Super Max

[Toku King]

SHH! Has revealed that David Goyer has left the "Flash" project(bummer), and has begun work on the action/drama superhero film "Super Max".
The plot is that superhero Green Arrow is captured by the police, and sent to a maximun security prison. Everything he has ever held dear is gone, his costume is now a convict suit, and everyone knows everything about him, including his secret identity.
But that's not even the worst of it. In this maximum security prison is some of most dangerous villains the world has ever seen, most Green Arrow helped put away.
So in one last effort for freedom, the once great hero must escape prison, take on his greatest enemies without his weapons and help, and try to set things right once more.

Personally, I'm excited. It sounds like a fantastic idea.

[MaxofSteel]

And odd film title for a Green Arrow movie. Sounded like another Disney superhero flick at first. :p

Here's the Wizard article. (http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/004194396.cfm)

[1_2_3[Kasady]]

A truly novel idea. I love it. Goyer is pretty hit-and-miss though.

[Infernorhythm]

Get rid of Green Arrow and I'll see this. By putting Ollie in this, it ruins the chance of a real GA movie, and it just sounds so un-Ollie. Give us a real Green Arrow movie.

[Nate Grey]

Sorry, I'd rather see a Green Arrow movie without this particular backdrop.

What's funny though is that I could see ROY (or maybe Conner)being in a scenario like this, but not Ollie.

[Toku King]

Do you honestly think that a "Green Arrow" movie would do well? I think it's better with this.
With that said, I want to see some villains in costume as well as convicts in prison.

[The Xenos]

I really don't get where this idea came from. It's so out of the blue. It sounds almost as stupid as Superman having a bastard son and then abandoning Lois and Earth for five years. Oh wait...

Plus I liked it better when Bendis and Brubaker did the exact same thing with Daredevil recently!

[Infernorhythm]

Do you honestly think that a "Green Arrow" movie would do well? I think it's better with this.
With that said, I want to see some villains in costume as well as convicts in prison.

Adapt the current Green Arrow Year One into a movie and you have a winner.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

I think choosing Green Arrow for this is a blunder, but the premise is a great way of giving some of the cooler B-list DC supervillains a shot up on the big screen. Instead of Ollie, use one of the various heroes called Manhunter, like Mark Shaw or Paul Kirk, either of whom would work just as well, if not better, than Ollie Queen.

[The Mutt]

I think it's a great idea for a movie, and I think Ollie is the perfect choice. The protagonist has to be a veteran hero with no powers. He also has to be a character that the non-fanboy public has heard of.

Other than Bruce Wayne, who else is there? Dick Grayson?

[StoneGold]

Adapt the current Green Arrow Year One into a movie and you have a winner.

Actually, what you have is a 20 minute movie where people complain because he's never in costume. And I'm loving the book, but it's not the movie. Honestly, I'm really not sure there is. There is nothing really different about the GA character that separates him from other characters. And the one bit that really is, going from self-absorbed rich guy to hero of the people, seems to be covered by Iron Man next summer.

[kalorama]

This is actually pretty old news (it first broke in April). In fact, Goyer was quoted about the status of Super Max last week and said that it hadn't even entered the actual script phase.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=11730

As for sending Green Arrow to jail, Goyer said, "We haven't even officially turned in a script for that yet. The idea is that they're mostly sort of third-tier DC villains, but that was part of the fun, that they're relatively obscure. But Icicle is in it from 'JSA,' from my days on writing that. I mean, people will recognize most of them. What we did was present to DC a list of people we wanted, and then they went through it on a case-by-case basis and told us whether we could have them or not."

I think it's a great idea for a movie, and I think Ollie is the perfect choice. The protagonist has to be a veteran hero with no powers. He also has to be a character that the non-fanboy public has heard of.

And therein lay the problem. How many non-comics fans have actually heard of Green Arrow? And of those that have, what do they know about him other than the name? GA has almost no non-comics fan profile.

