Warner Brothers is currently building the Black Adam roster, and we have learned that they are very interested in casting Alexander Skarsgard as Hawkman.
Hawkman has a history as convoluted and messy as they come in the world of comics, which makes speculation all the more challenging. While we do know that this version of the character will be Carter Hall (at least in the scenes that take place in the present) it is not currently known which origin story will be used in Black Adam, or how integral his reincarnated forms will be to the story. I will attempt to explain the basics of the character, but it’s important to understand that any explanation outside of a lengthy essay will be a massive oversimplification.
Hawkman’s Twisted History
For those who wish to understand the numerous facets of Hawkman, I recommend reading Robert Venditti and Bryan Hitch’s recently cancelled Hawkman series. Not only is it a marvelously crafted comic, it brought together and unified almost every different iteration and origin of Hawkman, creating a uniquely cohesive Hawkman story.
Simply put, Carter Hall is an archaeologist turned vigilante and founding member of the Justice Society Of America. He became a vigilante after regaining the memories of his past life as the Egyptian Prince Khufu (who has quite the history with Teth-Adam), taking the symbol of Horus as the inspiration for his costume. Hawkman and Hawkgirl undergo a unique cycle of death and rebirth, living their lives often as warriors until they find each other, their true loves, once more.
This cycle of reincarnation has been going on for thousands of years, and taken place on different worlds. Some reincarnations have existed concurrently, and it wasn’t until Venditti’s Hawkman Vol. 5 that each version of Hawkman was brought together as one. If that idea makes your head spin, fear not, because the concept and application of said concept is extremely complicated. Luckily, you’ll find that his characterization and power set are a bit easier to wrap one’s head around.
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Carter Hall is often depicted as a rash, easily irritable, and incredibly dangerous warrior. He is quick to anger and violence, a real “shoot first, ask questions later” kind of guy, though in his case, “beat with a mace made of Nth metal, ask questions later” would be more accurate. Fiercely loyal to Hawkgirl, his number one interest is always to protect her, though when he fails, his prime directive often becomes vengeance.
In terms of power, the Nth Metal in Hall’s armor grants him powers such as flight, enhanced vision, strength, and healing. His countless reincarnations have also imbued him with an incredible military mind, making him a masterful strategist and tactician. His previous lives have also made him proficient in battle with a number of weapons, though his weapon of choice is his iconic mace.
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While nothing official has happened yet, we now know that Alexander Skarsgard is Warner Brothers preferred choice for Carter Hall. Skarsgard is best known for his roles in The Legend Of Tarzan, True Blood, and Big Little Lies, the last of which he won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Television Movie.
Standing at 6’4, he certainly has the height to play Carter Hall. Casting an actor with an intimidatingly large build was a must for Hawkman, as it is highly likely that he will go head to head with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s Black Adam in the film. The only clear downside to casting Skarsgard is his ethnicity. Skarsgard is Swedish, and many fans were hoping to see an Egyptian or Middle Eastern actor play the role of Hawkman, considering that Prince Khufu (an earlier incarnation that will probably make an appearance in the film) is an Egyptian prince.
Additionally, while Skarsgard is the frontrunner for Hawkman, if that doesn’t pan out, they have another actor in mind. Sam Heughan, most famous for his role as Jamie Fraser on Outlander is also in the running for Hawkman. If cast, this would be Heughan’s second role in a comic book movie. If cast, I only hope that Black Adam is more beneficial to his career than Bloodshot was.
Stay tuned for our coverage of the Black Adam panel at DC Fandome, where we may be treated to an official casting announcement for Hawkman.
Do you think that Alexander Skarsgard is the right man to portray Carter Hall in his silver screen debut? Would you prefer Sam Heughan? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or on our social media!
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