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While the main film franchise of the DC universe is all set to have a fresh approach now with James Gunn’s DCU, the reboot will also lead to a new set of TV shows, putting aside the successful CWArrowverse, as well as the standalone shows likeTitans, Doom Patrol,andSwamp Thing, all of which will be concluding this year.
Actors of multiple DC iterations have crossed paths outside their universes.The Flash’s Grant Gustin andSupergirlMelissa Benoist both were part of the musical seriesGlee. Way before their appearances in DC property, actors Neal McDonough and Virginia Madsen starred together in the showScoundrels. However, this ‘crossover’ of sorts was short-lived as McDonough was fired from the show after refusing to film a s*x scene with theDuneactress.
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Which DC Series Were The Actors A Part Of?
Before their appearances on shows based on the DC universe, actors Neal McDonough and Virginia Madsen have had decades of experience. Madsen had her breakthrough role as Princess Irulan in David Lynch’s adaptation ofDune. She also starred in the sci-fi filmElectric Dreams,had an acclaimed supporting role in Francis Ford Coppola’sThe Rainmaker, and headlined the horror filmCandyman.
Virginia Madsen also has a sprawling TV career, having made acclaimed appearances in shows such asDesignated Survivor, Monk, Frasier,andMoonlighting. Madsen has been part of the DC universe in different capacities as she voiced Arella in the animated seriesTeen Titansas well as the villainess Roulette inJustice League Unlimited. She also voiced Queen Hippolyta in the animated filmWonder Woman. She was part of the main cast in the short-lived DC seriesSwamp Thing, where she played Maria Sunderland.
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Actor Neal McDonough on the other hand has played plenty of supporting roles in films as well as TV shows. He has been featured inMinority Report, Flags of our Fathers,andSonic the Hedgehog. He was also a DC alumni before his appearance in theArrowversewith actorStephen Amellas the supervillain Damien Darhk. He has voiced Deadshot in the animated filmBatman: Assault on Arkhamand voiced Green Arrow in theDC Showcase: Green Arrowshort film.
McDonough has also starred in the MCU as Dum Dum Dogan, making his first appearance inCaptain America: The First Avenger. He has also starred in TV shows such asBand of Brothers, Suits,andDesperate Housewives.
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Why Was Neal McDonough Fired FromScoundrels?
An unexpected DC alumni crossover was in the making when actors Neal McDonough and Virginia Madsen were cast together in the TV dramaScoundrels. The show saw Madsen as a matriarch of the West family, who suddenly deals with the arrest of her husband and tries to reform the family. McDonough was initially cast to play her husband Wolfgang West.
However, theArrowactor was reportedly replaced from the project three days into filming with David James, who featured in the rest of the season. While the makers allegedly stated that the reason was simply a casting change,Deadlinereported that McDonough was sacked after he refused to film a s*x scene with Virginia Madsen.
Also read:“This f–king guy”: Stephen Amell Gets No Love From Arrow Co-Stars After Infuriating Comments on SAG-AFTRA Strike as Actor Lands Another Controversy After Verbally Assaulting Wife
McDonough’s refusal was apparently not related to Madsen in any way and was reported to be due to the actor’s religious beliefs. McDonough is a married man and a catholic and he has stated many times that he does not shoot intimate scenes due to his religious beliefs. In an interview withChristian Examiner (via Looper), he said,
“Killing people on-screen — that’s fake. When you’re in bed with another woman on-screen — guess what? That’s real. I don’t like that kind of stuff. Especially now with kids, I don’t want to have my kids say, ‘Hey, Dad, what are you doing with that lady on screen?'”
The DC actor reportedly missed out on a $1 million paycheque due to his commitment to his beliefs. However, this was not the first time he had refused to do an intimate scene as he had similar issues during his stints onDesperate Housewives, Boomtown,andMedical Investigation.Deadline reported that the actor had lost many jobs because of his ideals, includingScoundrels.
Also read:“My support is unconditional”: Stephen Amell Clarifies His Ignorant ‘Myopic’ Comments on SAG-AFTRA Strike After Severe Backlash From Arrowverse Co-Stars
Source:Deadline,Christian Examiner (via Looper)
Nishanth A
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2415
Nishanth A is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 2,000 articles published. He has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a scriptwriter at various corporations before that, working on educational content. With a Communications, English Literature, and Psychology triple major, Nishanth usually covers news and analyses on Star Trek, particularly Strange New Worlds and The Next Generation; Doctor Who, the DCU, and more.A Nolan fan, Nishanth spends his time exploring the filmographies of various directors with an auteurial style or can be found making short movies of his own. He has also contributed as a feature writer for Film Companion, focusing on the South division.
