Rebooting Comic Book Movie Franchises

[CutterMike]

So, Hollywood is in the throes of rebooting comic book movie series(es) (Damn... I KNOW that the plural of "series" is "series", but it just never LOOKS right... but I digress...).

The Batman franchise has been brilliantly rebooted, The Hulk and The Punisher are on their way...

So what comic book movie/TV show would YOU like to see brought back from the dead, and what would you do differently?

Example: "Hellblazer", REALLY needs to be done right and reworked pretty much from the ground up.

My solution: Ditch Keanu Reeves. Wrong wrong wrongWRONGWRONG!!!

If you feel that you MUST make John Constantine an American, get someone who can convince me that he's a chain-smoking booze-hound whose "Give A Fuck" is busted.

I'm seeing Dennis Leary.

"I'm TRYIN' to have a NICE QUIET drink in a NICE QUIET BAR, and the SCREAMING outside is REALLY BEGINNIN' TO PISS ME OFF... And if the ONLY way I can have some PEACE AND QUIET is to KICK some DEMONIC ASS, then THAT'S FINE! And if the only way to get the demons to BEND OVER so I can KICK their asses is to THROW SOMEONE UNDER A FUCKIN' BUS, then JUST tell me WHAT TIME the FUCKIN' NIMBER 67 COMES BY SO I CAN BE READY!"

Anyone else...?

[Darediva]

Yes. Please, for heaven's sake, SOMEONE write a decent Daredevil script. I liked the movie fine, but so many people pissed and moaned over it that I'm ready for a reboot.

[Cam63]

Birds of Prey... done competently and with respect.

[Crowley]

Example: "Hellblazer", REALLY needs to be done right and reworked pretty much from the ground up.

My solution: Ditch Keanu Reeves. Wrong wrong wrongWRONGWRONG!!!
If you feel that you MUST make John Constantine an American, get someone who can convince me that he's a chain-smoking booze-hound whose "Give A Fuck" is busted.
I'm seeing Dennis Leary.

Anyone else...?
I think Tim Roth could do a good job or John Rhys Meyer...


I think Superman needs to be rebooted BADLY.

Superman Returns was fucking awful.

[Jeff Brady]

I think Superman needs to be rebooted BADLY.

Superman Returns was fucking awful.

Yep, start from scratch. Take Mark Waid & Lenil Yu's Birthright, toss in a snippet or two from Man of Steel, and you got it. I wouldn't mind if they recycled most of the SR cast (Lois has GOT to go).

[Legato]

Birds of Prey... done competently and with respect.

Put Catwoman on the list also. Get a director who is actually familiar with the source material and can atleast bother to give Catwoman a decent costume.

I would say Nick Fury but Hollywood beat my to it if rumors of Samuel Jackson being cast as Nick Fury is true. Well better Samuel Jackson than that Baywatch guy as Fury.

As far as Daredevil goes Matt Damon looks like a more convincing Matt Murdoc than Ben Affleck is.

X-Men should definitly need a revamp since I wasn't satisfied with how the final movie went out. For the cast of Storm I would cast an actress that can atleast pull the african accent really well unless they want to make Storm an american instead.

[The Zapper]

Superman needs to be rerelaunched. With no tie in to the Reeve movies, and maybe he can have a villain to fight next time around for gods sake.

[Cam63]

Put Catwoman on the list also. Get a director who is actually familiar with the source material and can atleast bother to give Catwoman a decent costume.

I would say Nick Fury but Hollywood beat my to it if rumors of Samuel Jackson being cast as Nick Fury is true. Well better Samuel Jackson than that Baywatch guy as Fury.

As far as Daredevil goes Matt Damon looks like a more convincing Matt Murdoc than Ben Affleck is.

X-Men should definitly need a revamp since I wasn't satisfied with how the final movie went out. For the cast of Storm I would cast an actress that can atleast pull the african accent really well unless they want to make Storm an american instead.

I give your suggestions a 5 star rating.

