The Next Superhero
May 26th, 2003 at 9:00 pm (Film Theory)
The Next Superhero
There is a saying in Hollywood “why waste time coming up with an original idea when you can steal someone else’s”. Well, maybe there isn’t such a saying, but there should be. Hollywood operates on the principle of pack mentality. If one studio works on a movie about a giant meteor that is about to wipe out humanity when it hits the earth, then every studio needs a giant meteor movie. If one studio starts to work on an animated movie about ants then their competition needs an animated ant movie. If one studio looks like it will be making money on a dad and son switch places movie then the studio across town needs to start it’s own dad and son switch places flick.
This originality-is-risky mentality can be a blessing as well as a curse. After a streak of failed super-hero movies (Captain America (1991), Punisher, The (1989), Judge Dredd (1995), Howard the Duck (1986)), Hollywood decided to try again.
A couple of comic to movie projects warmed the movie makers pocketbooks. Blade (1998) was far from a work of art but it was entertaining (and financially successful) enough to convince the studios to give men-in-tights another chance. Bryan Singer’s interpretation of X-Men (2000) followed by Spider-Man (2002) and now the highly successful X2 (2003) has convinced Hollywood that partnership with Marvel Comics is a profitable way to go.
Daredevil (2003) (which I have yet to see) was a fiscal flop but that is not stopping Fox from working on a spin-off sequel for Murdock’s love Interest Elektra Assassin (2004).
Spider-Man’s sequel Spider-Man II (2004) is heavy in production and there are already rumors of who has and has not agreed to come back for a third X-Men installment.
The new Ang Lee version of The Hulk (2003) is of course on everyone’s list (as well as every billboard, magazine, preview and TV advertising spot it seems) as is the non-Marvel comic adaptation of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003).
A lot of attention has been paid to the next Batman movie though the rumors change too often to have any sense of certainty about which script will win out. The latest rumor has the fifth Batman movie titled “Batman: The Frightening” as a prequel in which Batman investigates how it is that The Scarecrow managed to get the caped crusader locked up in Arkham Asylum.
The Fantastic Four (2004) movie got a new injection of attention this year as did the upcoming Ghost Rider (2004) (which has cast Nicolas Cage in the title role).
Following his success with Blade II (2002), director Guillermo del Toro (not to be confused with actor Benicio Del Toro) has started work on an adaptation of Mike Mignola’s Hellboy (2004)
Fan reactions have been mixed over the announced new Superman (2005) movie which seems to set out not to continue the franchise, but to remake the original film Other films known to be in production include a New Line Cinemas adaptation of Iron Man, and a Fox production of Silver Surfer, though it is hard to get much information on either film other than they are in the works.
Phantom, The (2004) has been optioned for a film adaptation as has Wonder Woman. Though it remains to be seen if either will be produced.
Not to completely ignore the movie adaptation of Manga projects there have been for some while rumors that Katsuhiro Ôtomo’s Akira (1988) will once again be adapted for the big screen, but this time as a live action movie(!). If you could, please take a minute and try to wrap your brain around Tetsuo exploding into a huge mass of writhing flesh that threatens to engulf half of Tokyo… in photorealistic detail. There is a thought I would rather not repeat.
Mari said,
May 27, 2003 at 5:05 pm
And in the realm of Comics to Movies - i must mention that Elfquest is STILL trying to get to the big screen… though after 10+ years, I am starting to lose hope… though EQ did get bought up by DC Comics, so who knows?
/end fangirl plug
Leopoldo said,
May 27, 2003 at 7:17 pm
No shit?! An Elfquest movie? Really? That could be interesting.. I would love to see it done live action.
Leopoldo said,
May 29, 2003 at 12:55 pm
Update:The following dirt on upcoming superheroes movies comes from MSN:
MSN Entertainment - News - Dirt on Diddy
Leopoldo said,
May 30, 2003 at 2:04 pm
Update: Some info on the new Elektra movie:
Access Hollywood on MSN / Feature
Aaron said,
June 7, 2003 at 2:17 pm
Is Blackcat going to have her own movie or will she be in a Spiderman movie 2,3, or whatever?
Leopoldo said,
June 7, 2003 at 2:22 pm
Update: I have not seen any movie news about Blackcat getting screen time. I don’t think there are any plans for a movie with this character. The only confirmed character to make it to the second Spiderman movie is Doc. Octopuss: http://us.imdb.com/Name?Molina,%20Alfred
David said,
June 7, 2003 at 2:32 pm
I heard they may make a movie of Capcom’s Street Fighters and some other comical heroes.
