11 Actors We'd Love To See Play Booster Gold In DC's HBO Max Series

When James Gunn announced his slate of film and TV productions for the first chapter of his DC universe (subtitled "Gods and Monsters") in January 2023, there were a few surprises. One of the most anticipated projects is an HBO Max series based on the cult comic favorite Booster Gold.

The story of Booster Gold is unique in the world of superheroes. Instead of a heroic figure who emerges from tragedy, Michael Jon Carter is a disgraced college football player from the 25th century, expelled for fixing games. After learning about the adventures of present-day heroes, he steals technology that provides him with flight, superhuman strength, and a force field, and then travels back to our time, where he uses his knowledge of present-day events to quickly become a widely recognized superhero, making money through sponsorship deals. Despite his initial selfish reasons, he soon learns that there's value in risking his life to save others, starting a path that takes him from time-traveling fraud to true hero.

The character has already been portrayed by Eric Martsolf in "Smallville," and a variation of Booster Gold named Mike was played by Donald Faison in "Legends of Tomorrow." However, a show revolving around the character will allow viewers to explore his true complexity. The role of Booster Gold requires range, physical skill, and charisma. It is both a challenging and attractive part for actors who have yet to be given their own superhero franchise. Here are the actors we think should be on the shortlist to portray Booster Gold.

Jon Hamm was still a relative unknown when he was cast as advertising exec Don Draper in the hit series "Mad Men." The role of the marketing genius who becomes a success in the corporate world earned the actor numerous awards (including an Emmy) and widespread praise. His cold but engaging performance convinced director Kevin Smith that he would be a perfect Bruce Wayne in a future Batman film ("Give Draper the cape and light up the Bat Signal," he said in an Instagram post), but Hamm's career took a different direction.

After "Mad Men," Hamm appeared in secondary roles in successful small screen comedies such as "The Last Man on Earth" and "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt." He also plied his trade in big films like "Lucy in the Sky" and "Top Gun: Maverick." However, it was his leading role in the relatively unknown detective comedy flick "Confess, Fletch" that brought back the attention of critics: The Au Review called him "hilariously deadpan" and hailed his "terrific performance." This ability to portray flawed characters with hidden pasts as well as people who shouldn't be taken too seriously is why James Gunn should be taking a serious look at Jon Hamm for Booster Gold. He has more superhero experience than you might realize, too: He voiced Tony Stark in Marvel's "MODOK" in 2021.

Between 2010 and 2015, a British period drama enthralled both domestic and international audiences. Set in early 20th century England, "Downton Abbey" follows the aristocratic family who live in the titular building and the staff who keep it running. The relatable topics across different levels of society, as well as the use of historical events such as World War I, made the show a tremendous success. The early seasons are largely concerned with Matthew Crawley, a lawyer who becomes the heir to the title Earl of Grantham. Crawley is played by Dan Stevens, who — fearing he would be "typecast" as a period drama actor, he told The Australian (via the Daily Mail) — left the show after Season 3.

Stevens' departure (and the tragic way in which writers ensured there was no hope for his character to return) devastated viewers, but the actor's instincts paid off. He went on to star in the critically acclaimed movie "The Guest" and portrayed the titular creature in Disney's live-action remake of "Beauty and the Beast" opposite Emma Watson's Belle. He's best known to superhero fans for playing David Haller (the mutant son of Charles Xavier) in the Marvel show "Legion." The FX series came to an end in 2019, and it's about time that Stevens got back into the superhero genre. He has the looks, and he has the ability — he was nominated for numerous awards for his gripping turn in "The Guest."

Donald Glover started his career writing for the beloved comedy series "30 Rock," but opted to leave his position so he could pursue a career on camera. Today he's best known for his role as Troy Barnes in the hit show "Community," his different music productions, and creating, writing, and starring in the Emmy award-winning TV series Atlanta, in which he plays a man helping his cousin become a successful rapper.

During his career, Glover has crossed paths with the superhero genre on a number of occasions, although he has yet to get a main role in a DC or Marvel production. He was the subject of a campaign to make him the star of the next Spider-Man film during pre-production of "The Amazing Spider-Man," with Stan Lee among the people suggesting he should get a shot at auditioning, but Sony execs never contacted him. He ended up voicing Miles Morales' Spider-Man in the "Ultimate Spider-Man" animated series and playing a small cameo role in "Spider-Man: Homecoming" as Miles Morales' uncle, but he's still waiting for that big lead superhero role.

With a proven talent for both comedy and drama, we would love to see Glover take the role of Booster Gold in the first chapter of James Gunn's DC Universe. If chosen, execs should consider allowing him to write and direct on the series. With his background and talents, Glover could create a unique and engaging take on the character.

Like Daniel Radcliffe, Logan Lerman became a star portraying the lead character in a film adaptation of a fantasy book series. While the "Percy Jackson" movies weren't anywhere near as big as the "Harry Potter" ones, Lerman still went on to establish himself in Hollywood. He appeared alongside Radcliffe's former Hogwarts schoolmate Emma Watson in Stephen Chbosky's "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" and he turned in a tour-de-force performance in the Brad Pitt-led "Fury," playing the youngest member of a World War II tank crew.

When taking on a superhero role, actors are expected to adopt a strict diet and workout routine in order to get into the required shape. Lerman has shown that he isn't afraid to throw himself into a role, as he did prior to "Fury." Speaking to Vanity Fair, he revealed that director David Ayer put him and his castmates through the wringer as they prepper for the intense war film. "He had us sparring and fighting every day — all of us getting together at five AM and working on techniques, and then just getting into a ring to fight each other," the actor revealed. "It was part of our whole violent psychological training for going to war."

He's dedicated, handsome, and young enough to play a character for years to come. Lerman has yet to come into his own as a grown-up leading man, and the upcoming Booster Gold series could be an ideal way to do just that.

Early in his career, Adam Scott made a habit of playing small roles in big movies, like "Star Trek: First Contact," "The Aviator," and "Stepbrothers." He would follow a similar trajectory in TV, appearing in popular comedies like "Boy Meets World," "Party of Five," and "Six Feet Under." His natural ability with deadpan comedy and playing office workers earned him a role in a mockumentary series called "Parks and Recreation" in 2010, which was in its second season and starting to gain a considerable following. The role of Ben Wyatt, a politician-turned-auditor, quickly became a fan favorite, which led to Scott becoming a regular part of the cast until the show's end in 2015.

Scott continued to feature in smaller roles in popular comedies like "The Good Place" in the years that followed. However, in 2022, the California native was finally recognized for his acting ability, turning in an outstanding performance as Mark in the acclaimed workplace sci-fi series "Severance." The Mary Sue was just one of the many outlets that raved about his work on the show, saying, "Adam Scott is one of the best actors out there, not just in his television roles but in everything he does." The premise of "Severance" revolves around people splitting their workplace self from their home one, creating "innies" who never leave the office and "outties" who never go to work. Scott's ability to convincingly portray both a downtrodden man and a happy-go-lucky guy make him an ideal candidate for Booster Gold.