On the back slide of the Funky Bunch, we never imagined that Marky Mark would emerge as Mark Wahlberg, top marquee draw, Oscar nominee, and star of 2012’s biggest comedy. While Dj Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince was a fun and popular pop act of the 80s, no one living through 1988 ever thought, “That Will Smith sure has box office gold written all over him!” Cut to thirty years later, and he too is a multiple Oscar nominee and one of today’s top leading men (despite his inability to carry an M. Night Shyamalan movie). While Justin Timberlake hasn’t exactly set the big screen ablaze, he’s become a beloved institution amongst the hipster marketplace, as well as a sought out persona amongst all other demographics who love his comedy on Saturday Night Live, bath in his music, or applaud his various turns at dramatic acting. He’s the closet thing we have to Frank Sinatra today.
What I’m trying to say is, there’s hope for Justin Bieber. Just the mention of his name sends shots of electrified hate through some people. But that’s been true of most popular young musical acts aimed at teen girls throughout the decades. And with his booing this past year at the Billboard Music Awards and the desperate shenanigans that followed, it’s easy to assume the kid has reached his zenith. Now, Its time for him to choose a career path that won’t lead to his absolute destruction. Like it or not, he does possess the ability to be an entertainer that is around for the next twenty years. Or he could do a Leif Garrett face plant, with all the kids born today saying, “Justin who?” less than a fortnight from now.
It’s his choice to make.
For a while now, we’ve known that Justin Bieber has wanted to break into acting full time. Like Justin Timberlake before him, he’s been able to win audiences over on Saturday Night Live, proving that he is quite funny and able to land a well-written joke. Spit spite at him all you want, the guy has timing. For a while, it was known that he was actively pursuing a lead in a movie like Fear, a dark thriller that launched Mark Wahlberg’s career. There was even talk that he might star in a remake. That never came to fruition, with some folks being quite vocal about his inability to play someone like David McCall, a psychopath prone to terrorizing his girlfriend. Some even called for a gender reverse, with Justin Bieber taking on the role of a young man abused by his girlfriend. Or, he could simply play the Alyssa Milano role, case closed.
We believe that bit of noise was thrown into the ether to see how fans and non-fans both would react to the news. Maybe you don’t know this, but our site is partially owned and operated by a couple of well-known musicians who will go unnamed at the moment (its not hard to look them up or verify who they are). They book a lot of studio time in and around the Los Angeles area, where its not an odd thing to run into one of the Glee kids or Selena Gomez on occasion.
We can confirm through multiple sources that Justin Bieber is actively pursuing a role in a Marvel movie. After watching his girlfriend swing for the fences in Spring Breakers, the guy is especially feeling the heat to get himself in front of audiences at the multiplex, and Marvel is a golden way to go. Look what they did for Robert Downey Jr.’s career. We’d say at least 50% of audiences paying to see Tony Stark have forgotten, or refuse to acknowledge, some of the hijinks that guy involved himself in over the years. He did a lot worse then write a funny joke in Anne Frank’s guest book, and when he was on Ally McBeal, people couldn’t yell ‘douche’ loud enough. Marvel makes sense for ANYONE trying to kick-start an acting career. Their movies are seen by everyone, old and young. And it’s the perfect fit for Justin Bieber, where he can attract a fan base that isn’t entirely made up of screaming tweens.
Now, don’t read this the wrong way. Marvel, as far as we know, are not actively seeking Bieber out. And there is no particular character calling his name. So we’ve come up with a few characters we think he’d be perfect for. You might hate on The Biebs now, but you can’t look at this list and deny that you might enjoy watching him play at least one of these super heroes or mutants.
[1] Iron Fist in new Netflix series and The Defenders miniseries
As Justin Bieber’s world tour slows down in the coming months, Netflix and Marvel are starting to heat up four new one-hour drama series for launch starting in 2015. And its likely they will be going after some big name talent to fill these slots. Justin might still be too young to play blind New York City lawyer and vigilante Matt Murdock, but he’s the perfect everything to play Daniel Thomas Rand-K’ai in the upcoming Iron Fist series. Like Iron Fist, the pop star is a master martial artist. As Daniel’s father was a skilled fighter before him, Bieber’s father is an amateur Muay Thai fighter who has shared his knowledge and skill with his young son. To see what he ‘might’ look like as the character: CLICK HERE. It should also be noted that with his slender yet muscular build and blonde hair, JB looks a lot like Rand-K’ai. Justin is no stranger to episodic TV, having played a recurring arc on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Add to that, these Marvel/Netflix action dramas aren’t your typical broadcast series. 13 one hour episodes will be shot before it culminates in a mini-series. This isn’t something that will stretch across numerous seasons and many years, making him ineligible for touring or recording. The series will all be done in one shoot, just like a movie. As will the mini-series. Like it or not, Bieber is a pretty decent pick for the role.
