Joe Manganiello reveals that he almost played Casey Jones in a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles started as a comic book, which spawned an animated series and a live-action film in 1990. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles saw two sequels follow, with more animated shows and movies, like 2007's TMNT, debuting over the years. There was also a rebooted film series in 2014. Throughout the history of the popular characters, they've often been aided by the vigilante Casey Jones. Jones has been portrayed by Elias Koteas, Stephen Amell, and even voiced by the likes of Chris Evans.Hobo with a Shotgun director Jason Eisner recently took to Twitter to reveal a gritty, violent Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film that he pitched five years ago focusing on Casey Jones. Manganiello responded to Eisner's Tweet about the project, offering insight on how he nearly got to play the character.
According to Manganiello, he expressed interest in playing the character before Eisner's pitch. However, as he states, "I would have done this in a heartbeat," further showing his interest in playing Casey Jones.
Other Comic Book Roles Joe Manganiello Has Missed Out On
Manganiello is a self-proclaimed nerd and often expresses his love for comic books and gaming. He's also a notorious Dungeons & Dragons player, hosting regular campaigns with other notable celebrities. This love has also permeated his acting choices, with Manganiello often going after roles in comic book films, only to miss out on them in the end. While he ultimately didn't get to play Casey Jones, it's one of several comic book roles he wasn't able to land.
Manganiello has appeared in comic book movies, playing Flash Thompson in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man films and getting a short-lived tenure as Deathstroke in the DCEU. His time as Deathstroke was supposed to continue, with the character meant to appear in several other films before the debacle surrounding Justice League brought that to an end. Ben Affleck was working toward writing, directing, and starring in a Batman movie for the DCEU, which would've seen Manganiello's Deathstroke as the central antagonist. However, despite reports of a quality script, the project was scrapped.
Manganiello also lost the role of Superman to Henry Cavill in Man of Steel. He has previously stated that losing the role of Superman left him depressed for months, as it was a dream part for the actor. And while he says he doesn't regret it, he has since been the star of a superhero film, Archenemy, which sees him play a super-powered character from another dimension. Therefore, while Manganiello has missed out on some comic book-inspired roles like that of Casey Jones in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, he's found a way to make his mark in the genre.
Source: Joe Manganiello/Twitter