I’ve been “researching” Apex Legends for hours and come to the conclusion that it needs a movie franchise. Sadly, there’s nothing “currently in development” but I went ahead and cast it anyways. You’re welcome, Hollywood.

Hey it’s already a hit!

With over 25 million downloads in it’s first week, Apex Legends has taken the video game industry by storm. I’m surprised you’re even reading this right now and not playing it. Hollywood producers should be salivating at the opportunity to start a new franchise with multiple financially suitable tie-in opportunities. We’re talking merchandise, toys, exclusive downloads, etc. 

The online shooter, developed by Respawn Entertainment and published by EA, is set in a futuristic universe where you’ll need to choose from eight Legends before you get into battle. Each Legend has a set of abilities that you can utilize: shields, enemy tracking, portals, toxic gas, healing drones, and more. The Legends you get to choose from are all a collection of outlaws, soldiers, misfits, and misanthropes that will be really cool to see in action on the big screen.

To better understand what type of “world” we’re getting into, here’s what the official Apex Legends website has to say about it:

The Frontier War is over. After hundreds of years of conflict between the Interstellar Manufacturing Corporation and the Militia founded to fight them, the far-off region of space known as the Frontier can finally know peace.

But liberation can come at a cost: when the IMC and the Militia departed, they took everything of value and left the Frontier worlds in disarray. With no way to support themselves, the people of the Frontier had no choice but to leave their homes. The brave relocated to the Outlands.

A remote cluster of planets on the fringes of the Frontier, the Outlands are untouched by war and teeming with resources and opportunity. But life is cheap here, and danger lurks around every corner. Its pioneers, explorers, and outlaws used to spend their lives locked in an endless power struggle – now, they settle their differences in the Apex Games, a bloodsport where Legends from all corners of the Frontier compete for money, fame, and glory.

Lush landscapes, futuristic artillery, cool gadgets, and fun characters? All set in the backdrop of a Battle Royale tournament? Fuck yes.

What type of actors are needed to play the Legends?

This is an action-heavy role but with TONS of personality. Each character has their distinct traits as well as their own personal “quips” which I’d expect to see a lot of in an Apex Legends movie. I wanted to make sure that the actors I’ve chosen not only look and feel the part, but also bring some star power.

Without further adieu…my Legends:

LIFELINE – ZENDAYA

Combat medic Ajay Che, aka Lifeline, isn’t someone you would expect to find in the Apex Games. Once the child of wealthy war profiteers, she left home when she learned of the damage her family had caused and enlisted in the Frontier Corps, a humanitarian organization that aids Frontier communities in need. She’s since devoted her life to helping others and joined the Apex Games to fund the Frontier Corps with her winnings. Since no one in the Games is innocent — they all know what they signed up for — and every one of her victories means help for those in need, Lifeline has no problem engaging in the popular bloodsport. Or so she tells herself. She may seem sarcastic and callous, but deep down she wants to help people and make the world a better place. If that means taking a few people down in the process, so be it.

Zendaya is proving to be a strong actress not only dramatically but also physically. She’s doing tons of wire work and acrobatic feats for her roles which leads me to believe she can handle what’s need physically to play Lifeline. Her charisma will shine through brilliantly while traversing the map and reviving her squad mates.

WRAITH – HAILEE STEINFELD

Interdimensional skirmisher Wraith is a whirlwind fighter, able to execute swift and deadly attacks and manipulate spacetime by opening rifts in the fabric of reality — but she has no idea how she got that way. Determined to uncover her true identity, Wraith began a quest to find out more about the experiments. Many of the old research facilities, however, are buried beneath heavily guarded arenas used for the Apex Games. Now Wraith has joined the competition, and with every match she gets closer to the truth.

Wraith is like the “Wolverine” of the Apex Legends universe. Powerful and mysterious. I went with one of the best young actresses working today with an academy award nomination under her belt. Hailee was great in Bumblebee, but just wait until you see her creating portals. 

BANGALORE – CYNTHIA ERIVO

Born into a military family where she, her parents, and her four older brothers all served in the IMC Armed Forces, Bangalore has been an exceptional soldier since she was young.

For me. Cynthia was the breakout star of Bad Times At El Royale. Her scenes with Jeff Bridges were tense, heartfelt, and moving. She can do it all. She’s a star. And while doing research on her I’ve come to find that Cynthia Erivo is a self-proclaimed “workout warrior”. This only solidified my belief that she’s a perfect choice to play Bangalore.

