Jonas Valanciunas definitely has a future as an actor. That’s not to say that he doesn’t also have a future as a basketball player, because he obviously does, but I’m talking about after his playing days are over. He’s got the combination of imposing presence, barbaric character, and understated handsomeness that make him a perfect candidate to appear on the big screen. And he wouldn’t be a meme actor like Boban Marjanovic. He would be a real actor (assuming that he can be taught how to be a Hollywood-caliber actor).
I’ve never watched Game of Thrones, but Valanciunas could definitely star in some kind of medieval show or movie along those lines. I was struck by his suitability for this kind of role when the Grizzlies broadcast showed a further-out shot of him and you could see these violent red scars up and down his arms, like he had just stepped off the field of battle after cleaving apart hundreds of foes with an axe. He would be absolutely perfect in a role that called for him to be some kind of superhuman northern European warrior who single-handedly mows down his opponents on the field of battle in a slaughterous, blood-fueled frenzy.
And he’s got the bright eyes, stylish hair, and manly beard that are necessary for an actor playing a lead role. In fact, he’s sexy enough that you could base an entire quasi-superhero quasi-viking movie series on his character. Just call it “Jonas”. Everybody would be flocking to theaters to see him ride a horse around while swinging a sword and screaming in Lithuanian and chucking his helmet at people to crush their skulls.
However, since I came up with the idea in the first place, I’m gonna have to ask for 75% of royalties from these films. My Patreon just isn’t cutting it.