Tyrese Gibson a Thundercat?

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Tyrese Gibson a Thundercat?

Source:Silas Lesnick

July 28, 2008

Superhero Hype! got a chance to speak with rapidly rising star Tyrese Gibson at the Death Race junket in San Diego on Sunday. We'll have the full video interview soon, but he did fill us in on another big project for him that will hopefully be happening the near future: Thundercats!

Tyrese said that he's been very involved in the attempt to bring the classic '80s cartoon series to the big screen and seemed to hint that a deal is very nearly complete. We asked him what character he'd be playing and he just smiled and said that there's a number of options on the table.

Late last year, the project was announced as a CG-animated feature at Warner Bros. Pictures that would be directed by video game veteran Jerry O'Flaherty. Whether that still stands is unknown.

Look for the full interview soon!

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Posted by: M. Bison on July 28, 2008 at 12:29:30

ad, Michael Jai White was or is considered by the public to be a bad or average actor. My, kid brother said, that he is a bad actor after seeing him play, Gambal in The Dark Knight. Michael Jai White is probably a moderate actor from my point of view he did play a cool Spawn back in 1997 and a computer program in Universal Soldier: THe Return with Bill Goldberg and Jean-Claude Van Damme. Now, This cool ThunderCats movie I am all for it mannnnnnn!!! Tyrese Gibson starring in the film, will be totally awesome Tyrese can play, Panthro the mechanic smart guy Thundercat plus, he is skilled in The Martial Arts with Nunchaku's. I look, forward to seeing this film it willbe a step above the blockbuster series from the 80s. BTW, fans I met Tyrese Gibson in real life at IAH Airport in Houston So guys and girls anything is possible you can meet these stars in real life. Predestination is biblical not fiction or fantasy.

Posted by: Mike on July 28, 2008 at 12:31:52

I don't know much of Gibson's work. I would hate to see Panthro tuned into a hip-hop stereotype. Michael Clarke Duncan is way too big for Panthro. Michael Jai White would be good. He's the right size an can actually fight on screen. Unfortunitely, all the characters that I can think that he played are all angry characters.

Posted by: Inframan on July 28, 2008 at 12:35:48

Eh, they'll just hire a writer/director with no discernable imagination who thinks it's too silly and proceed to change everything to make it more "realistic", parroting the old "there's no way the original version would've worked in a movie" line, yet never giving a reason WHY it wouldn't have worked because in actuality it all boils down to that individual's inability to accept fantasy.

Posted by: islandson on July 28, 2008 at 12:36:18

Tyrese as Luke Cage is not a bad choice since Luke Cage is supposed to be a street kinda guy. You have to realize that it's one thing to look the part, but its another thing to genuinely portray it.

Common - ok in Smokin' Aces as a thug. Not much acting chops in Wanted, but he's simply not street looking/acting enough to convincingly play Luke Cage. He may pull off Panthro, but I think there are others out there.

I think Henry Simmons is the best bet for Panthro. I even think he's a better choice for Jon Stewart/Green Lantern for the Justice League movie. JS/GL is a former soldier and needs to have someone who can genuinely portray a soldier's swagger. It's one thing to act tough, but its a completely different thing be act like a soldier.

Posted by: Sanchez Inc. on July 28, 2008 at 12:39:43

THUNDERCATS GOOOOO.... i dont think so
its gonna flop
somethings just cannot be made into movies!

Posted by: islandson on July 28, 2008 at 12:40:23

After movies like Iron man and Dark Knight - Hulk to a very small degree - the only way Thundercats will be halfway decent is if the go for straight CGI like TMNT the other day.

With the CGI you can go farther and maintain the fantasy aspect the cartoon built up.

If you want star power, use celebrity voices and promote the movie heavily with the fact that celebrities are doing it.

Posted by: Papa Snarf on July 28, 2008 at 12:42:14

Inframan, the realistic view worked for TDK. It could backfire if they give us another 'Masters of the Universe' movie. I love Billy Barty but where was Orko?

WHERE WAS ORKO????

O R K O ! ! ! !

I'm still upset about that. There'll be ****ing riots though if they cast a white guy as Panthro.