Aaron said,
June 7, 2003 at 2:48 pm
My friend’s cousin works at some film company and he said That they’re going to make a movie with just chick super heros like Elctra,Blackcat,Rogue,Jean Grey,Bat gurl, Spider-gurl, and they’re going to bring back Firestar.
Leopoldo said,
June 9, 2003 at 4:22 pm
Update: There is some good scoop on upcoming superhero movies in an interview with Hulk producers Avi Arad and Gale Anne by http://www.comicbookresources.com. Here are some excerpts and a link to the full interview:
Comic Book Resources - CBR News - Comics2Film
Leopoldo said,
June 12, 2003 at 2:44 pm
Update: Want to be in a superhero movie? There is a casting call out for Constantine and The Punisher:
FilmJerk.com - Two 2004 Comic Book Adaptations Gear Up for Production, Look For Female Leads
Leopoldo said,
June 17, 2003 at 9:41 am
Update: Monday darkhorizons.com reported on a interview http://www.cinescape.com had with X2 executive Producer Tom DeSanto. I searched the Cinescape site and did not find the interview, but according to DarkHorizons this is what was said:
Stephen Gesinski said,
June 18, 2003 at 11:02 am
Are they planing to make a sequel to Nick Furry Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Anel A. Refugia said,
June 19, 2003 at 12:04 pm
I have seen the movie “the hulk” why is it that the graphics of hulk was so very poor and ugly i didnt expect that beautiful movie like hulk will turn out like that i hope that next time the hulk will not going to look like a toy anymore
Sam Park said,
June 26, 2003 at 8:05 pm
MAGNUS: ROBOT FIGHTER (little known facts on a comic book movie project that almost got made)
This isn’t an official Magnus site that I’m sending you a link to. But it is something I put together concerning some little known facts of how I and Clay McBride wrote a MAGNUS: ROBOT FIGHTER treatment along with other conceptual material and the project almost got greenlighted in the early 90s by three different producers: Richard Donner, Larry Gordon and Joel Silver.
Since the story material is just sitting in my file cabinet I decided to create a website with some of it. The “teaser” trailer showing how we thought you could introduce Magnus to today’s movie audiences blew the Hollywood gang away. But don’t take my word for it. Go to the site and read it for yourself.
http://homepage.mac.com/samcan/magnus.html
The sad thing is this terrific comic book/film project is languishing somewhere (last I heard Davis Entertainment was trying to turn it into a MATRIX rip-off instead of trusting the coolness factor of the original material). Anyhoo, it’s mostly an unknown chapter in comic book/movie history. Until now.
Sam Park
The Red Comet said,
June 28, 2003 at 9:52 pm
Hey, I recently just saw “The Matrix Reloaded”. Wow what a movie and in an I-max screen too. Thought I would go dizzy or cross-eyed. Any way after watching the movie and waiting for the sneak peak of Matrix 3, (saw more previews of M3 after beating the game then at the theater) I was leaving the theater and looking at future movies and there posters. I saw too my amazement a poster for “The Punisher “. Would they really remake or re-release it? The poster only said “THE PUNSISHER” with his trademark skull. The date was accurate too. Meaning it was coming out in the fall, This Fall. What’s up with that? No, I’m not kidding.
