Follow the Leader: Episode 75: The Future of Marvel Films - Your Input!
Martinex1: Hey hey it is Tuesday! And you know what that means...Follow the Leader! First one here with a comment gets to start the ball rolling with a terrific topic and we all jump in with wisdom and input! What can be more fun than a Tuesday at BitBA?
14 comments:
Anonymous
said...
What should Marvel and/or DC films do next? What would you like to see at the movies in the coming years?
Marvel has recently regained the rights to Conan the Barbarian so perhaps there'll be a Conan film one day. He could be Marvel's plan B if the superhero bubble bursts!
Really don't have any strong feelings on what they should do next. I've thoroughly enjoyed the Marvel films thus far, and will continue to enjoy them as long as the ride lasts. As for DC, I guess they could stop making such crappy movies. So far the only one I've liked is Wonder Woman.
On the topic of Conan, if the decision is made to produce movies or even a television series, I hope they learn from past mistakes and STOP doing origin stories and making such somber and, frankly, forgettable features (sorry if this rustles anyone's feathers, but I don't really like the Schwarzenegger films). Conan stories are supposed to be about swashbuckling adventure, not some mopey guy lamenting the murder of his parents or mourning the loss of his lover. All they have to do is adapt any of a number of Howard's original stories, or, better yet, use the comic-book adaptations from the four-color comic or Savage Sword that were scripted by Roy Thomas and basically story-boarded by Smith, Buscema, et al.
How about a Spider-Man movie where he doesn't need a suit designed by Tony Stark and doesn't act like Stark's lickspittle? Tom Holland is okay, but Spider-Man shouldn't be portrayed as a sidekick who needs Stark.
Yeah, they could go "off genre" a bit more: how about a Warlord movie? Or Nathaniel Dusk? The Legion as a straight out space opera? Killraven? Jon Sable? (I know he wasn't marvel/DC, but it'd make a great movie.)
I'd actually love to see more stuff set in the 1940s, like All-Star Squadron ... though it might work better as a TV show. Or a really pulpy, noirish 40s show, like Sandman Mystery Theatre.
Great question Colin. I am stymied! At this point I am preferring the series format like Gotham over the slam-bang movies! I appreciate the character development, the chance to digest what I am seeing... Whereas the movies provide a lot of big, bang, boom.., All that said, I could go for another Iron Man movie. JSA set in WW2 does catch my fancy too like Mike wrote. (Thank god for Nazis, always the perfect villains!)
For Marvel, how about Sub-Mariner? He's been completely absent from the big screen. Maybe a Subby versus Human Torch epic like the golden age comics?
I'm guessing we won't see Steve Rogers, Thor, or Tony Stark after Avengers 4. I hope I'm wrong. Maybe they'll make Jim Rhodes the new Iron Man, Bucky or Falcon the new Cap, Jane Foster or more likely Valkyrie replacing Thor? Hope not.
As for DC, I really loved Justice League (except the CGI-hidden mustache scene). Batman v Superman was a mess -- it was like they shot all these really cool scenes, then tried to write a plot around them when they had nothing to do with each other. I still liked it, but it was still a mess.
I hope there is a Justice League sequel. I'm not betting on it, though. Other wishes for DC:
Justice Society (1940s or modern day, but using the original line-up and maybe some of the modern versions, such as Michael Holt/Mr. Terrific and Stargirl).
And Hawkman would be awesome -- and a welcome addition to the Justice League.
Finally, how about Birds of Prey featuring Black Canary, Barbara Gordon/Oracle, Huntress, and Lady Blackhawk?
Sadly, DC's current plans include a "Birds of Prey" featuring Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy. And the Flash solo movie is now going to be "Flashpoint" -- the event that got me to quit buying DC comics 7 years ago. No thanks. Shazam? Meh. Black Adam? Nope. Another Suicide Squad? Not that much of a fan...
A Man of Steel sequel would be cool. I have no complaints about the first one.
Of all the currently planned DC movies, Nightwing has the most potential (along with the confirmed Aquaman and the Wonder Woman sequel).
Did anyone see the Conan remake of a few years back? Not exactly a classic, but I liked it better than the Arnold versions.
