit action hero thanks to projects like 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi and Jack Ryan. He’s also proven himself behind the camera, helming A Quiet Place and its sequel as well as this past weekend’s If.
We’d hoped Krasinski might play the MCU’s Mister Fantastic following his Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness cameo, only for the role to go to Pedro Pascal instead.
Now, DC Studios can make up for Marvel Studios’ mistake by casting him as the DCU’s Booster Gold. We know Krasinski has the comedic chops for the character and, crucially, that he’d make for a convincing superhero when the time comes for Booster to show us what he’s really made of.