I'll be shocked if this movie ever gets made.

[Armless Penguin]

Ollie's profile was raised by his appearances on SMALLVILLE last year, but enough to produce a turn-out for a movie? That said, Daredevil was in a similar situation when his film was released, and it didn't do too bad monetarily (though its quality is another matter).

I like the idea, even if it's basically superimposing Green Arrow onto the plot of THE DEVIL IN CELL BLOCK D, but without it being a straight superhero flick, I'm not sure it'd be so embraced by the general public.

[The Mutt]

...And therein lay the problem. How many non-comics fans have actually heard of Green Arrow? And of those that have, what do they know about him other than the name? GA has almost no non-comics fan profile.

I'll be shocked if this movie ever gets made.

Well, he's no Aquaman, but GA has been on Underoos and Slurpee cups and bedsheets and such for more than 60 years. He was on Superfriends. He was a Mego. He was on JLU and Smallville.

I'd bet more average folks know him than know iron Man.

[kalorama]

Well, he's no Aquaman, but GA has been on Underoos and Slurpee cups and bedsheets and such for more than 60 years. He was on Superfriends. He was a Mego. He was on JLU and Smallville.

I'd bet more average folks know him than know iron Man.

Superfriends was over 20 years ago (almost 30 if you're talking about the original). JLU was watched mostly by comic book fans. Smallville finished last season as the 125th rated show out of 142.

Some non-comics fans may have a vague recognition of the character's name, but not nearly enough to create any inherent interest in seeing a movie starring the character. Then again, given the nature of the proposed movie, it's unlikely that they'll be using G.A.'s name recognition as a selling point anyway.

Still think it's unlikely this ever makes it to the theateres though.

[Infernorhythm]

I think choosing Green Arrow for this is a blunder, but the premise is a great way of giving some of the cooler B-list DC supervillains a shot up on the big screen. Instead of Ollie, use one of the various heroes called Manhunter, like Mark Shaw or Paul Kirk, either of whom would work just as well, if not better, than Ollie Queen.
Now see, Mark Shaw would be a perfect character for this. I would love to see this movie with him. With Ollie it not only ruins Ollie, but destroys the chance of a really good GA movie.

Actually, what you have is a 20 minute movie where people complain because he's never in costume. And I'm loving the book, but it's not the movie. Honestly, I'm really not sure there is. There is nothing really different about the GA character that separates him from other characters. And the one bit that really is, going from self-absorbed rich guy to hero of the people, seems to be covered by Iron Man next summer.
Nah, I'd totally see it. I would be better than Ollie in Supermax. I mean, seriously, can you guys honestly say this is a Green Arrow movie? Its not even close to what Ollie is.

I think it's a great idea for a movie, and I think Ollie is the perfect choice. The protagonist has to be a veteran hero with no powers. He also has to be a character that the non-fanboy public has heard of.

Other than Bruce Wayne, who else is there? Dick Grayson?
Mark Shaw. Not Ollie. Give us a guy that would make sense for this environment, don't throw Ollie in.

[rick]

This role is perfect for Ollie, and if they want to use a secondary DC hero who is at least semi well known but not exceptionally famous, the Green Arrow is just about the perfect choice.


Of course everything depends on the script, but for me this actually sounds like good fun.

[StoneGold]

Now see, Mark Shaw would be a perfect character for this. I would love to see this movie with him. With Ollie it not only ruins Ollie, but destroys the chance of a really good GA movie.


Can you do me a favor: tell me how the movie that hasn't even been written yet ruins Ollie?

[kalorama]

I mean, seriously, can you guys honestly say this is a Green Arrow movie?
No. But then, the descriptions we've seen give the impression that it's not actually supposed to be a Green Arrow movie.

[StoneGold]

No. But then, the descriptions we've seen give the impression that it's not actually supposed to be a Green Arrow movie.

