As the DCEU continues to build itself around popular heroes and villains, there’s been one hero/villain that has been the topic of a lot of conversation and speculation: Jason Todd, a.k.a. Robin II, a.k.a. Red Hood.
Videos by ComicBook.com
True to his comic book mythos, Jason Todd exists in the DCEU as Batman’s former Robin, who was killed by Jared Leto’s Joker. Todd’s graffiti-tagged costume was first seen in Batman v Superman, with Suicide Squad director David Ayer later confirming that the costume belongs to Jason Todd, and that Joker was indeed his killer. Those confirmations have inspired all sorts of speculation, with rumor circling that Jason Todd’s DCEU story arc could continue to follow its comic book trajectory, with the character being resurrected as violent, anti-hero vigilante, Red Hood.
Like with any DC movie character, fans have their own idea of who should be cast in the role of Jason Todd/Red Hood, and right now, a movement to see actor Shia LaBeouf cast as Red Hood is gaining traction.
An online petition has been launched at Change.org asking DCEU architects Zack Snyder, Geoff Johns and Ben Affleck to cast LaBeouf as Red Hood. As of writing this, the petition has 508 supporters, with more likely to chime in as news spreads. Of course, this petition will in no way directly influence the casting process, nor the basic decision of whether or not to even adapt Red Hood for the DCEU. Still, though, it’s and interesting pick.
The Transformers franchise didn’t really make LaBeouf a geek culture hero, and the actor’s erratic and trouble-filled personal life has made him more of an Internet parody star than a celebrated actor. Still, movies like Fury show that LaBeouf is still one of the more talented young actors of his generation, and the thought of him onscreen going toe-to-toe with Ben Affleck’s Batman and Jared Leto’s Joker sits well. LaBeouf also seems well suited to handle Jason Todd’s smarmy sarcasm and brutal intensity, as we imagine his Jason Todd as a mix between Mutt from Indiana Jones IV and the video below.
How do you guys feel? Would Shia LaBeouf make a good Red Hood? Will you vote as much in the petition? And if not LaBeouf, who would you cast as Jason Todd?
The DCEU continues with Wonder Woman on June 2, 2017, followed by Justice League on November 17, 2017; The Flash on March 16, 2018; Aquaman on July 27, 2018; Shazam on April 5, 2019; Justice League 2 on June 14, 2019; Cyborg on April 3, 2020; and Green Lantern Corps on July 24, 2020. The Batman solo movie, Dark Universe and Man of Steel 2 are also in development.