Posted by: Kris Avalon on July 28, 2008 at 12:43:11

I think with the right director and the right screenwriter, Luke Cage would definitely work as a stand alone film. I actually like Tyrese as an actor.You can't really fault himin transformers because Michael Bay's films are so damn loud, EVERYONE has to shout their lines.I guess that comes from years of drug abuse. Back when Blade hit the big screen,people said that film wouldn't work as a stand alone flick and look how HUGE that franchise is. I would be curious to see who they would get to play him. I have another question? How come we don't see Michael Jai White (who I thought would be a perfect Blade for the TV series) taking on any lead action roles? He is a professional Martial artist so we need to see him more in action roles.And I don't mean his measly little part in The Dark Knight.

Posted by: Franky Francis on July 28, 2008 at 12:58:39

I think Thundercats would only work if it was like TMNT 2007. Anything else would just look silly.

Posted by: J.Mil on July 28, 2008 at 13:08:43

I cant see anyone other than tyrese as luke cage. He is big enough to play him i dont know why anyone would think otherwise. as far as the height thing i dont think it would make much difference. But as panthro i wouldnt mind him playing him not a bad choice im sure there is someone else who could be a better fit but we shall see.

Posted by: ShortRound on July 28, 2008 at 13:36:56

"There will be F*ing riots though if they cast a white guy as Panthro."

The person who wrote that is probably right, sadly. Remember when Michael Clarke Duncan was cast as The Kingpin in the "Daredevil" movie? How everyone who disagreed with the casting of a black actor to play a big, bald, white guy was looked upon as racist. But yet, how quickly that double standard rears its face when the situation is reversed.

You can't say anything if a black actor is in the running for a role that was originally portrayed by a white person, however, if a white actor is in the running for a role portrayed by a black person, hell's gate kicks open and suddenly it's perfectly fine to voice your disagreement without any stigma attached that it's racists to disagree.

Cast a white guy as Panthro, if it's perfectly fine, completely politically-correct and acceptable to have a black Kingpin, a serious consideration of a black Superman (Will Smith was offered the role before Hancock) despite the original source material, than why wouldn't it be alright for a white guy to play Luke Cage, Panthro, Spawn etc. etc.

Anyway, a live action Thundercats could bomb, it would have a serious Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Cats" feel to the whole thing. A Beowulf, with the motion capture and computer animation, would probably be the best route to go. Even though that movie had a dated look compared to what I've seen the Japanese do years prior to Beowulf. If it were up to me, I'd grab the crew who did Final Fantasy: Advent Children to update Thundercats. Keeping the property in a form of animation.

But whichever route they go, if they do green light this, let's not have another Transformers.

Posted by: nar on July 28, 2008 at 13:42:37

the terry crews for luke cage idea is great. i think a heros for hire movie would be great.

you have to have powerman & iron fist together. marvel doesn't have a buddy flick. they could make it r-rated. comedy/action.

Posted by: sacnzi on July 28, 2008 at 14:14:07

just fyi to all those who felt like Panthro was the black character on Thundercats, it's because he was...his voice actor was the same guy that play Cliff Huxtables Dad on the Cosby Show...sorry but don't know his name

Posted by: Blood Red on July 28, 2008 at 14:14:28

Tyrese Gibson needs to go away. Post haste!

His acting is sub-par at best and that story about him on set of "Annapolis" with James Franco is true. What a douchebag being propped up by Hollywood to be something bigger than he is....

Gibson you are a no talent fool. Ya better be saving you're money, because your gravy train will derail...hopefully sooner than later.

That being said, a live-action version of Thundercats could be cool but, it would take a lot of money (don't go cheap here and end up a joke!), good actors and the right director to make it believable, action-oriented and intense, not just a bunch of one-liners, etc.

Posted by: Blood Red on July 28, 2008 at 14:20:21

And kudos to Spadoinkle:
I agree with your Dennis Haysbert casting opinion. He is a fine actor and I believe he would be excellent!!