I think the future will ultimately be forecast once we see how the fan base reacts when age and/or contracts force the retirement of an actor playing a core character, but rather than retire the character (because the characters are where the merchandising dollars exist), the decision is made to replace the actor. It seems like baton-passing of the "identity" might be the plan right now-- and maybe that'll work-- but Downey, Hemsworth, and Evans are so intrinsically identified with their characters, that it's hard to imagine replacement actors ever being embraced.
If fandom does buy into it (think James Bond), then maybe it'll be okay. I'm . . . a little more pessimistic.
The necessarily slow production rate of giant films is the biggest hurdle to maintaining a continuity-based shared universe, and I think we might be right at the cusp of seeing that chicken come home to roost, as it were---
I'm in full agreement with all the Conan comments. In looking for a little thematic variation, some other possibilities:
From Marvel-A new attempt at Man-thing. Adapt a classic Gerber story... From DC- Enemy Ace. In today's fractious world, it would be interesting to see the tale of the German WW1 ace onscreen, as done in the comics- from his point of view. From First! Comics- American Flagg. Chaykin's series would be ideally suited for a film treatmen..t
I think that on the Marvel side there has been a careful and concerted effort--taking no inconsiderable amount of time--to work up to Infinity War. Introducing and developing the characters to a point where no backstory was needed for the film was a very tricky process.
I think what I'd like to see in the future, would be that same slow development but on the villain side. The villains have consistently been the weakest part of almost every film, but if they were developed with the same thoroughness, I think it's possible to end up with the culminating story line I'd like to see, the Thunderbolts.
From Marvel, I would really like to see a proper Spider-Man movie with the premise portrayed more closely to what it was in the classic comics. (But I doubt that will happen).
Also, if Marvel regains the rights to X-Men and/or Fantastic Four, I would really like to see those properties get the MCU treatment on the big screen. Especially the FF, since they've never really gotten a good movie.
For DC, (now that the origin movie is out of the way) I would personally like to see a sequel the recent Justice League movie. I thought the after credits scene set up a really intriguing promise for the next film, with the possibility of the Injustice League being the antagonists.
Wow-- Enemy Ace. Red, that's a brilliant suggestion!
The Great War (WW1) has so much lore all its own-- so many different types of stories that can be told-- you know what? IT SHOULD BE A NETFLIX SERIES! (Or CW, or whoever does the DC television projects). At a century back, the subject has that irresistible "aura" of the past, yet it really marked the very beginnings of what we think of as "Modern" warfare (which itself has now become obsolete, of course)-- making it still possible to tell stories that have a modern relevance. And I imagine CGI could work visual miracles with compelling biplane dogfight sequences. And we're following a major anti-hero in Von Hammer, of course.
Man-- I like the idea so much that I wish the show existed right NOW!
14 comments:
What should Marvel and/or DC films do next? What would you like to see at the movies in the coming years?
Marvel has recently regained the rights to Conan the Barbarian so perhaps there'll be a Conan film one day. He could be Marvel's plan B if the superhero bubble bursts!
Really don't have any strong feelings on what they should do next. I've thoroughly enjoyed the Marvel films thus far, and will continue to enjoy them as long as the ride lasts.
As for DC, I guess they could stop making such crappy movies. So far the only one I've liked is Wonder Woman.
On the topic of Conan, if the decision is made to produce movies or even a television series, I hope they learn from past mistakes and STOP doing origin stories and making such somber and, frankly, forgettable features (sorry if this rustles anyone's feathers, but I don't really like the Schwarzenegger films). Conan stories are supposed to be about swashbuckling adventure, not some mopey guy lamenting the murder of his parents or mourning the loss of his lover.
All they have to do is adapt any of a number of Howard's original stories, or, better yet, use the comic-book adaptations from the four-color comic or Savage Sword that were scripted by Roy Thomas and basically story-boarded by Smith, Buscema, et al.
Edo, I agree with everything you said about Conan!
How about a Spider-Man movie where he doesn't need a suit designed by Tony Stark and doesn't act like Stark's lickspittle? Tom Holland is okay, but Spider-Man shouldn't be portrayed as a sidekick who needs Stark.
How about an Alpha Flight movie?
Not connected to any Marvel movie continuity, just a tight, one storyline flick.
And when that Superhero bubble does burst let's get a Ka-Zar in the Savage Land along with the Conan suggestion.
