“He’s the only one who can fight Batman and Superman”: Jason Momoa Wanted to be Lobo in Zack Snyder’s DCEU After Losing the Role of Batman
Before his DCEU success, actor Jason Momoa was fondly known as Khal Drogo from HBO’s fantasy drama Game of Thrones, after which he went ahead to play the lead in the historical drama series Frontier. The actor was finalized to play Aquaman in the DC Extended Universe along with his standalone movie Aquaman in 2018.
The movie, upon its release, received mixed reviews but became the highest-grossing DCEU movie, and Momoa became a fan favorite. The actor’s commitment to the character has always been appreciated by the critics and the audience. Momoa returned to play Aquaman in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, which was released on 22nd December 2023. But did you know Jason Momoa was not very keen on playing Aquaman in DCEU? Let’s find out what character he wanted to play.
Jason Momoa reveals he thought he was called in to play Lobo
Ahead of the release of his sequel movie Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Jason Momoa revealed in an interview that he was not very keen on playing the character on-screen. In an interview with Fandango, where Momoa was joined by his co-star Patrick Wilson, he shared,
“I originally thought I was going to be playing Lobo in the very beginning.”
The actor who will be bidding his Aquaman character goodbye shared that he did audition for the role of Batman before Ben Affleck got it. He mentioned,
“I auditioned for Batman, and I almost didn’t do it, because I was like ‘This is silly. It’s not going to be me. Why am I auditioning for Batman?’, But it was just a run of the mill audition, and then I get called in right after Ben Affleck gets announced, and I’m like, ‘Oh f***. Of course I’m going to play the bad guy’. So I was like ‘Yeah, I’ll come in, beat ‘em up and die like I do.’”
He continued to explain that what he thought was going to be his casting as Lobo was him being cast as Aquaman.
“I got called in the office, and that was just like, ‘Well, do you know who you’re going to play?’, I’m like ‘Yeah Lobo. Of course. He’s the only one who can fight Batman and Superman.’ Snyder was like, ‘What? Lobo? No, he’s not in this universe. I’m like ‘what? Who the hell am I suppose to play?’ “
Jason Momoa added that he wished Zack Snyder would have recorded his reaction when he was told that he was going to play Aquaman. It was a disappointing face.
Also read: Aquaman 2 Post Credits Scene is the Most Disgusting Ever in Comic Book History
Jason Momoa on why Lobo is a perfect role for him
The fan favorite character and actor quickly clarified in the interview that even if he wanted to be Lobo in the DCEU and was finalized to play Aquaman, he did see some potential in the character. This happened after the actor explained that his version of Aquaman was going to be different from the version in the comic book. Momoa’s Aquaman was described as a tattooed traveler and someone more of a renegade, and it suited to the actor.
But he has not moved on from Lobo as he explained why it is a perfect role for him,
“So, Lobo, I used to collect comics, and I don’t do so much anymore, but he was always my favorite. And I’ve always wanted to play Lobo because I’m like, ‘It’s a pretty perfect. It’s the perfect role. I mean, listen, if they call me and ask me to play it? It’s a f*** yeah. But I mean, that’s a guarantee. So, you don’t have to worry about that.”
Also read: Jason Momoa Took Help From Chris Hemsworth to Prepare For His Potential Final Aquaman Movie
Momoa, however, did put a rest to all the speculations and rumors of being cast as Lobo as he said that he has not received any calls and doesn’t want to put out any fake news. If the makers call him; he’ll be there. It was shared earlier that the actor was in touch with the CEOs of DC Studios for the role of Lobo as it has been known that the Justice League will be recast for DCU.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is now playing in theatres.