Not in the sense that this is Ollie's origin. And yes, the basic concept allows most superheroes to be plugged into it. But if they integrate the character of Green Arrow into the movie well, is it not a Green Arrow movie?



All this being speculation. But seriously, given that his origin isn't exactly spectacular, and he has no real arch enemies worth listing, Green Arrow would make a pretty lousy stand-alone movie, without some kind of extra gimmick.

[kalorama]

Not in the sense that this is Ollie's origin. And yes, the basic concept allows most superheroes to be plugged into it. But if they integrate the character of Green Arrow into the movie well, is it not a Green Arrow movie?

Not really, given that, according to what's been said/written about the concept, GA will appear only very briefly in the movie's beginning. It's mostly about an unmasked Ollie Queen and his travails behind bars. And from what Goyer has been quoted as saying, i get the impression that it's going to be more of an ensemble piece, where the various villains get just as much 9if not more) play than Ollie.

As a matter of fact, rather than expecting the G.A. name to be a drawing point to noncomics fans (tilting at windmills, as far as I'm concerned) I'm fairly convinced that the main reason G.A. is included in this thing at all is for the exact opposite reason ... namely as a draw to comics fans who are familiar with the character and want to see him portrayed (in some fashion) on screen (but who might otherwise look askance at going to see a movie starring a bunch of C-list bad guys). Because the concept as described seems like it would work just as well (if not better) with a completely unknown hero in the "innocent man" role.

[StoneGold]

Not really, given that, according to what's been said/written about the concept, GA will appear only very briefly in the movie's beginning. It's mostly about an unmasked Ollie Queen and his travails behind bars. And from what Goyer has been quoted as saying, i get the impression that it's going to be more of an ensemble piece, where the various villains get just as much 9if not more) play than Ollie.

As a matter of fact, rather than expecting the G.A. name to be a drawing point to noncomics fans (tilting at windmills, as far as I'm concerned) I'm fairly convinced that the main reason G.A. is included in this thing at all is for the exact opposite reason ... namely as a draw to comics fans who are familiar with the character and want to see him portrayed (in some fashion) on screen (but who might otherwise look askance at going to see a movie starring a bunch of C-list bad guys). Because the concept as described seems like it would work just as well (if not better) with a completely unknown hero in the "innocent man" role.

What I'm saying is that the story seems to be one that could be easily written for Ollie as a graphic novel. Or any other relatively powerless superhero, sure, but would anyone be complaining if Super Max was a six issue mini instead of a movie? It fits within what works for Ollie. And you have to figure at some point, Ollie manages to pull apart his bed to make a bow and arrows.


And if you really think WB would ever produce a Green Arrow movie that didn't suck, they can't even get Wonder Woman off the ground. Green Arrow as a standalone doesn't have a chance in hell. Nevermind that the character lacks a strong motive, villain, costume that wouldn't be laughed at, etc.

[Toku King]

Does Green Arrow even have an archenemy?

[StoneGold]

Does Green Arrow even have an archenemy?

Black Canary's feelings?

[kalorama]

What I'm saying is that the story seems to be one that could be easily written for Ollie as a graphic novel. Or any other relatively powerless superhero, sure, but would anyone be complaining if Super Max was a six issue mini instead of a movie? It fits within what works for Ollie. And you have to figure at some point, Ollie manages to pull apart his bed to make a bow and arrows.


And if you really think WB would ever produce a Green Arrow movie that didn't suck, they can't even get Wonder Woman off the ground. Green Arrow as a standalone doesn't have a chance in hell. Nevermind that the character lacks a strong motive, villain, costume that wouldn't be laughed at, etc.

You might be better served arguing that point with someone who's actually complaining about this not being a G.A. in costume centric film. I'm not making any such complaint. I have no problem with the concept (or Ollie's place in it) at all (although, as I've said, I seriously doubt it'll ever actually get made).

