‘Sonic 3’ Actor Ben Schwartz Expresses Interest to Play DCU’s Plastic Man: “It would be a dream come true”

Ben Schwartz, the voice behind Sonic in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, is eyeing his next big role and has set his sights on playing Plastic Man in the DC Universe. During a recent Q&A session, Schwartz shared his excitement about the possibility of bringing the stretchy superhero to life under James Gunn’s direction.

When a fan on the social media platform X asked if he still had a shot at playing Plastic Man, Schwartz responded enthusiastically. “It would be a dream come true,” he wrote. “But whoever they get for that role, I’ll be excited that the character is out there in the world in a big fun way. James is in the zone with all of this stuff. He’ll nail it. And I’ll be first in line to buy a ticket.”

This isn’t Schwartz’s first time campaigning for the role. Back in March 2023, he explained to CBR why the character is so appealing to him. “First of all, I love Plastic Man,” he said. “The reason I think it’s so exciting is there’s so much comedy in it. It’s this thief who doesn’t turn good immediately. He gets these powers and, in my head, keeps using them for bad a little longer until he’s forced to make the right choice.”

Schwartz’s admiration for Plastic Man goes back even further. In 2018, he tweeted a GIF of the character with a playful caption: “I’m ready to play Plastic Man. Is there like an application process or do I just dress up like him and make fun of Stretch Armstrong?”

Plastic Man, or Patrick “Eel” O’Brian, first appeared in 1941’s Police Comics #1 by Jack Cole. Originally a Quality Comics character, he became part of DC Comics’ universe in 1956. Known for his ability to stretch and morph his body into any shape, Plastic Man has appeared in numerous animated series but has yet to make his live-action debut.

Rumors about a Plastic Man film gained traction in early 2024 when James Gunn addressed speculation on Threads about DCU projects. He teased fans, saying, “AT LEAST one of those things is not true. Have fun guessing!”

Among the rumors were movies for the Teen Titans, Sgt. Rock, and Plastic Man, as well as casting news for Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. Since then, a Teen Titans movie and a Sgt. Rock feature have been confirmed, and casting for Supergirl’s Ruthye has been announced.

This suggests the Plastic Man rumor might not be entirely off the table, though Darren Aronofsky’s rumored involvement was likely the part Gunn debunked.

If Plastic Man does make his way to the big screen, Schwartz might face some competition. Comedian John Mulaney, another fan favorite for the role, has expressed mild interest but without the same passion.

During GQ’s “Actually Me” series in November 2024, Mulaney joked, “Is Plastic Man a DC comic? If you know the answer, call my personal phone. … Apparently, these movies pay a lot, but that is also changing in today’s ever-evolving media landscape.”

Whether it’s Schwartz or someone else, fans are eagerly waiting to see if Plastic Man will finally stretch into live-action.

What do you think? Is Ben Schwartz the right choice for DCU’s Plastic Man? Let us know in the comments below.

Liked this article? Follow us on Bluesky for the latest Marvel & DC news!