One of the most famous superhero films to never quite get off the ground was “Mad Max” director George Miller’s “Justice League: Mortal”.
Even before the MCU launched, Miller’s film had grand plans to not just be an adaptation of the famed DC superhero team comic, but a potential launchpad for a new DC universe.
The project fell through ultimately due to the 2007/2008 writer’s strike, financing and tax rebate reasons, but did get far enough to not only cast but costume test its various actors prior to filming. That included the film’s Aquaman actor Santiago Cabrera.
Cabrera, best known at the time for his role in the first season of “Heroes,” has since gone on to plenty of other work in shows like “Star Trek: Picard,” “Merlin,” “Salvation,” “The Musketeers,” “The Flight Attendant,” “Big Little Lies,” and “The Cleaning Lady” along with films like “Che” and “Transformers: The Last Knight”.
Speaking with THR recently, Cabrera reflected on how close he came to suiting up as Arthur Curry/Aquaman:
“Technically, I was Aquaman in 2007 when the writer’s strike hit. Just before, we went to Australia, I was with George Miller – I’m just such a fan, I think he’s phenomenal. And I had a little communication with him.
My friend Tom Burke, who was fantastic in Furiosa, which I just loved, he was like, ‘Hey, George says ‘Hi.’ It was a feeling like, would you like to be a superhero?”
The strike hit, so they put [Justice League: Mortal, which remained shelved] on hold. But just being in his world, I went to Wētā, Peter Jackson’s FX company, where I tried the costume on. So it felt very real for a second there.
But at the same time, it was like: Don’t do these things. In this business, until it’s all out there, until you’re at the premiere and you’re talking about it like I am now, it’s never real. Clearly, I was excited for that one. So if anything came again, I feel, why not? I’d love to go into the villain territory though, I think I’d enjoy it.”
Miller’s film cast list included some interesting names such as Adam Brody as Barry Allen/The Flash, Common as John Stewart/Green Lantern, Armie Hammer as Batman, D.J. Cotrona as Superman, and Megan Gale as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman.
Sadly, much of what was created will never see the light of day. Cabrera is currently out promoting his role in the Apple TV+ series “Land of Women” and reveals in the interview he has a small and secret role in Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” hitting cinemas in September.