Most of DC's central heroes have long publication histories that extend back to the days of WWII; then there's Cyborg. Unlike most Justice League characters, Vic Stone is a relatively young creation in the DC mythos, and as such Ray Fisher took a very different approach to preparing for the role. When it came to portraying the tech-based hero, Fisher apparently looked to the cartoons first. The actor explained:
I actually grew up watching a lot of these cartoons - a lot of the animated series. Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League, all the stuff that would come onto Cartoon Network. My first encounter with Cyborg was through the Teen Titans cartoon. You know, I was in the middle of high school [when Teen Titans debuted], and I was like, 'This show speaks to me' because there were all of these characters going through these real teen issues while also saving the world. The extent of my knowledge was just about that. ... Once I was cast, though, they send you a whole library of stuff about the character so I ended up being able to fall in love with the comic book version which can be very different. I feel like I know him like the back of my hand, but there's always somebody who knows a little more than me about things.
Ray Fisher addressed his upcoming stint as Cyborg during a recent appearance at Rhode Island Comic-Con and explained his approach to preparing for the role. Although he definitely dove into the Cyborg comics in order to get ready for the part, it seems that he already had a strong familiarity with the character due to his love for the Teen Titans cartoon. As a self-proclaimed fan of DC animation, Fisher started with the cartoon version of Vic Stone, and then worked his way into the comic book source material after that. At the core of it all, he seems particularly intrigued by the notion of tackling common issues associated with youth while taking on this role, which is a major aspect of the Teen Titans lore.
If the Teen Titans version of Cyborg is going to influence Ray Fisher's portrayal of the character, then we can likely expect him to provide some of the film's lighter moments. While his comic book counterpart is a somewhat darker and more damaged hero, the cartoon version of Cyborg is a much funnier and more energetic hero. With that in mind, it seems increasingly likely that Ray Fisher may portray Vic Stone as the fast-talking hero that many of us grew up with. In the immortal words of Cyborg: BOO-YAH!
In terms of raw iconography, Cyborg is one of the more obscure members of the central Justice League roster. Ray Fisher will have the chance to truly define the character when Justice League hits theaters on November 17, 2017, but it's already clear that he's done his homework.
Check out the first official trailer for Zack Snyder's Justice League on the next page to get a better look at Ray Fisher and his take on Cyborg!
