Jason Momoa wants you to fall for Lobo so DC can’t say no to an R-rated solo

Jason Momoa is at it again, and frankly, you have to admire the man’s commitment. Most actors do their standard press rounds, talk politely about 'the craft', maybe mention a few lovely things about their co-stars – but Momoa has landed on an entirely different wavelength of enthusiasm, especially now he’s gearing up to play Lobo in DC’s upcoming Supergirl film. The character’s never been at the top of my own antihero list (Lobo’s always struck me as a bit much, if I’m being honest), but with Momoa involved, you start to think: “Alright, maybe this bloke’s onto something.”

Momoa’s Pitch for Lobo: Not Subtle, Very Eager

So, with Supergirl swooping into cinemas this summer – Milly Alcock taking the lead as Kara Zor-El, in case you’ve missed the run-up – Momoa’s already looking past the team-up and thinking about a proper solo outing for the Main Man himself. And he’s not shy about what he wants:

So yeah, in Momoa’s world, it seems the fate of Lobo isn’t down to some secret studio agenda – it’s purely on the audience. If we lap him up in Supergirl, the odds of a solo film go up.

The R-Rated Angle

If you’re thinking about this hoped-for Lobo film and assuming it’ll be family-friendly, stop right there. Momoa’s dead set on R-rated chaos. Here’s his logic: don’t just throw a sweary, violent Lobo vehicle at the cinema and assume ‘everyone’ turns up; you’ve got to warm up the room, let people see what makes the character tick before pulling the ratings lever.

It’s very much a 'walk before you run' approach – probably sensible, given DC’s patchy record on big swings lately.

What Would an R-Rated Lobo Film Even Look Like?

If DC can greenlight a Clayface film, surely Lobo’s not that much of a stretch – as long as people turn out and make some noise. Momoa’s suggestion to Comicbook.com boils down to: let Supergirl drop, watch how people react, then maybe start thinking about bringing in writers and fleshing out a story. Now, if the comics are any template, things could get properly weird – Lobo apparently has hundreds of illegitimate children scattered all over the universe, and the most prominent is a character called Crush (he only found out about her thanks to a villain called the Other, enemy of the Teen Titans).

• An R-rated Lobo film could spin out of Supergirl if audiences are keen – that’s the key test
• It would likely focus on Lobo’s antihero antics and maybe his relationship with Crush, his daughter from the comics
• DC will apparently only get this going if the fanbase makes it clear they want the nonsense and the mayhem
• The price tag for these superhero flicks is always huge, so convincing the studio to gamble on Lobo means proving his popularity first
• Don’t expect any news until after Supergirl’s box office results are in and the Twitter mob has spoken

If someone at DC is listening, I’m sure there are a few script writers already dreaming up a father-daughter action-comedy with a heavy dose of sci-fi, violence, and the kind of jokes James Gunn probably can’t get away with post-Guardians.

When and Where

Momoa’s version of Lobo storms into action alongside Milly Alcock’s Supergirl when the film hits UK cinemas on 26 June. There’s not long to wait to see if audiences lose their minds for the Last Czarnian, and if we might all end up with a proper R-rated Lobo film somewhere down the line.