The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen Remake: 13 Actors Who Should Be Cast

It's likely that The League film will focus on Moriarty and Fu Manchu as the villains, given that they played that role in the first comic arc, perhaps adapting their gang war as the main thrust for the group being formed.

While The Doctor (as he's known in the comics) might tread rather dangerously close to a distinctly distasteful cinematic trend of Asian stereotyping, he remains a compelling character and could easily be adapted out to a more authentic character. It's perhaps even time to dispense with the moustache he lent his name to, and simply introduce him as a Chinese gang warlord.

Who Should Play Him?

In the past, such distinctly non-Asian actors as Christopher Lee, Peter Sellars and Boris Karloff have adopted "yellowface" to play Fu Manchu, and whoever is potentially cast in the new League adaptation, the only rule should be that it should be reserved for an Asian actor.

In that respect, Fox could do a lot worse than looking to the astronomically successful Andy Lau. He might have the most previous as a recurring Heroic Gangster figure, as well as playing cops a lot over the years, but he certainly has the ability to play the flip side, and it would be intriguing to see such a recognisable figure go dark for a villain role.