Long Before Supergirl, Lobo Nearly Headlined a 90s Animated Movie

Lobo – the chain-smoking, cigar-chomping, intergalactic bounty hunter that 90s comic nerds either loved or were slightly afraid of – is finally crashing into live-action thanks to the upcoming Supergirl movie. If it feels like this has taken forever, that’s because it kind of has. Lobo’s been a cult favorite for decades (he practically defined ‘cult favorite’ before Deadpool made it cool), and fans have been campaigning for a big-screen version for so long, you’d think DC would’ve caved years ago.

The Saga of Getting Lobo to the Big Screen

It’s not like nobody at Warner Bros. ever noticed Lobo’s potential. But while characters like Deadpool eventually got their day by banking on their self-awareness, Lobo spent most of the past 30 years stuck in development limbo. Which, ironically, is sort of fitting for a guy whose idea of heroism is punching Superman and blowing up planets while calling everyone 'bastich'.

Here’s the kicker: Lobo almost made his movie debut way back in 1995 — not live-action, but as an R-rated animated film. Seriously. A full script was written, then stuffed into a drawer and forgotten until, just recently, it popped up on eBay (which is the kind of Hollywood ending nobody saw coming). Most fans had no clue this project even existed until someone started tweeting about the auction.

So, what was in this lost script?

• It kicked off with none other than Carl Sagan (or at least a fictional version of him) narrating as Lobo rockets through the galaxy on his Spacehog, which is basically a cosmic Harley Davidson.
• The script was apparently pretty faithful to Lobo’s vibe: over-the-top violence, satire, and the kind of crude humor that would’ve been borderline shocking in a 1990s cartoon.
• DC did bring Lobo to TV around that time, voiced by Brad Garrett in Superman: The Animated Series, where he basically stole every scene he was in by mocking the entire superhero genre (and Superman in particular).

Unfortunately, as with so many “weird but brilliant” comic book projects from that era, the suits at Warner Bros. nixed it, probably because they couldn’t imagine selling an R-rated animated movie for adults. (Remember, this was years before anyone took animated superhero films that seriously outside of the kid market.)

The Lobo Casting Game

Meanwhile, fans spent the next couple decades fancasting Lobo harder than any other DC character. Jason Momoa’s name has been floating around for this part since before he was even Aquaman. Turns out, Momoa himself always thought he'd make a better Lobo than a fish-whisperer — and he’s never been subtle about how much he loves the character. If you need someone to play a musclebound alien who loves punching holes in things and calling everyone 'fraggin'', yeah, Momoa pretty much is the Main Man.

'When I first heard about the audition, I figured, hey, Lobo’s more my thing. Turns out, other people agreed.'

So when James Gunn took the DC creative reins and decided to cast Momoa as Lobo for Supergirl, nobody was shocked — it was more like, 'About time.' And it doesn’t sound like Momoa’s just in for a cameo, either. He seems to be expecting at least some kind of proper solo outing in this role.

Could Lobo Finally Get His Own Movie (or Show)?

If Supergirl makes Lobo a hit with audiences (and given that Gunn’s DC plans have included obscure oddballs like Peacemaker, Clayface, and even the Creature Commandos, nothing’s off the table), a spin-off feels way more likely now than it ever did in the past.

Honestly, it’s easy to see why Lobo would actually work even better in animation today. Creature Commandos proved that when you put DC weirdos in an animated format, you can push things — action, mayhem, even R-rated edges — further than you ever could in live-action. Lobo’s whole schtick is over-the-top violence and parody; an animated series with zero censors would finally let the character do whatever the hell he wants.

The R-Rated Antihero You Can’t Neuter

One thing’s for sure: if DC actually lets Lobo loose in his own solo adventure, they can’t sand off his edges. (The guy threatens to feed Superman to space dolphins for fun.) The buzz around the forgotten script and the renewed hype for the character prove there’s always been an appetite for a wilder, harsher take on your typical DC 'hero'. Now, with superhero movies and shows finally allowed to color outside the lines, an R-rating feels less like a risk and more like a promise to fans.

After three decades of false starts and missed opportunities, it finally looks like Lobo’s getting his due. Supergirl will give audiences their first taste, but let’s be honest: the Main Man is just getting started.