[Cam63]

Yep, start from scratch. Take Mark Waid & Lenil Yu's Birthright, toss in a snippet or two from Man of Steel, and you got it. I wouldn't mind if they recycled most of the SR cast (Lois has GOT to go).

Yep. New Lois needed badly.

[Cayman]

I want a good Swamp Thing movie and a good Man-Thing movie.

[DungeonmasterJim]

I wouldn't mind some better Men In Black movies. They were okay and that was the problem. They were okay. They seem like they should've been so much funnier.

And The Flash seems like a really cool character to do. The old TV series had neat special effects but the series was so lame.

Does Electra-Woman and Dyna-Girl count? I actually enjoyed them quite a bit when I was a wee lad. And Isis too! They just don't make Saturday morning super-hero shows like they use to. :(

DM Jim

[stealthwise]

You guys have pretty much named them all, but I would love to see another American Splendor movie.

Wait, wait, I loved the first one, a LOT, but I want to see an even more screwed up one, written by Pekar and Charlie Kaufman, perhaps directed by Terry Gilliam. I didn't get the feeling of tension and paranoia and, and, fucking NAUSEA that I feel when I'm reading some of Pekar's most intense works.

[Rattlehead]

Yep, start from scratch. Take Mark Waid & Lenil Yu's Birthright, toss in a snippet or two from Man of Steel, and you got it. I wouldn't mind if they recycled most of the SR cast (Lois has GOT to go).

I'm not sure if that can really be done anymore. I don't think audiences want to sit through yet another Superman origin. That story has been done to death in mass media. There's a whole TV show devoted to it right now, or there was until it lost all sense of purpose. You also have to consider the fact that the odds of it being done better than Superman: The Movie are pretty slim. I think that's why Warner's didn't want to do it again, I don't think anybody wants to sit through it again. Batman Begins was different, as Burton's Batman only dealt with Bruce's origins in brief snippets, he's already Batman when the movie starts, and the old Batman TV show never even mentioned why Bruce became Batman. With Superman you've had the old George Reeve TV show, the old Fleischer cartoons, the perfect superhero movie, Lois and Clark, a Superboy TV series, S:TAS, and now Smallville. All of these explained the origin in some shape or form. The idea of dropping Superman Returns into the pre-existant movie continuity was a good move, it just needed a better story. I'd rather Man of Steel take Superman to new places with new villians, something Returns should have done. I'd rather not sit through a movie that does the whole "Krypton is doomed" spiel again, and I don't think it would live up to Donner's film anyways. Being a fan who reads Superman comics, I certainly don't want to see it again. They keep trying to redo it in the comics. Just keep the existing continuity, write the kid out somehow, and give Brandon Routh some badass villians to punch.

[MartinRedmond]

X3 was awesome. It's the only one that didn't give all the freaking action scenes to freaking Wolverine. And Storm actually does stunts in it.

I think they should reboot Hellblazer so that they don't make another one. Including the comic book itself.

[Rattlehead]

X3 was awesome. It's the only one that didn't give all the freaking action scenes to freaking Wolverine. And Storm actually does stunts in it.

I have to agree. I watched X3 again over the weekend, and it's an action-packed joy. Sure it did some wrong-headed things, like killing Cyclops, but damn if that movies not fun to watch. It's also a great geek-out fest picking out all of the mutant cameos that appear. It's got just about everbody in it, even freakin Kid Omega! Plus, Storm actually does something in it, and that final battle between her and Callisto was badass. Kelsey Grammar was perfect as Beast, plus a Chris Claremont cameo.

[Stressfactor]

The Phantom. Billy Zane could handle the stunts well and god knows the man looked good in spandex but the costume itself was terrible (I did NOT like the stupid muted pattern they tried to put into it), Zane's acting was a little too wooden so he got really, really upstaged by Treat Williams (who chewed so much scenery I'm surprised he didn't have to go to a dentist). In addition to all of that, setting the whole thing in the past wasn't such a smart idea either.

They need to take a page from Moonstone's current series -- set it in the present, set it completely in a jungle location, and pick a more modern villain as well. The whole origin can be done with one, simple, flashback sequence.