PATHFINDER – JOHN KRASINSKI (voice)

Forward scout Pathfinder is the picture of optimism, despite his circumstances. A MRVN (Mobile Robotic Versatile eNtity) modified to specialize in location scouting and surveying, he booted up decades ago in an abandoned laboratory with no idea who created him or why. With only his MRVN designation to hint at his identity, Pathfinder set off in search of his creator.

I wanted an actor that could do a fun and sarcastic voice but also sport some edge of higher intelligence behind it. John Krasinski was my guy. John’s quips as Jim in The Office were too good. Hearing him as the voice of Pathfinder would help bring more comic relief to this great cast I’m putting together for my amusement. 

BLOODHOUND – SOFIA BOUTELLA




Technological tracker Bloodhound is known across the Outlands as one of the greatest game hunters the Frontier has ever seen – and that’s about all anyone knows. Their identity is a mystery wrapped in layers of rumors: they are fabulously wealthy, a bloodthirsty murderer, a Goliath whisperer, a former slave, half bat, and a dozen other things depending on who’s doing the whispering.

What I love about Bloodhound is that it can be virtually anybody. The person under the mask is a complete mystery to all. An actress that reminds me of this was Sofia Boutella. Mysterious because she has yet to have a career defining role. Sorry, the Mummy was not that. She’s beautiful, talented, and can play deadly. Sign her up. 

CAUSTIC – JOE MANGANIELLO

Before there was toxic trapper Caustic, a scientist named Alexander Nox worked at Humbert Labs, the Frontier’s leading manufacturer of pesticide gases. With a glut of pesticides needed to protect the growing Frontier colonies’ crops, Humbert Labs was constantly on the hunt for better and stronger formulas. Nox was one of their brightest scientists and worked day and night developing new gases. But to make sure they worked, he needed to test them on more than just inert tissue: he needed something living.
As he toiled in secret, Nox began to see the beauty in his creations and their ability to destroy anything they touched. But the head of Humbert Labs soon discovered his gruesome experiments, and their confrontation ended with the lab in flames and its chief dead. Today, Nox is missing and presumed deceased. Caustic, meanwhile, now finds new test subjects in the Apex Games, where he puts his gaseous creations to work and observes their effects with great interest.

How is Joe Manganiello not in an action franchise year round? Well now he would be. This man is long overdue for a badass role. This one might actually happen before Deathstroke. 

GIBRALTAR – ROMAN REIGNS

Gibraltar is a gentle giant with a wild side. The son of two SARAS (Search and Rescue Association of Solace) volunteers, he has always been skilled at getting others out of dangerous situations that are common in the Outlands. However, he only began to understand the value of protecting others when he and his boyfriend stole his father’s motorcycle, took it on a joyride, and got trapped by a deadly mudslide. His parents saved them, and his father lost an arm in the process. Gibraltar has never forgotten that sacrifice and has devoted his life to helping those in need. The Apex Games didn’t change that, but they changed what it meant. Many of Gibraltar’s friends and colleagues have competed in the Games for extra money, fame, and glory over the years, and some never came home. Gibraltar joined to keep them safe and, for the first time, his skills as a rescuer and his rebellious nature worked together. He’s now become an icon in the Apex Games, putting himself in the line of fire to protect his squad and send his opponents running for cover.

The WWE Superstar has said that even though he is battling Leukemia, he has no plans to retire. This was evident when he was cast alongside Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham in Hobbs And Shaw. Gibraltar needs to have a big physique and a big heart. Roman Reigns, this is your movie star moment. 


MIRAGE – RICKY WHITTLE


Holographic trickster Mirage is the kind of guy who likes to stand out. The youngest of four brothers, he perfected the art of fooling around to get attention. The one thing he took seriously was Holo-Pilot technology: introduced to the illusion-creating tech by his engineer mother, he poured over the mechanisms and learned all he could about them. Even when his brothers went MIA during the Frontier War, Mirage and his mother continued to develop holo devices, and the work brought them closer. While working as a bartender to make ends meet, Mirage heard amazing stories from his patrons about the Apex Games and the wealth and glory that came with victory. As good as both of those sounded, he knew he couldn’t risk leaving his mother childless – until she gave him a set of customized holo devices and told him to follow his dream. Mirage is now the life of the Apex Games, outwitting opponents and charming audiences across the Outlands.

Mirage is Ricky Whittle. Ricky Whittle is Mirage. If you follow Ricky on social media he’s a blast. If you follow him on American Gods he’s a badass. Put the two Ricky’s together and you get the wise-cracking holographic-loving badass that is Mirage.

This potential Apex Legends movie really does have everything you could want in a franchise. Someone make it. Me and my squad are about to drop over the Cascades…