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Has any entertainment company had a more meteoric rise over the last decade than Marvel? The comic publisher's first brush with big-screen success came in 2002, when Spider-Man became one of the highest-grossing movies of all time. And since then, the company has repeatedly outdone itself. Now acting as its own studio—while still having properties housed at other companies—the comic book juggernaut has had at least one movie every year based on its characters go on to gross well over $300 million worldwide since 2006.
That’s just the tip of what Marvel has to offer movie audiences, though. Over the years, the company has had countless other classic characters either be ignored by movie executives or be the subject of severely underwhelming films. And even though some lesser-known heroes are finally getting big-screen adaptations put into production—like the Black Panther, Ant-Man, and a Daredevil reboot—there are still some cornerstones of the Marvel U that either need to make their silver screen debut or be rebooted.
After watching the Wall Crawler swing across the screen in his fourth feature film, The Amazing Spider-Man, we take a moment to acknowledge 10 Marvel Comics That Need Movie Love.
Written by Jason Serafino (@serafinoj1)
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10. Heroes For Hire
Dream director: Joe Carnahan
Dream cast: Garrett Hedlund as Iron Fist, Terry Crews as Luke Cage
When you think about it, being a superhero is a pretty bad business decision. The hours are long; there are no health benefits, despite the danger you’re always in; at the end of the week, there is no fat paycheck sitting on your desk.
That’s why Luke Cage, a.k.a. Power Man, and the Iron Fist decided to go into business for themselves by setting up Heroes for Hire, Inc. Together, the duo charge people for their protective services, much like freelance detectives would. This helps keep their operation afloat and provides them with enough cash to continue fighting crime.
Set in New York—mostly in Cage’s Harlem stomping ground—a Heroes for Hire movie would be part Do the Right Thing and part Avengers as this super-powered team would fight for smaller social causes, as opposed to alien threats. Plus, it wouldn’t hurt Marvel to toss a little diversity into its movies.
9. Moon Knight
Dream director: Ben Affleck
Dream cast: Alexander Skarsgård as Marc Spector, a.k.a. Moon Knight
For all of the success that Marvel Studios has had with its recent films, the one thing it hasn’t done yet is feature a street level vigilante in a movie. We’ve seen super-powered patriots, men in armored suits, and rampaging monsters, but we think it’s about time to show off a regular dude in a gaudy costume cracking the skulls of some pimps and drug dealers.
That’s where Moon Knight comes in. Created in 1975, the character has been one of the best under-the-radar heroes in all of comics. Featuring a bit more violence and an edgier plot than Marvel’s other flicks, Moon Knight could capture the attention of fans looking for a break from the sunny demeanor of the other heroes at the company.
Boiled down to his basic essence, Moon Knight is nothing more than Batman with a severe case of Multiple Personality Disorder, but that doesn’t mean that Marvel can’t find a creative enough direction to make it a viable franchise.
8. Winter Soldier
Dream director: Paul Greengrass
Dream star: Chris Pine as Buck Barnes, a.k.a. The Winter Soldier
When Captain America’s WWII sidekick, Bucky Barnes, came back from the dead as a brainwashed Soviet assassin, the comic book world was in a state of shock. Not just because Bucky was back, but also because the stories were actually readable. And now that Bucky is back to being a hero, we think it’s obvious that Marvel should bring him onto the silver screen in his own movie.
We know Barnes was played by Sebastian Stan in Captain America: The First Avenger, but we think recasting the role with Chris Pine would add a bit more juice to the project. The premise would be simple: Bucky reemerges and starts working with S.H.I.E.L.D in order to take down some rogue Soviet assassins from his past. That’s why The Bourne Supremacy and Ultimatum director Paul Greengrass would make for the perfect director for this espionage thriller.
