Benjamin Byron Davis, the powerhouse voice behind Rupert Thorne in DC’s Creature Commandos, recently joined The Movie Dweeb Podcast and made one thing abundantly clear: he’s ready to take Gotham’s criminal underworld to new heights in live-action.

When asked about the possibility of reprising his animated role in the flesh, Davis lit up, saying, “Well, first and foremost, any opportunity to work with James Gunn, I will jump at it. It’s seldom you get to work with somebody like him.” High praise for Gunn’s creative brilliance is no surprise, but Davis didn’t stop there. “To have such a storied character—he’s been around since 1977—and to be the one to put that character on the screen would be pretty remarkable.”

Davis also reflected on Gotham’s rich history of crime lords, humbly stating, “The other actors who’ve played Gotham’s crime lords, that’s a short list any actor would be delighted to be on. I mean, humbled to be on.” Standing at 6’6″, Davis believes he’d bring a certain physicality to Thorne. “In Creature Commandos, they really take advantage of Thorne’s size, and I’d love to lean into that. If down the road there’s a possibility I could show up on a day’s work and see the actor playing Batman on the call sheet? My head would explode. That’d be my last day of work,” he joked.

As for whether he’s up for any role in the Gunn-iverse, Davis didn’t hesitate: “If James Gunn and Peter Safran call me to read a takeout menu aloud, I’ll come and do it.” That’s dedication!

Davis then dove into the deeper complexities of Rupert Thorne, comparing him to another iconic character he’s brought to life: Dutch van der Linde from Red Dead Redemption. “Dutch would absolutely despise Thorne. He’s a manipulator, but Dutch manipulates because he believes in the dream himself. Thorne? He’s cold, calculating, and can commodify other humans without a second thought.”

The actor also gave a nod to Gunn’s signature storytelling style, hinting at some spoilers: “Even Thorne has a family. One hopes he’s attending to their happiness, but at the same time, he’s doing these horrible things. That’s what makes him so fascinating.”

But don’t expect Davis to overstep when it comes to fan theories. “I never want to interfere with the audience’s interpretation of a character. It’s art. It’s open to interpretation.” Well, except for one thing. Davis put his foot down when addressing a wild Dutch van der Linde rumor: “Apparently, people think Dutch is a cannibal. That is absolutely f***ing incorrect. That’s the only thing I’ll definitively say.”

Benjamin Byron Davis brings not just talent but enthusiasm and respect for the characters he portrays. If Creature Commandos is any indication, Rupert Thorne fans have a lot to look forward to—and if the stars align, we might just see him trading blows with Batman on the big screen. Here’s hoping James Gunn makes that call!

If Benjamin Byron Davis has you dreaming about a live-action Rupert Thorne or wondering if Dutch van der Linde might pop up in Gotham, then you need to check out The Movie Dweeb Podcast! Catch the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify—because where else can you hear about mob bosses, cannibal rumours, and reading takeout menus for James Gunn?