[2] Northstar in Alpha Flight
Justin Bieber is Canadian. So is Jean-Paul Beaubier. They have similar sounding names. And they both court a flashy, flamboyant look and lifestyle. As of now, there are no plans for an Alpha Flight movie, though some thought X-Men: Days of Future Past might be bringing in Peter Dinklage to play Puck. That seems to be false, and the fact that Alpha Flight is a superhero team with a Canadian background has kept it from really entering into the Marvel movie zeitgeist. Despite that, the comics have a rich and detailed story arc that is quite profound and relevant in today’s socio-economic climate. If done right, Alpha Flight could be another one of those superhero movies that fanboys love to shout, “changes what our ideas of a superhero movie can be.” Northstar has a great backstory, and makes for an interesting character no matter where he lands, be it in an Alpha Flight standalone movie, or as a member of X-Men in a future installment of that franchise. Northstar is one of the first openly gay Marvel characters, and married his partner Kyle Jinadu last year. He has superhuman powers, and is an expert skier. He’s fought the AIDS crisis and super villains, and has a tumultuous relationship with Wolverine. There seems to be plenty of confusion as to where, exactly, the rights to Alpha Flight and Northstar rest. They are believed to be with 20th Century Fox, though since they seem in no hurry to utilize those rights, it would be easy for Marvel Studios to get them back. An Alpha Flight movie might sound strange and improbable, but so did Guardians of the Galaxy just a few years ago…And look where we are with that now. Alpha Flight has a good story, and if done right, it will certainly be one of the more unique super hero movies ever made. Justin Bieber seems like a natural fit.
[3] Marvel Zombies Victim #1
Straight up, not going to lie. This one is strictly for the haters. Anyone old enough to remember the theatrical run of Return of the Living Dead Part II will remember the howls of joy Michael Jackson’s cameo as an electrified zombie evoked from the audience. Justin Bieber’s presence would most certainly do the same here. Marvel head honcho Kevin Feige says he loves the idea of Marvel Zombies, but doesn’t know how to do it. In the same breath, he talks about bringing certain Marvel characters back home, like Daredevil and The Punisher, but not really knowing how to utilize them just yet. Let me pitch this idea. Make a low budget Marvel Zombies utilizing all the characters that have come home to roost, with Daredevil leading the charge. Throw a bunch of the cult characters that will never see the light of day in along with them. A Howard the Duck zombie sounds pretty cool. Then find someone who knows how to make an awesome movie on the cheap, like Todd Rohal or Jason Eisener, and let them go to town, no holds barred. Marvel could make their notorious penny pinching work in their favor, and make a really neat, really cool horror adventure for adult genre fans. Maybe they throw in a little extra scratch to get Justin Bieber as Matthew Michael Murdock. Or have him star as A. Guy, a human without powers who tries to bring the apocalypse to an end before meeting his own, grisly zombified death. This could work. Some of us would really, really love it.
[4] Long Shot in Doctor Strange or Guardians of the Galaxy 2
In terms of looks and that flamboyant pop-rocker lifestyle, Long Shot is probably the best overall fit for Justin Bieber in the entirety of the Marvel Universe. Despite being a member of the X-Men, his inaugural introduction in his own six-issue miniseries included Doctor Strange, which makes him sharable, like Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch. He could very easily show up for a minor bit in the nearly confirmed Marvel Phase III Doctor Strange movie. The guy is also from outer space, the Mojoverse, to be exact. Which means he could very easily slide right into Guardians of the Galaxy 2 alongside Howard the Duck, if they move forward on a sequel. Lets also not forget that Long Shot had Dazzler as a girlfriend there, for a short minute. They even had a baby together. Of course, we could then squeeze Selena Gomez in as Dazzler. God, what a weird, wonderfully trashy Marvel movie that would be. A true dumpster diamond masterpiece. But that aside, Long Shot is a pretty cool character, with a neat backstory involving bio-genetics and one of the creepiest villains ever drawn for the pages of Marvel. Even YOU have to admit Justin Bieber would look pretty damn good in that black leather jumpsuit…And, OH! That mullet! It’s got his name written all over it. And before you say your piece, let me just say…Rocket Raccoon. Yeah. Anything can happen. ANYTHING.
[5] Chase Stein in Runaways
This is where it gets scary. And ugly. And you call us an asshole. While they toyed with Justin Bieber possibly playing Quicksilver in The Avengers 2, you can forget all of that nonsense. Marvel has been trying to get Runaways made for years now. It’s the closest thing to being a done deal for Marvel Phase III just after Doctor Strange, and it has a character that IS…Justin Bieber! Meet Chase Stein, one of several supervillain offspring who’ve become emancipated from their parents to form a group of do-gooders. Chase comes from a longline of Mad Scientists, and is the wild card of the group, one that serves many functions. He’s funny, smarmy, and all-around pretty Bieberish. Because of Justin’s babyface, he’ll be able to get away with playing Chase well into his thirties. Stein is a rule breaker and a loose canon, and plays at being unlikable on occasion. He is the oldest of the Runaways at 18. And he rides a dinosaur that he shares a telepathic link with. Sorry, gang, your fears of seeing Justin Bieber in a Marvel movie are probably coming true in a boardroom somewhere, right now. Chase is Bieber, JBieber is Chase. Case closed!
Yes, the Marvel BieberFever Mystery is solved. If Justin Bieber gets his wish to push forth his acting career with a Marvel movie, it will most likely be as Chase Stein in Runaways. And the fact that it’s an ensemble, with four of the six core members being girls, definitely helps in his favor. What do you think? Is there a Marvel movie out there with J-Biebs’ name on it? Or do you want him to stay far away from your precious comic book movie universe? Let us know what you think!
