Max Payne (2008) left much to be desired for Max Payne fans. While the neo-noir tone of the film offered a ripe opportunity to showcase some stylistic action from the game, the film as a whole fell short, snuggly avoiding the thrill, action, and suspense of the game for pure stylistic expression.
The film, starring Planet of the Apes alum Mark Wahlberg, was not well received by fans and critics alike. However, it seems that 20th Century Fox is ready to take another crack at the franchise, after a decade and a half long hiatus from the series. Considering the nature of the reboot, it goes without saying that Wahlberg will not be a part of the project. In his stead, here are 6 actors who could take on the role of Max Payne
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1. Frank Grillo
Frank Grillo is no stranger to gritty action. Having more than proven his acting chops in critically acclaimed films like Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the Boss Level alum would be a perfect fit for the gritty and neo-noir atmosphere of the story. The actor is also a competent fighter in his own right, having portrayed Crossbones in his later appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Combining his acting prowess with his action capabilities could yield a Max Payne that fans can grow to adore. Plus, of all the actors on this list, Grillo seems to have the closest resemblance to how the character is represented.
2. John Bernthal
There are a stunning number of similarities between Frank Castle a.k.a The Punisher and Max Payne. At the core of their being, both are defined by vengeance, stemming from the love they held for their families, who were brutally murdered by criminals. Jon Bernthal might be a meme now, but this Daredevil alum has more than proven himself to be suited to blood, soot, and grit that will be required to play a character like Max Payne in a brutal neo-noir setting.
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3. Joel Kinnaman
Kinnaman plays a military man in Suicide Squad, with motivations very similar to Payne. Fighting to protect a loved one from persecution, Kinnaman has already demonstrated that he can play characters that require a level of pathos, with all the wit and charm required from a character like Payne as well. Given his record with films such as The Suicide Squad and RoboCop, Kinnaman seems to be more than a perfect fit for the character of Max Payne.
4. Tom Hardy
Tom Hardy has crafted his fair share of imposing characters like Bane and Venom over the course of his career. What has made the actor a distinguished presence in the industry is his ability to take gritty roles and bring a certain level of gravitas and wit to them. The drama that Hardy could bring to the table for a character like Max Payne is well established by the work that he has done in films such as Sucker Punch, Lawless, and Child 44.
5. Hugh Jackman
When it comes to violent characters who are out for vengeance because of some tragedy, it is hard to think of a character who embodies it as much as The Wolverine. Also, when thinking about the Wolverine, it is hard to think of an actor other than Hugh Jackman. While Jackman might be approaching a more advanced age as compared to other actors on the list, the actor has shown that he can still pull off gritty and broken at an older age with his Old Man Logan adaptation, Logan. An older Max Payne in the reboot would not only add a fresh perspective to the story but might give the writers and creators on the show more to play with.
6. Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves has pretty much etched himself into the cultural memory of the world with his John Wick franchise. John Wick is not only a perfect jumping-off board for something like Max Payne, but it also lends directly to the genre of the video game series. With the right director and the right script, not only can Max Payne be stylistically different from John Wick, but could also serve as a way for Reeves to diversify his approach to the role, giving him more to play with while flexing his creative muscles with the character, and how differently he can be portrayed from Wick.
