Jason Momoa’s DC Universe changes for Lobo prove the actor was the right choice for the superhero franchise’s version of the comic antihero. Jason Momoa’s impending debut as Lobo in Supergirl is one that’s been a long time coming, with the actor having expressed his interest in the role effectively at the very start of the DCU’s conception before landing the role in quick fashion.
This choice is one that made a lot of sense for the DCU timeline, given Momoa clearly fits a role like the carefree maverick bounty hunter based on his acting history. It also allows the DC Universe to show once again that it’s different to the DCEU, wherein Jason Momoa instead played Aquaman throughout the course of the franchise’s run – helping further address any confusion viewers may have around the DCU’s reboot of DC’s movie world.
Now, in the build-up to the release of Supergirl and Lobo’s subsequent first on-screen appearance, the behind-the-scenes reveals about the film and Jason Momoa’s role within it suggests the actor was the perfect candidate for Lobo, given his attention to detail regarding the DC antihero and everything that makes him so distinctive.
Jason Momoa’s Tweaks To The DC Universe’s Lobo Already Make The Character Better
ScreenRant’s time at the Supergirl set revealed a fair amount about the work that went into crafting the full on-screen look for Lobo that we’ve seen throughout the movie’s teasers and trailers. Interestingly, plenty of the details around this design were down to input from Lobo actor Jason Momoa, who requested a few of the most fun features this version of Lobo possesses.
Costume designer Michael Mooney explained that the DCU Lobo’s “claws” were a request from Momoa, as is the size of the chain necklace the character wears, stating:
“He, at the last minute, said, ‘I think I should have claws.’ So we made those at the last minute, which… and the chain was functioning so that it would go out, so the chain can unwrap. It’s quite a long length chain. And then [Momoa] also said that we had that chain around his neck, which was a pretty big chain. And then he said, I’ve got bigger chains on my wallet. So we went a lot bigger with that. And then we added the grenade on it.”
On a similar note, Charlie Horwood – the action prop supervisor for Supergirl – also mentioned Momoa was behind the specific cigar the character uses in the film, explaining that “My favorite prop that we worked on was Lobo’s vape cigar… it came from [Momoa] just because he wanted it to really light up his face.“
These decisions align with the conventional comic depiction of Lobo – who does historically wear huge, 80s comic-style chains, and is commonly smoking enormous cigars – and shows both the incredible talents of the props team for Supergirl, and a a level of engagement that is promising from the superhero actor, especially given the direction and intention of the broader franchise.
Jason Momoa’s Lobo Suggestions Suggest He Has The Most Important Trait The DCU’s Actors Need
With the DC Universe intending to provide a decidedly comic-accurate on-screen depiction of DC’s comic lore and characters, it benefits the franchise greatly to have actors who are invested in making sure their iteration of beloved heroes, villains, and everyone inbetween holds up compared to the original source material, and is the best adaptation of the character possible.
In this sense, Jason Momoa being invested in the design of his Lobo seems a promising move much in the way that David Corenswet talking extensively with James Gunn about Superman‘s ending to ensure he understood his character’s mindset and motivation is a promising sign – since there’s a clear effort being made to engage with these characters and their mythos outside of obligations.
Hopefully, when Supergirl releases, we’ll get to see even more about how Jason Momoa’s DC Universe Lobo aligns with the original comic antihero, while also witnessing how the actor has made the character his own.