The title role in the John Carter Warlord of Mars film has been cast and it is sure to annoy some comic book fans. Straight from his role as the card-dealing mutant Gambit in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, actor Taylor Kitsch will be challenging the life forms of Mars as John Carter.
John Carter (art by Matt Rhodes)
This announcement could eliminate the chances that Kitsch could repeat his performance as Gambit in an X-Men prequel or Gambit solo film as the John Carter film will take some time to complete. The live action PIXAR (you read that correctly) project will adapt the pulp creation from writer Edgar Rice Burroughs’ many stories (who also gave readers Tarzan). Set on the hostile planet of Mars, the trilogy will translate the author’s popular novels under the direction of Wall-E’s Andrew Stanton.
A Southern soldier during the time of the American Civil War, John Carter is seemingly killed and battle only to find himself leaving his body and reawakening on the planet Mars (called Barsoom by its natives). On Mars he finds himself surrounded by strange creatures and embraces the role of savior of the strange planet as he embarks on a series of bizarre adventures.
I’ve written about this project in the past, but this casting announcement is the best news I’ve heard since not necessarily because I’m a fan of the actor, but because it means that we are closer to actually seeing the film in production. Done correctly, this could make for a very impressive blockbuster movie franchise.
For the most up-to-date info on this exciting project, please visit barsoomia.org.
