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Justice League’s Carl Lumbly Reveals Epic Martian Manhunter Role He Wants in the New DC Universe

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For years prior to David Harewood and Harry Lennix embodying Martian Manhunter on Supergirl and in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, respectively, I had the honor of voicing this character in both Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. These shows, considered among the best animated TV series ever made, played a significant part in familiarizing many viewers with Martian Manhunter who may not have known him from the comics. However, whether we’ll witness him again in the new DC Universe franchise is yet to be determined. If J’onn should appear in an upcoming DC film or TV show, I can only hope that his portrayal will align with my idea, as I shared it with you during our conversation.

Currently, Lumbly is significantly impacting the superhero genre through his portrayal of Isaiah Bradley in the MCU. He debuted this character in 2021’s “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” and recently reprised the role for “Captain America: Brave New World” where he had an especially challenging running scene. As a dedicated admirer of his portrayal of Martian Manhunter, I couldn’t help but ask him about his ideas for J’onn if he were to be incorporated into the DC Universe. He shared those thoughts with me:

In simpler terms, when J’onn J’onnz arrived on Earth, he had never spoken aloud before. As his English improved and he learned to communicate better, he found a place in society not just as an alien, but as a citizen. Now, I wonder what his life as a citizen is like, beyond his extraordinary abilities such as mind-reading, shape-shifting, and the power to become intangible. So, how does his existence manifest on this planet?

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In J’onn J’onzz’s classic backstory, a human scientist forces him from Mars and dies upon witnessing his shape-shifting abilities. Stranded on Earth, the Martian assumed the John Jones identity to blend in with humans. The animated series “Justice League” presents an alternate arrival for him, where he comes to our world to alert humanity about the Imperium, but gets captured by the Imperium disguised as U.S. government officials instead.

In simpler terms, Superman and Batman rescued Martian Manhunter (J’onn) from captivity, and after defeating the Imperium, they, along with Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, and Hawkgirl, established the Justice League. However, it wasn’t until the final season of “Justice League Unlimited” that J’onn began to live among humans. It’s an intriguing idea to explore how this DC Universe character, who can blend in with humans but has only recently started living on Earth, interacts with us, especially compared to Superman, who has been living on Earth since his childhood and appears human.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I can’t help but express my heartfelt hope that the DC Universe will eventually introduce the enigmatic character, Martian Manhunter, to their cinematic universe. If and when this day arrives, I eagerly anticipate the portrayal of his unique alien culture, as suggested by Carl Lumbly himself. The much-awaited first movie under James Gunn’s helm, Superman, is set to premiere in theaters on July 11.

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2025-05-01 03:49

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