I'm not sure who I'd pick for lead actors/actresses.

[Loren]

Yes. Please, for heaven's sake, SOMEONE write a decent Daredevil script. I liked the movie fine, but so many people pissed and moaned over it that I'm ready for a reboot.

I think a Daredevil sequel would do fine with just a change in the lead actor. Elektra shouldn't return anyway, and the rest of the cast was perfectly good.

I finally read "Born Again" the other day, and not only was I struck by how it was practically a blueprint for a Daredevil movie, but I discovered that Mark David Richardson had had exactly the same thought.

The movie would begin with Kingpin getting out of jail following the events of the first movie. His wife's died while he was incarcerated. He comes into possession of Murdock's name, and enacts his revenge in pretty much the way the book plays out. It would probably need the addition of some secondary villain for the climax, because Nuke and the final chapter simply wouldn't work as part of a movie.

Daredevil 2: Born Again. It'd make for a great movie, but it couldn't work as a reboot, because there needs to be some existing rivalry between Matt and the Kingpin.

[Darediva]

I think a Daredevil sequel would do fine with just a change in the lead actor. Elektra shouldn't return anyway, and the rest of the cast was perfectly good.

I finally read "Born Again" the other day, and not only was I struck by how it was practically a blueprint for a Daredevil movie, but I discovered that Mark David Richardson had had exactly the same thought.

The movie would begin with Kingpin getting out of jail following the events of the first movie. His wife's died while he was incarcerated. He comes into possession of Murdock's name, and enacts his revenge in pretty much the way the book plays out. It would probably need the addition of some secondary villain for the climax, because Nuke and the final chapter simply wouldn't work as part of a movie.

Daredevil 2: Born Again. It'd make for a great movie, but it couldn't work as a reboot, because there needs to be some existing rivalry between Matt and the Kingpin.

I could go with this scenario.

[laylamiller]

Yep. New Lois needed badly.
http://images.tvnz.co.nz/tvnz_images/tv2/programmes/invasion/lisa_sheridan_d.jpg

as u requested sir a new lois lane

[laylamiller]

i was thinking, what if they took hardcore season four wesley from angel and mad him hellblazer, he convinced me he was english and he sure looked rugged enough to have been a chain smoker. im just not sure he could carry the movie on his own

[Stressfactor]

well, since Sting has unfortunately grown a little too old to play Constantine I personally would vote for Mr. James Bond.... Daniel Craig. He looks a bit like Constantine and he certainly has proven that he can play a basstard who is as cold as his ice blue eyes.

Mmmmm..... ice blue eyes.......

[Infra-Man]

FANTASTIC FOUR anyone?

Back up a dump truck full of cash to Brad Bird's house and have this be his first live-action feature.
Reed Richards: Guy Pierce
Sue: Naomi Watts
Johnny: Hayden Christiansen
Ben Grimm: James Gandolfini
The Thing: CGI or at least digitally resize him (so he's at least taller than the other actors) a la the Hobbits
Dr. Doom: Alan Rickman or Ralph Fiennes

Don't know if I agree with all of the casting suggestions, but I do definitely agree that if there's one guy I want at the helm, it's Brad Bird. Screenplay by Brad Bird and Michael Chabon.

[Solaris]

So, Hollywood is in the throes of rebooting comic book movie series(es) (Damn... I KNOW that the plural of "series" is "series", but it just never LOOKS right... but I digress...).

The Batman franchise has been brilliantly rebooted, The Hulk and The Punisher are on their way...

So what comic book movie/TV show would YOU like to see brought back from the dead, and what would you do differently?

Example: "Hellblazer", REALLY needs to be done right and reworked pretty much from the ground up.

My solution: Ditch Keanu Reeves. Wrong wrong wrongWRONGWRONG!!!

If you feel that you MUST make John Constantine an American, get someone who can convince me that he's a chain-smoking booze-hound whose "Give A Fuck" is busted.

I'm seeing Dennis Leary.

