Willem Dafoe to play Tars Tarkus in John Carter movie

This is old news by the time you read it, but Willem Dafoe has accepted the role of Tars Tarkus in the upcoming "John Carter of Mars" movies. Some fans have expressed reservation over the use of Dafoe in this role, but I think he is exactly the kind of actor who can carry the character.

Either they'll redefine what the Green Men of Barsoom look like or they will use CGI technology to make the actors look like 12-foot-tall, four-armed humanoids from the books. Tars Tarkus has to be a strong, powerful character. The audience has to believe that a true leader of the Green Men becomes Carter's best friend on Mars. I think Willem Dafoe is a good choice to fulfill that role.

His work in the "Spider-man" movies also provides me with hope that there may be a franchise in the making. If the first movie is successful then there is surely room for more to follow -- and Dafoe having already participated in a fantasy movie franchise seems a good choice for another.

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