7. Agents of Atlas
Dream director: Brad Bird
Dream cast: Andy Serkis as Gorilla Man, John Cho as Jimmy Woo, Charlize Theron as Namora, Deborah Ann Woll as Venus, Michael Pitt as the Uranian
For the uninitiated, the Agents of Atlas were basically the 1950s precursor to the Avengers. Comprised of some of Marvel’s Golden Age heroes, the book was launched in 2006 and instantly became one of the company’s most unique and downright entertaining reads. These characters are misfits, plain and simple, and they pull off all of their adventures with a '50s style and flair.
While the Avengers movie focused on good looking billionaires and gods, director Brad Bird could bring us a superhero ensemble piece that strays from the more conventional direction that Marvel usually takes. We can already imagine seeing Gorilla Man, Jimmy Woo, M-11, and Namora tearing it up on the big screen. And the best part is that these characters aren’t company mascots, so a movie version of their adventures can be a little more experimental and quirky than what we usually see in the superhero genre.
6. Uncanny X-Force
Dream director: Ruben Fleischer
Dream cast: Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, Duncan Jones as Nightcrawler, Maggie Q as Psylocke, Matthew Goode as Archangel, Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool, Paul Walker as Fantomex
Sure, we’ve already seen the X-Men on screen four times, with a fifth movie on the way, but an Uncanny X-Force movie would be a completely different animal. In the modern X-Force comics, writer Rick Remender has created a terrifically bizarre and complex narrative about a covert squad of mutants led by Wolverine who believe the only way to truly get the job done is by spilling a little blood. There is no Xavier or Cyclops here to serve as the team’s moral compass; instead, there is an “anything goes” mentality to the group that is a breath of fresh air when compared to the other, less hard-line X-Men comics.
Unfortunately, these recent Marvel movies, while entertaining, have been about as edgy as a bouquet of chocolate lollipops. That's why X-Force's unpredictable and volatile cast—including Wolverine, Deadpool, Psylocke, Archangel, Fantomex, and an evil version of Nightcrawler—would completely blindside audiences expecting a conventional mutant flick.
With a forceful director, a down-and-dirty cast, and a script with some testicular fortitude, an Uncanny X-Force film would finally let the mutants off their leash and show the world why they have been at the top of the comic book world for decades.
5. The Sub-Mariner
Dream director: Neill Blomkamp
Dream cast: Zachary Quinto as Namor
You would think that one of the first characters ever created at Marvel—known as Timely Comics back then—would be one of the first to hit the big screen; unfortunately, the Sub-Mariner, a.k.a. Namor, is like the Rodney Dangerfield of the House of Ideas. Touted as the company’s first mutant, Namor has the ability to survive under water, has super strength, the ability to fly, and enhanced durability, yet he still gets no respect. This lovable curmudgeon is nowhere near as lame as Aquaman, and it's about time that Marvel gives him his due.
Put your preconceptions about underwater superheroes aside because Namor would undoubtedly make for a great addition to the cinematic Marvel U. If you thought Asgard was impressive in Thor, it wouldn’t hold a candle to the majesty of Atlantis. With a visionary director at the helm, and a star capable of encompassing the burning rage of Namor, there is no way this wouldn’t work.
4. Runaways
Dream director: Noah Baumbach
Dream cast: Donald Glover as Alex Wilder, Hailee Steinfeld as Nico Minoru, Brie Larson as Karolina Dean, Mae Whitman as Gertrude Yorkes, Anton Yelchin as Chase Stein, Chloe Moretz as Molly Hayes
Focusing on a group of teenagers who find out that their parents are all actually members of an evil syndicate known as “the Pride,” Runaways was a cult-favorite comic book when it launched in 2003. As these kids discover their latent superpowers, they use them to eventually defeat their parents and begin to operate on their own. The title had an indie comic charm that propelled it above being just a run-of-the-mill superhero story, which is exactly why we picked Noah Baumbach to direct.
