Dafoe is Tars Tarkas in John Carter of Mars

Andrew Stanton’s live-action version of “John Carter of Mars” landed its leading man and leading lady a while ago, and now it’s landed its leading Martian. The Hollywood Reporter reports that Willem Dafoe (the Green Goblin from “Spider-Man” himself) will be slipping on the green skin once more, this time to play the Martian Tars Tarkas in Disney’s adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ novels.

In the story of a Civil War soldier transported to the red planet where warring races vie for control, Dafoe will play Tars Tarkas, a leader of the Thark race who knows that the only way his people can survive is if they turn away from war, a position that may cost him dearly.

I’m guessing we’ll get lots of lessons about peace and how war is not the answer and blah blah blah. In-between that, of course, we’ll probably get treated to lots and lots of aliens blowing each other up in the name of entertaining the masses. Ah, Hollywood.

Dafoe will join a cast that includes Taylor Kitsch as the titular hero, and Lynn Collins as his Martian princess love interest.

“John Carter of Mars” goes into production early 2010. Stanton wrote the script with Mark Andrews.

Below: Looks like there’s a shortage of clothing fabrics on Mars…