"I'm TRYIN' to have a NICE QUIET drink in a NICE QUIET BAR, and the SCREAMING outside is REALLY BEGINNIN' TO PISS ME OFF... And if the ONLY way I can have some PEACE AND QUIET is to KICK some DEMONIC ASS, then THAT'S FINE! And if the only way to get the demons to BEND OVER so I can KICK their asses is to THROW SOMEONE UNDER A FUCKIN' BUS, then JUST tell me WHAT TIME the FUCKIN' NIMBER 67 COMES BY SO I CAN BE READY!"

Anyone else...?

I have no clue... but your proposed Dennis Leary lines are absolutely hysterical! :D I can even see him looking at some demon in a church who's wrapped around a crucifix hissing... and Leary reprising his The Ref line: "C'mon, you bastard: get down off the cross---somebody needs the wood."

[Jeff Brady]

http://images.tvnz.co.nz/tvnz_images/tv2/programmes/invasion/lisa_sheridan_d.jpg

as u requested sir a new lois lane

She would work. Sabrina Lloyd would make me all a-quiver, though.

[Ryan Day]

Wait, wait, I loved the first one, a LOT, but I want to see an even more screwed up one, written by Pekar and Charlie Kaufman, perhaps directed by Terry Gilliam.

Sorry, they're working on the big-budget Animal Man adaptation.

(What, I can't have a fantasy, too?)

[JamesRitcheyIII]

I think Tim Roth could do a good job or John Rhys Meyer...

This guy--Marc Warren, from The Hogfather, and lots of limey teevee:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/jamesritcheyiii/_40898513_warren1_203bbc.jpg
He can actually act, AND looks the way the character is drawn.


I think Superman needs to be rebooted BADLY.

Superman Returns was fucking awful.

A-frakking-men. I don't know what Singer was thinking, with any of it. It's like the only source material was the Donner film, which they just rehashed--and poorly, even ganking lines from the first movie. It would help if the lead actor could act his way out of a wet paper bag--I mean, Reeve went to freakin' Julliard. I thought Spacey showed through the material, and was the rare exception to a total shitfest.

[Night Swordsman]

Howard the Duck.

Because this world needs something fowl to happen to it,and Kyuubi is too busy with college. :D

[Cam63]

http://images.tvnz.co.nz/tvnz_images/tv2/programmes/invasion/lisa_sheridan_d.jpg

as u requested sir a new lois lane

She'll do.

[Cam63]

Howard the Duck.

Because this world needs something fowl to happen to it,and Kyuubi is too busy with college. :D

*Grabs cricket bat*

[Crowley]

Yep, start from scratch. Take Mark Waid & Lenil Yu's Birthright, toss in a snippet or two from Man of Steel, and you got it. I wouldn't mind if they recycled most of the SR cast (Lois has GOT to go).
A-frakking-men. I don't know what Singer was thinking, with any of it. It's like the only source material was the Donner film, which they just rehashed--and poorly, even ganking lines from the first movie. It would help if the lead actor could act his way out of a wet paper bag--I mean, Reeve went to freakin' Julliard. I thought Spacey showed through the material, and was the rare exception to a total shitfest.
Totally agree.

And note to directors= Superman doesn't cry unless
1. Lois dies.
2. He's getting castrated with a gold Kryptonite blade.
Reeve was pretty... but he could also give look that told you he was ready to kick some ass.

I'd bag the entire cast. Get Depp as Luthor, Durance from Smallville as Lois, Give Henry Cavill his shot at Superman.

[CutterMike]

Another one of my fantasy films (although, not strictly speaking, a reboot) would be The Dark Knight Returns. (I may have mentioned this on another thread.)

Having seen what a good time Clint Eastwood and Tommy Lee Jones had beating the snot out of each other in "Space Cowboys", it struck me that they would be ideal in the film.

Picture Eastwood directing himself as Bruce Wayne and Jones as Clark Kent, with Donald Sutherland as Ollie Queen. Of course, bring back Jack Larson as TV pundit James Olsen. Give Eastwood a copy of Miller's book and let him go to town.