Kevin said,
July 2, 2003 at 6:20 pm
You know what beloved comic buying and movie going geeky freaks like myself, I would personally like for the movie industy to remember; that if your going to transfrom a comic into a movie you must:
A) stay with the original story line of the main hero and charactors associated with the comic, deviations just cause confussion and unnecessary arguing amongst us that have knowledge of comic book history and these young dumb heads tht don’t know squat…
B) you need to make the following films and please do them right:
1) Batman v/s Predator- Dark Horse
2) The Infinity Gauntlet crossover -Marvel
3) The Dark Phenoix Saga (X-men) - Marvel
4) The Xtection Agenda (X-men crossover) Marvel
5) The beyonder Crossover series - Marvel
6) Spiderman v/s Venom
7) Wet Works - Image Comics
8) Young Bloods - Image comics
9) Wildcats- Image
10) and forget superman do the bestest most arrogant SUPREAM- Image
I know that my request is a bit long and some may not agree, but hopefully some one in hollywood is reading this and saying hummmm this guy has a may be onto something here. I promise you hollywood just can’t go wrong with any of these and will make mucho dinero and please movie go’ers
Kevin said,
July 2, 2003 at 6:20 pm
You know what beloved comic buying and movie going geeky freaks like myself, I would personally like for the movie industy to remember; that if your going to transfrom a comic into a movie you must:
A) stay with the original story line of the main hero and charactors associated with the comic, deviations just cause confussion and unnecessary arguing amongst us that have knowledge of comic book history and these young dumb heads tht don’t know squat…
B) you need to make the following films and please do them right:
1) Batman v/s Predator- Dark Horse
2) The Infinity Gauntlet crossover -Marvel
3) The Dark Phenoix Saga (X-men) - Marvel
4) The Xtection Agenda (X-men crossover) Marvel
5) The beyonder Crossover series - Marvel
6) Spiderman v/s Venom
7) Wet Works - Image Comics
8) Young Bloods - Image comics
9) Wildcats- Image
10) and forget superman do the bestest most arrogant SUPREAM- Image
I know that my request is a bit long and some may not agree, but hopefully some one in hollywood is reading this and saying hummmm this guy has a may be onto something here. I promise you hollywood just can’t go wrong with any of these and will make mucho dinero and please movie go’ers
John said,
July 11, 2003 at 11:23 am
Around the time “Dogma” was released, there was an article in either Variety or Hollywood Reporter about an upcoming adaptation of “Preacher”. Some of the names that were mentioned being pursued for the cast were Ben Affleck as Jesse, Tim Roth or Guy Pierce as Cassidy, and several actresses for Tulip including Cameron Diaz. But nothing came of all this.
In April I saw an interview on MTV with James Marsden (aka Cyclops), and he talked about being cast as Jesse, and that the cameras were going to start rolling in June. Anyone heard anything about this?
Leopoldo said,
July 11, 2003 at 12:03 pm
Hey John. I have heard similar rumors about a big screen adaptation of preacher. The MTV article you saw: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1471323/20030416/index.jhtml?headlines=true is the latest and most comprehensive news I have seen. The Z Review is tracking this one and also cites MTV as the latest info: http://www.thezreview.co.uk/comingsoon/p/preacher.htm
Leopoldo said,
July 15, 2003 at 2:29 pm
Update: I just read that Blade III is due to begin production on Sept 22nd in Vancouver. Details at: http://www.filmjerk.com/nuke/article552.html
Leopoldo said,
July 16, 2003 at 7:00 am
Update: According to http://www.skymovies.com/skymovies/article/0,,1096126,00.html Brad Pitt is slatted to play Captain America.
Leopoldo said,
July 17, 2003 at 2:26 pm
Update: An article on scifi.com has some information on the new Iron Man movie.
“We spent, I guess, seven months developing the story. So we’re happy. … It’s faithful [to the Marvel Comics series], but it’s also very different from the original. And it’s updated.”
Leopoldo said,
July 17, 2003 at 2:31 pm
Update: This scoop came from Dark Horizons
“According to The National Enquirer, Halle Berry’s husband singer Eric Benet wants the new Cat-suit gone stating that he thinks its too sexy and he doesn’t want his wife to wear it in the film. The suit itself is “indeed very sexy and yet still very reminiscent of the old Catwoman suit Michelle Pfiefer wore in “Batman Returns” - the all black and leather is the one Halle will be wearing” according to the trade. There’s also indications she dons a black leather bikini in the film.”
Aaron said,
July 19, 2003 at 11:28 am
in xmen3 or any future xmen are they going to put in the part where rogue gets into a fight with ms marvel and gets her super strenght and her flight ability?
Leopoldo said,
August 8, 2003 at 12:51 pm
Update: According to The Z Review director Stephen Norrington is no longer heading the Akira remake.
Leopoldo said,
March 1, 2004 at 10:35 am
Update: An article at Hollywoodreporter.com says Charlize Theron is lined up for a comic adaptation that to me sounds like a project that just should not be:
domingo c. yruegas said,
August 5, 2004 at 8:14 am
what about the justice league vs the legion of dom
or aquaman, the are graet topics to make real good movies on.
a comic fan!
mingo420 said,
August 5, 2004 at 8:21 am
why stay with the same old superhero when there are so many out there try something new for a change, pick up a comic or go to a comic book store and you will be amazed on what hero’s have been foregotten
comic fan
kevin said,
September 14, 2004 at 9:33 am
Is there any talk about gambit being in the next Xmen movie
leopoldo said,
September 14, 2004 at 10:00 am
Yes there has, but the movie is too early in development to know for sure which characters will make it and which will not.
MM said,
May 15, 2006 at 10:14 am
Make iron man based on iron man in the song iron man by the black sabbath and play that song in the movie.