The Illuminerdi has gotten wind of a casting call for Titans earlier this month, which seemingly indicates that Danny Chase, better known as Phantasm, might be on his way in the third season.
It’s been an uncertain few weeks for fans as the entertainment industry, and society at large, takes a step back for the greater good. Movie theaters’ doors are closed, and features that would normally be available at the local cineplex are now streaming from television sets. Hit movies that are now available at the click of the remote, ranging from The Invisible Man to Onward, reflect this sudden change.
However, it seems that one offering from DC is still working on reasons to make fans to smile like only the Joker can. Recently, DC Universe revealed the new R-rated trailer for the second season of their animated series, Harley Quinn. It’s primed to make its debut in just a few short weeks. Meanwhile, their pre-production and casting search for the third season of Titans continued up until just a few short weeks ago.
Titans Casting Call Details
Thanks to a casting call at the beginning of the month, we now have an idea of who the next player to be adapted for the show will be.
The production was in search of a South East Asian actor aged 18 or older, to play a 16-17 year old named Daniel. In the casting call, he’s described as a youth who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks but never lost his belief in heroism. His laid-back persona is balanced by a near genius intellect. He has innate detective skills with a perception of detail that is way beyond his years. Despite his rough upbringing, he’s motivated by the opportunity to do good in the world instead of the dwelling in the pain and tragedy.
The role has been slated as a recurring guest star with an either 7 or 13-episode option for the following seasons. It sounds like if they cast an actor that connects with audiences, Daniel is intended to be a big part of the Titans future.
While all we have is the name and casting description to go by, our research indicates that the role might actually be from the pages of DC Comics. The casting seems to point to the character, Danny Chase, who eventually creates the moniker of Phantasm.
Who is Phantasm?
Danny Chase was created by Marv Wolfman and Mike Collins and first appeared in New Teen Titans Annual Vol 2 #3 in November of 1987. He’s the son of international spies and inherited their advanced abilities of espionage and extraordinarily high I.Q. After Chase is exposed to radiation, in classic comic fashion, he develops telekinetic powers of his own. As Phantasm, Danny Chase has had many encounters and team-ups with the Teen Titans and is perhaps most notably known for being the one to deliver the news of Jason Todd’s death to Nightwing.
Contrary to the casting call, Danny Chase in the comics is actually known for being a spoiled brat whose abrasiveness has rubbed many heroes the wrong way. So, this does leave the possibility open that this could be another character. However, it’s even more likely that the Daniel character is simply being reimagined for modern times, with an altered background and cultural identity to go along with the other changes.
The Titans show is inspired by the Teen Titans DC Comic and has been the flagship show for Warner Bros’ streaming venture, DC Universe. The show was developed by industry icons Akiva Goldsman, Geoff Johns, and Greg Berlanti, who have produced the series that lends itself to dark interpretations of a range of DC Comics’ characters.
From the description it feels like we will watch Daniel’s season-long progression into a costumed fighter, or at least his journey to becoming an asset to the real ones. In the comics, Phantasm’s origin and persona began as more of a farce, with Danny assembling random clothes, hockey mask, and gloves, to create the Phantasm look. One things fans of Titans know is that the showrunners like to payoff comic book expectations. So, it should be fun to watch how the show comes together in its third season.
The third season of Titans is expected to drop in the Fall of 2020. What do you think of the potential new addition to the team? Let us know in the comments below or on our social media!