The cast of this movie would be tricky because the main characters are all kids, and that might lead some people to dismiss the movie as juvenile; however, as directors have proven in the past, younger actors can be a real asset to a movie if handled properly.
Marvel has actually come out in the past saying a Runaways movie was in the works, but the project was put on hold until after Avengers launched. Hopefully the House of Ideas ignores the temptation to keep pumping out Avengers-related sequels and decides to take a risk on Runaways.
3. The Punisher
Dream director: Rian Johnson
Dream cast: Jon Hamm as The Punisher, Tommy Lister Jr. as Barracuda
There is no sadder A-list hero over at Marvel than the Punisher. The poor guy has been the subject of three separate movie adaptations that were all simply terrible. Movie studios seem to have this crazy idea that just because the character doesn’t require a big budget that it doesn’t require any talent either.
That's why we’re proposing a complete overhaul of the franchise that is part grim-and-gritty vigilante story and part tongue-in-cheek satire. And there is no better director to make this blend work than Rian Johnson—who has handled both crime dramas with comedic elements expertly in the past (see: Brick, Breaking Bad, Terriers).
Not only could he bring Frank Castle’s misery to life, but he could also gently poke fun at the fact that this is a clearly unhinged individual who paints a skull on his chest and takes it upon himself to cure the ills of society. We wouldn’t be satisfied with the Punisher gunning down lame mobsters either; instead, we would love for Johnson to bring to life one of the more bonkers members of the Marvel rogues gallery, the Barracuda.
2. Doctor Strange
Dream director: David Yates
Dream cast: James McAvoy as Stephen Strange
One of the most underappreciated characters currently on the Marvel roster is the Master of the Mystic Arts, Doctor Strange. Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko back in 1963, Strange has always managed to slip through the cracks of the mainstream consciousness for some reason, while Spider-Man, Thor, Iron Man, and most of his other contemporaries hog all of the spotlight. But with a little tender love and care, we could easily see Strange pulling in some serious bank at the box office.
We're picking David Yates (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) as our dream director because he would be able to humanize the otherworldly magic and fantasy of the character. That would go a long way towards attracting a much broader audience. Much like Batman Begins, we would love to see Strange go on a globetrotting training regimen that brings audiences along for his whole journey to become the Sorcerer Supreme.
From the humble mountaintops where he undergoes his training to the bizarre, mystic dimensions where he fights off the villainous Dormammu, Doctor Strange has the potential to be one of the most colorful and unique movies at Marvel Studios.
1. Fantastic Four
Dream director: Duncan Jones
Dream cast: Billy Crudup as Reed Richards, Jessica Chastain as Sue Storm, Jamie Bell as Johnny Storm, Ron Perlman as The Thing (voice), Jeremy Irons as Dr. Doom
Let’s completely ignore the fact that there have already been three absolutely embarrassing Fantastic Four movies and just concentrate on how to make one great one. The first thing that an FF reboot needs is a blockbuster budget. The previous two were way too cheap looking to accurately bring Marvel’s First Family to the screen. Secondly, the casting process is key. The 20th Century Fox films had fine actors, but none of them truly captured the spirit of the original comics, especially Julian McMahon’s woefully underdeveloped performance as Dr. Doom.
But most importantly, the writer and director of these movies have to be completely devoted to these characters and the comics. Duncan Jones has been itching to do a big-time sci-fi movie for some time, so why not just get him on board Fantastic Four? He has the vision and style for this franchise, and he’s proven himself capable of handling both story and characters flawlessly.
If produced with a bit of care, a proper Fantastic Four movie could completely blow Marvel’s previous efforts out of the water. That mixture of heart, action, and heady sci-fi plots would be exactly what this genre needs in order to continue to evolve. Earlier in the year Josh Trank was rumored to be working on a new Fantastic Four reboot, but he has since signed on to both a Venom and Shadow of the Colossus adaptation, so we're not sure what the status is of this reboot. Hopefully Fox takes a look at our pro bono suggestions.