BY MATT TUCK
As we mourn the passing of an action movie legend, let’s take a moment to daydream about Carl Weathers as a silver screen superhero.
Weathers should have been a much bigger star. That’s not to say he wasn’t a major attraction in the 1970s and ‘80s. The former Oakland Raider was among the most respected athletes-turned-actors in Hollywood, proving his talents with his breakout performance as Apollo Creed in the Rocky franchise. From there, he stole the show in Predator as Dillon opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger.
As a supporting actor, Weathers was magic on the screen, but he never became the leading man. Instead, he played second fiddle to the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Schwarzenegger, and even Adam Sandler. His only opportunity to star in his own major release was 1988’s Action Jackson, a generic, cookie-cutter action movie. It is so laughably bad that it makes Commando and Cobra look like Oscar contenders. For an actor with such potential, he deserved a second chance at superstardom, but it was not to be.
Had Weathers been in his prime at the dawn of the MCU, his physique and on-screen presence would have made him an easy choice for multiple roles. To honor his memory in a small way, let’s play casting director and put him in a superhero movie.
CYCLOPS
After seeing Weathers in Predator, he would have made an amazing Cyclops. The actor played Dillon as a no-nonsense, authoritative figure. Although the character was straightlaced, it was his subdued intensity that gave audiences the notion that he was not to be taken lightly. In other words, Weathers could more or less have brought Dillon to the X-Men, and you’ve got Cyclops. Add Schwarzenegger as Colossus, and you’ve got the foundation for a star-studded cast bigger than Avengers.
GREEN LANTERN
If you’re simply looking at race, Carl Weathers would have been the easy choice for John Stewart. Again, he could have played Dillon but in a green and black bodysuit, and both mainstream and comic audiences would have been pleased. However, a young Weathers might have been even better as Hal Jordan based on his Rocky performance. The actor injected a wealth of personality and flamboyance into Apollo Creed, and that same swagger and confidence is what helps define the quintessential Green Lantern.
GAMBIT
In the 1990s, Weathers proved his acting range with comedic roles in Happy Gilmore and Arrested Development. While Gambit isn’t necessarily a comedy act, Weathers’ versatility could have made him an unlikely star as the X-Men’s ragin’ Cajun. Although the actor didn’t speak with Gambit’s stereotypical Louisiana accent, Weathers was a New Orleans native. No doubt, he would have been able to pull off Remy LeBeau’s distinct speech patterns with style.
CYBORG
Could there have been a more perfect casting? Cyborg is a former star football player thrust into his superhero role. Considering Weathers’ NFL career, he fits the bill. He also was a talented actor that could handle the complexity of Cyborg’s backstory. Of course, Weathers would need to have played an older, wiser version of the character, but that would have worked as well.
WE’LL MISS YOU, CARL
Weathers’ unexpected death has left many action movie fans reeling. When it comes to playing a superhero, he would have been great in far more roles than these four. Sound off in the comments, and let us know your suggestions.