Beau Smith-In YOUR Corner.

by Beau Smith

Being in the comic book and TV industry, I hear things. Well, we all hear things, but with my work, most of it seems to be interwoven with entertainment. The other day I was talking (Yes, TALKING…on a phone, no less) with a friend of mine that is a producer of a few films as well as many TV shows. She brought up the fact that on more than one occasion I have written the DC Comics character WILDCAT in various DC Comics. She then told me that I may be interested to know that the character may be appearing in an upcoming DC Comics film. So, yes, I was stoked at this information. I’ve always been fond of the character, and that goes back to my childhood when my dad told me that Wildcat, along with Blackhawk, was one of his favorites when he was growin’ up in the ‘40s and ‘50s.

Wildcat A.K.A. Ted Grant

She then told me that the character will be brought in as a veteran superhero, no super powers, except for a possible tougher costume made of some really tough material for protection. The character will be stated as the guy that trained, taught and will teach other superheroes, young and old, how to fight…even Superman.

I was really amped up and flattered because these were a lot of story points that I had brought to the character when I was writing him.

Then she told me what actor is being rumored to fill this role and has been approached…Sylvester Stallone! (Personal friend of writer, Chuck Dixon.)

Wildcat rides

I told her that I thought that was great casting if all of this is A. True, B. Ever Happens. Stallone is one of the dream castings on a character like this, and I can see him being good with being a supporting, key player in an ensemble cast. He’s the right age and there is that special wink to the audience having him in that role.

I had thought of actors/casting for all characters that I’ve ever written because it helps me visualize them in my head when writing them. I could easily see Stallone as Wildcat/Ted Grant. I could also see former MMA champ and actor, Randy Couture as Wildcat as well. Less money, but is the perfect look and skills to be Wildcat.

Batman/Wildcat Trade Paperback

In the comics, Wildcat was and has always been a boxer, but I always had him as not only a boxer, but a master of all forms of hand to hand fighting. He’s been around long enough and I always figured that once he put on a costume and sought out crime to fight, that he would wanna have as much of an edge as possible, so he learned as many fighting styles as possible. This was something I had in a pitch where Batman and he told a little more about their training together and a never before told story of revenge they were teamed up on. (Save that for another time and one I get paid for.)

These kind of casting talks go on in comic books every day and have for decades. I loved looking at a vintage copy of WIZARD Magazine now and then in the $1.00 box at a comic shop and seeing the regular column they used to do on casting for comics. Granted, they usually had the “Flavor Of The Month” for that time period, but sometimes they were dead on with some casting. Needless to say, it’s always a fun thing to look at now.

B’Wana Beast-Be On The Big Screen!

Only time and contracts will tell if we ever really see Stallone as Wildcat on the big screen or if we ever see Wildcat up there at all in any form. I would love to see it. Then again, I wanna see B’Wana Beast on the silver screen as well.

Give me those misfits every time!

Keep casting,

Beau Smith

www.flyingfistranch.com

@BeauSmithRanch on Twitter and Instagram