All that being said, however, there's absolutely no reason why a decent G.A. centric movie couldn't be made, as long as the proper comic-to-film adjustments were made.

[StoneGold]

You might be better served arguing that point with someone who's actually complaining about this not being a G.A. in costume centric film. I'm not making any such complaint. I have no problem with the concept (or Ollie's place in it) at all (although, as I've said, I seriously doubt it'll ever actually get made).

All that being said, however, there's absolutely no reason why a decent G.A. centric movie couldn't be made, as long as the proper comic-to-film adjustments were made.

I think I was, originally. You came somewhere in the middle. I'm really not sure a decent GA movie can be made though, without seriously Blading him up. Just because, again, there's no villain. Unless you did something else wacky with it, make a superhero romantic comedy. But as much as I love what Diggle is writing right now, I just don't see Ollie as being a viable standalone character for a movie. Silly name, silly costume, silly origin, no villain, no real overriding motivation... the only thing that makes Ollie stand out in the comics is his radical left-wing political outlook, which really only worked in context with other heroes, anyways.

Which isn't to say you couldn't make a Green Arrow movie. But you can also make Steel and Catwoman. He'd make a good addition to the JLA movie, but on his own, I just don't see it.

[kalorama]

I think I was, originally. You came somewhere in the middle. I'm really not sure a decent GA movie can be made though, without seriously Blading him up. Just because, again, there's no villain. Unless you did something else wacky with it, make a superhero romantic comedy. But as much as I love what Diggle is writing right now, I just don't see Ollie as being a viable standalone character for a movie. Silly name, silly costume, silly origin, no villain, no real overriding motivation... the only thing that makes Ollie stand out in the comics is his radical left-wing political outlook, which really only worked in context with other heroes, anyways.

Which isn't to say you couldn't make a Green Arrow movie. But you can also make Steel and Catwoman. He'd make a good addition to the JLA movie, but on his own, I just don't see it.

Of course it can be done. The question is, how many and what kind of alterations would have to be made? Your Blade reference is a case in point. A slavishly faithful adaptation of the comic book character would have stunk like overripe sushi and sank like a stone at the box office. They found a way to keep the basic premise/core of the comic book version and reconfigure the rest to make it more workable on film. The same could easily be done with GA.

[StoneGold]

Of course it can be done. The question is, how many and what kind of alterations would have to be made? Your Blade reference is a case in point. A slavishly faithful adaptation of the comic book character would have stunk like overripe sushi and sank like a stone at the box office. They found a way to keep the basic premise/core of the comic book version and reconfigure the rest to make it more workable on film. The same could easily be done with GA.

Except then you're going to have the same basic situation as Super Max anyways. Oh no, it's not really Ollie, how dare they!!!

[The Mutt]

Super Max is a great title for a movie about Green Arrow in prison, but I do have one problem with it;

In a Super Max prison, the prisoners have no contact with each other. None. Never. Ever.

This would make for a pretty boring movie.

[kalorama]

Except then you're going to have the same basic situation as Super Max anyways. Oh no, it's not really Ollie, how dare they!!!

Well, I'm not going to have that same situation because I don't care about fan outrage, and it has no bearing whatsoever on what I'm talking about. I'm talking about making a good quality Green Arrow movie, which you seemed to be saying couldn't be done, for a variety of reasons. It can be done. Whether or not comic fandom will embrace it as "pure" is another issue entirely (and not one I'm dealing with).

[The Mutt]

Well, I'm not going to have that same situation because I don't care about fan outrage, and it has no bearing whatsoever on what I'm talking about. I'm talking about making a good quality Green Arrow movie, which you seemed to be saying couldn't be done, for a variety of reasons. It can be done. Whether or not comic fandom will embrace it as "pure" is another issue entirely (and not one I'm dealing with).

I have a vague memory of a made-for-TV movie about an urban vigilante who used a bow and arrow. Anybody else remember this? I think Lee van Cleef may have been in it.