Posted by: jrobert on July 28, 2008 at 14:49:36

Tyrese in a CG update of Thundercats? It could work in theory, he may be best suited for the role of Panthro although the problem that Tyrese has is a similar problem that Shia Labeouf has. That problem being that they essentially play off of their public persona.So every character they play is basically a different variation of that same persona(Although in all fairness John Wayne,Jack Nicholson and Clint Eastwood also did this but those aforementioned actors are all talented acting legends, not to say that Shia isn`t a talented actor but those guys are obviously on another level)If this is CG-animated film than without a doubt Tyrese could voice Panthro.Like Shia Labeouf, Tyrese still hasn`t reached the point where he can immerse himself in a role.If you look at actors like Robert Deniro,Al Pacino,Daniel Day-Lewis and even Heath Ledger(who was well on his way to joining their esteemed ranks)they completely immerse themselves in a role until you no longer see the public persona of the actor winking out at you from behind the mask of the character.That distancing of self and the embracing of the character becomes evident to the viewers.At that point you just see the character. Daniel Day-Lewis did it as Christy Brown in My Left Foot and as Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood.Heath of course, did it as The Joker.Maybe one day he`ll get there but Tyrese isn`t at that level of acting yet,when he acts like Snoop Dogg he essentially just plays himself.However Tyrese would make a adequate Luke Cage or even LL Cool J(I`ve always wanted to hear ''sweet chirstmas!'' on screen,no Luke Cage movie would be complete without that line it`s to Luke Cage what "it`s clobberin` time!'' is to Ben Grimm.)

Posted by: Sarakiel on July 28, 2008 at 16:05:22

Umm..not to disparage anyone, but if they go this way then that would hint to an explosive action piece a-la- michael bay.

Which may not be BAD. Its a story about man-cats and a magical mummy after all... Not exactly plot rich. Done properly could be a great popcorn flick.

lol..Still remember tyrese from the Coke Ad though....

Posted by: Spadoinkle on July 28, 2008 at 16:21:36

Hey thanks Blood Red, glad someone agrees with my casting choice!

Posted by: Scelestus Unus on July 28, 2008 at 16:49:28

Micheal Clark Duncan for Panthro. If Tyrese is going to be anything in this movie, I hope it's the voice of a Berbil.

Posted by: WillardNation on July 28, 2008 at 17:25:00

No, no, no to Terry Crews. The only kind of movie that guy can be in is a spoof or comedy, has anybody seen Street Kings? It was the hardest thing ever for me to buy him in serious role. As for Michael Jai White, like I said, he was good in Spawn, but everything else I think he overacts alot, he's way over the top. the more I think about it, the more I think Henry Simmons is THE perfect fit for Luke Cage.

That being said, who do you think would make a good Danny Rand/Iron fist?

Posted by: islandson on July 28, 2008 at 17:27:57

Its not until you see a name that you change your mind about your won idea.

The thought of Michael Clarke Duncan as Panthro actually is a pretty good casting call. Dennis Haysbert is a very good actor, but if you're gonna make a Thundercats movie, they ALL have to be fit and ripped. Even though Panthro was clearly older than Liono - and probably the eldest Thundercat - Dennis is in pretty good shape for The Unit, CBS or 24, not this movie.

I'd take any of these guys for Panthro - Michael Clarke Duncan, Henry Simmons, Michael Jai White or Jamal Duff (Mishael from Dodgeball / big, silent, growling guy from The Game Plan.

Jamal Duff could also play Luke Cage as long as he gets the right acting coach.

Posted by: WebSlinger666 on July 28, 2008 at 17:39:28

ok i grew up in the 80's Tcats is 1 of my all time faves and its obvious who he would play. Panthro...i mean come on Panthro was the black guy. i think it could work well. guess we'll have to see

Posted by: Dave on July 28, 2008 at 18:06:53

Djimon Hounsou as Black Panther

Posted by: ComicFan 1129 on July 28, 2008 at 18:12:02

I thought Panthro was a panther-man? I know that he was voiced by Earle Hyman who is Black,but I thought Panthro was a cat,and since they are all cats,why couldn't Tyrese be Lion-O,who I didn't know was White,I thought he was a lion-man and since lions are from Africa,I think it would still fit.By the way LL Cool J for Luke Cage,he was originally supposed to be Blade you know.

Posted by: karu971 on July 28, 2008 at 18:32:57

Terry Crews as luke cage is a good idea.

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