AfterElton Fantasy Casting: Help us cast the live action "Jonny Quest"!

Is nothing sacred?

Like many gay boys growing up, I was glued to the TV screen whenever the reruns of the animated classic Jonny Quest aired. This wasn't just a "cartoon," it was something ... different.

For starters, it was much more violent than other cartoons (people actually died, and they stayed dead!), and there were genuinely tense moments when you wondered if the heroes were going to make it (unlike dreck like Superfriends - yes, I said it - where you knew that the cool villains would get taken down by the massive ego of Superman and those incestuous twins.)

Looking at it now, the casual 1960's racism is jarring (apparently, any non-WASP is a "savage"), but if Jonny Quest is remembered for anything, it's that it introduced us to TV's first stable, loving same sex relationship.

Of course, technically, Dr. Benton Quest and his "bodyguard" Race Bannon were never open about their love for each other ... but c'mon. If I noticed it as a ten year old, certainly other people did, too.

Now comes word that the big-screen, live-action version is finally on its way, with the part of Race already cast, and the character of Jonny possibly undergoing a rapid aging. But who will play Jonny's Indian friend Hadji, and more importantly, who will play the crucial role of Dr. Quest?

We've got a few ideas ...

Dwayne Johnson, Zac Efron

It looks as though Dwayne Johnson is pretty much a lock for the role of bodyguard/babysitter/badass Race, and rumors are swirling that the part of Jonny will be aged by a few years, from an eleven year old to late teens, with heartthrob Zac Efron "in talks" for the role (but would he be willing to become a blonde?)

Dev Patel

Hot on the heels of the phenomenal success of Slumdog Millionaire, actor Dev Patel would make a perfect older version of Benton's adopted son Hadji (and because Dev is an accomplished, medal-winning Taekwondo champion, his Hadji can be much more action-oriented).

And what about Dr. Benton Quest? It has to be someone who can convincingly play an egghead, but someone we can believe would be life partners with Dwayne's Race Bannon.

Sean Penn, Josh Brolin

Milk stars Sean Penn and Josh Brolin have both proven how versatile they can be, and as you can see, they both rock the facial hair that will be required for the role.

Eric Bana, Edward Norton

Eric Bana and Edward Norton have both played The Hulk, so they're more than capable of playing a character who's smart, sensitive, but boiling with rage just below the surface (which is how I always pictured Dr. Quest. I thought he was this close from laying into Jonny with a razor strap).

Joaquin Phoenix

Finally, they could go outside the box and try to coax Joaquin Phoenix into making a triumphant return to the screen (if his rap music hoax career doesn't pan out). He should keep the wild man look, though, just in case they want Dr. Quest to be more on the "mad scientist" edge.

Who would you choose to step into the beard and labcoat of Benton Quest? And do you agree with the choices of Dwayne and Zac?

Of course, it's highly unlikely that the film will even hint at the possible relationship between the two men, but that won't stop those of us who grew up watching the show from imagining our own ... scenarios, like what would happen if Race and Benton fought each other for custody of the boys. Hopefully, they'd find someone who would treat the case with sensitivity and compassion.

Someone like ... Harvey Birdman.