Take a look at some of the names Marvel and Warner Bros. have gathered for their superhero films: Ben Affleck, Robert Redford, Glenn Close, Michael Shannon, Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Robert Downey Jr., if that list of names doesn't convince you comic book movie are beyond any past stigma nothing will. So why should we be at all surprised both studios have also reached out to Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey?
McConaughey revealed to Variety that he's had discussions with Marvel and Warner Bros., going so far as to say he's even read a few screenplays....
“I’ve read some Marvel and DC scripts and I’ve talked about working with them on some scripts, none of which I’ll share with with you what they are — or were. Yeah, I’ve circled some of those. Nothing has been right for me yet. But I’m sure open to it.”
Oh yeah? So what would it take for him to actually agree to put some tights, don a cape, whatever, and star in one?
“It’s very simple for me. I look at the script. Is the opportunity exciting? Is the money that comes with it exciting? Sure. Is it the possibility of going, ‘Hey you can get on a train and it can be a franchise and you could do 3, 4, 5, and have a great time as some kind of superhero or anti-hero.’ But I would also look at something like that and say, ‘Hey, in success that means you are on the train for a while.’ Contractually, you’re going to return to the character over and over. It’s something I asked myself is it something I’d want to return to. Would I be excited to go back and put the shoes on the character again? Going and doing the press tour with that group of people again? I always ask myself those questions again. It starts with the story and character.”
So what about McConaughey as the Punisher? Nobody would see that coming, would they? McConaughey is currently dealing with the Cannes audiences' booing of his latest film, Sea of Trees, but that's not likely to deter him in any way. But if it continues maybe a brief trip to a Marvel or DC cinematic universe will be in order.
He's actually talked about all of this before, but this is the first time he's admitted to any kind of negotiations.
