Fancast: Bad Robot’s ‘Justice League Dark’
Jason Blood & Etrigan
Jason Blood is an interesting character. He’s an expert on the occult and demonology who has walked the Earth since the 6th Century. But when he chants “Gone! Gone! The form of man! Rise the Demon Etrigan” he turns into a demon.
Etrigan is a powerful demon who is sometimes shown to only be able to talk in rhyming verse. A recent version of the character is in the animated movie Justice League Dark: Apocalypse War. Using him in the live-action series will bring more power to the team. It’ll also create issues as Etrigan is an anti-hero and can’t always be trusted.
I have two actors in mind who I think could portray Jason Blood well. The character needs somebody with gravitas who commands every scene he’s in and can express the Jekyll and Hyde issues Blood has with Etrigan every so often.
The first has previous in the Comic Book universe. Both times he has played the villain in Dr. Doom and Jonah the Magistrate for different Marvel properties.
Julian McMahon is commanding when he’s on-screen and he always knows how to make the audience feel what he wants. Jason Blood is complicated and even as Dr. Doom Julian has shown he has what it takes to pull it off.
In Marvel’s Runaways Julian plays a cult leader who switches from straight-laced, to charming and then to sinister with ease. Given Jason Blood’s history, these are qualities that are needed to bring him to life. Therefore, Julian is a choice that should be considered.
My next actor hasn’t been in live-action Comic Book properties but he’s voiced Ra’s Al Ghul and Sinestro in animated movies. However, Harry Potter fans will know him best as Lucius Malfoy.
Jason Isaacs is an actor who always commands the screen when he’s on. He’s a vintage British actor with a distinct voice and has the power to pull in the audience.
While he is mostly known for his turn as villains, Jason Isaacs can pull off being on the side of the heroes. Although, it works in his favor that when Jason turns into Etrigan he becomes monstrous.
As for Etrigan, it makes sense for him to have a second voice. By mixing the actor of Jason Blood with another it gives off the vibe there are two hosts in the one body. Therefore, someone like Tony Todd of Candyman fame or Tobin Bell from Saw would be good choices.
