Wesley Gibson

In Wanted (2003–2004), office worker Wesley Gibson (illustrated with the facial likeness of Eminem[3]) is recruited to join the Fraternity of Super-Criminals, a powerful organization of supervillains who secretly rule the world (identified offpage as a variation of the DC Universe) after they wiped the world's memories of all superheroes in 1986. Learning that his absent father had been their leader "The Killer" (Deadshot[4]), and was recently assassinated, Wesley is trained as his replacement, using his inherited superhuman traits as a marksman.

On training to become desensitized to and eventually enjoy committing acts of violence and vengeance, Wesley kills his best friend for sleeping with his girlfriend, joins the Fraternity on raids of parallel universes where the superheroes won, becomes the personal bodyguard of The Professor (Lex Luthor), and lovers with the Fox (Catwoman). After the Professor goes to war with a rival Fraternity faction lead by Mr. Rictus (Joker), both sides end up killing each other, and Wesley learns that his still-alive father and the Fox, also lovers, had been grooming him to assume control of the Fraternity. On killing his father per his wishes, Wesley takes his rightful place as one of "the masters of the world", asking the readership if they're happy with the outcome.[6]

At the conclusion of Nemesis, the deceased "Matthew Anderson" / Nemesis is revealed to have been employed by the head of a company that arranges for rich people to become supervillains, the story ending with the owner sitting on a beach, enjoying the sunset.[7]

At the conclusion of the stand-alone sequel Nemesis Reloaded, this owner is revealed as Wesley Gibson, who informs his protégé, the new (real) Matthew Anderson / Nemesis, that it is time for them to wipe out the new superheroes that have been coming into existence worldwide.[8][9][10]

Wesley returns in Big Game,[11][12] where-in he plots to have all the world's new superheroes assassinated worldwide. After Eggsy Unwin and Hit-Girl infiltrate the Fraternity's headquarters to assassinate Wesley, Wesley has his forces kill the former instead, before the latter steals the Fraternity's own stolen time machine to travel back in time, aiming to prevent Wesley's actions.[13]

The character appears in the 2008 film adaptation Wanted as Wesley A. Gibson, portrayed by James McAvoy. On screen-testing for the role in early 2006, McAvoy was initially rejected because the studio was seeking an actor with "conventional Hollywood leading man looks and physique", before being recalled on being considered to be the "runt of the litter" among those who tested, and being cast in the role by 2006 of that year.[14] According to McAvoy, "They [ultimately] wanted someone geeky."[15] McAvoy subsequently worked out to improve his physique for the film's action scenes,[16] suffering several injuries during shooting, including a twisted ankle and injured knee.[17]

Mark Millar was unhappy with the first draft of the film's screenplay, considering its approach to Wesley to be "too tame" and "a little bit Americanized", since he had wanted the story to be "basically [the] opposite of the Spider-Man movie, the idea of someone getting powers and realizing they can do what they want, then choosing the dark path", before consulting director Timur Bekmambetov on using his "Eastern European madness" to bring the film "closer to the spirit of the book",[18][19] while screenwriters would Michael Brandt, Derek Haas, Chris Morgan would "refine" Wesley into a sympathetic protagonist.[20][21] While Millar stated that while he would have liked to keep the supervillain mythos that dictated the original comic intact,[18] he was ultimately happy with the adaptation, in particular the leather attire worn by Wesley and Fox, stating: "I wanted them to have those powers and then just wear those costumes for the initiation, but just for one panel. And then I forgot".[22][23]

While a sequel film to Wanted featuring McAvoy reprise his role as Wesley entered development hell,[24] McAvoy has continued to express interest in reprising the role, either as the protagonist or in a supporting/antagonistic role to a new protagonist,[25][26][27][28][29]

As part of the viral marketing for Wanted, James McAvoy reprised his role as Wesley Gibson in a music video for the Russian band Delta, also directed by Timur Bekmambetov.[30]

Wesley Gibson appears as the main playable character in the massively multiplayer online role-playing game Wanted Fan Immersion Game (2008),[31] and Wanted: Weapons of Fate (2009),[32] the latter a direct narrative sequel to the film, with James McAvoy's likeness being licensed to represent the character, with his voice now being provided by Jimmi Simpson. The costume worn by Wesley in the original Wanted comic was given to the game version "to make the comic-book fans happy" and make him "look really badass".[2]