Yeah, they could go "off genre" a bit more: how about a Warlord movie? Or Nathaniel Dusk? The Legion as a straight out space opera? Killraven? Jon Sable? (I know he wasn't marvel/DC, but it'd make a great movie.)
I'd actually love to see more stuff set in the 1940s, like All-Star Squadron ... though it might work better as a TV show. Or a really pulpy, noirish 40s show, like Sandman Mystery Theatre.
Great question Colin. I am stymied! At this point I am preferring the series format like Gotham over the slam-bang movies! I appreciate the character development, the chance to digest what I am seeing... Whereas the movies provide a lot of big, bang, boom.., All that said, I could go for another Iron Man movie. JSA set in WW2 does catch my fancy too like Mike wrote. (Thank god for Nazis, always the perfect villains!)
From Terry in Virginia:
I agree with Charlie Horse: great question!
For Marvel, how about Sub-Mariner? He's been completely absent from the big screen. Maybe a Subby versus Human Torch epic like the golden age comics?
I'm guessing we won't see Steve Rogers, Thor, or Tony Stark after Avengers 4. I hope I'm wrong. Maybe they'll make Jim Rhodes the new Iron Man, Bucky or Falcon the new Cap, Jane Foster or more likely Valkyrie replacing Thor? Hope not.
As for DC, I really loved Justice League (except the CGI-hidden mustache scene). Batman v Superman was a mess -- it was like they shot all these really cool scenes, then tried to write a plot around them when they had nothing to do with each other. I still liked it, but it was still a mess.
I hope there is a Justice League sequel. I'm not betting on it, though. Other wishes for DC:
Justice Society (1940s or modern day, but using the original line-up and maybe some of the modern versions, such as Michael Holt/Mr. Terrific and Stargirl).
And Hawkman would be awesome -- and a welcome addition to the Justice League.
Finally, how about Birds of Prey featuring Black Canary, Barbara Gordon/Oracle, Huntress, and Lady Blackhawk?
Sadly, DC's current plans include a "Birds of Prey" featuring Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy. And the Flash solo movie is now going to be "Flashpoint" -- the event that got me to quit buying DC comics 7 years ago. No thanks. Shazam? Meh. Black Adam? Nope. Another Suicide Squad? Not that much of a fan...
A Man of Steel sequel would be cool. I have no complaints about the first one.
Of all the currently planned DC movies, Nightwing has the most potential (along with the confirmed Aquaman and the Wonder Woman sequel).
Did anyone see the Conan remake of a few years back? Not exactly a classic, but I liked it better than the Arnold versions.
I think the future will ultimately be forecast once we see how the fan base reacts when age and/or contracts force the retirement of an actor playing a core character, but rather than retire the character (because the characters are where the merchandising dollars exist), the decision is made to replace the actor. It seems like baton-passing of the "identity" might be the plan right now-- and maybe that'll work-- but Downey, Hemsworth, and Evans are so intrinsically identified with their characters, that it's hard to imagine replacement actors ever being embraced.
If fandom does buy into it (think James Bond), then maybe it'll be okay. I'm . . . a little more pessimistic.
The necessarily slow production rate of giant films is the biggest hurdle to maintaining a continuity-based shared universe, and I think we might be right at the cusp of seeing that chicken come home to roost, as it were---
HB
I'm in full agreement with all the Conan comments. In looking for a little thematic variation, some other possibilities:
From Marvel-A new attempt at Man-thing. Adapt a classic Gerber story...
From DC- Enemy Ace. In today's fractious world, it would be interesting to see the tale of the German WW1 ace onscreen, as done in the comics- from his point of view.
From First! Comics- American Flagg. Chaykin's series would be ideally suited for a film treatmen..t
I think that on the Marvel side there has been a careful and concerted effort--taking no inconsiderable amount of time--to work up to Infinity War. Introducing and developing the characters to a point where no backstory was needed for the film was a very tricky process.
I think what I'd like to see in the future, would be that same slow development but on the villain side. The villains have consistently been the weakest part of almost every film, but if they were developed with the same thoroughness, I think it's possible to end up with the culminating story line I'd like to see, the Thunderbolts.
From Marvel, I would really like to see a proper Spider-Man movie with the premise portrayed more closely to what it was in the classic comics. (But I doubt that will happen).
Also, if Marvel regains the rights to X-Men and/or Fantastic Four, I would really like to see those properties get the MCU treatment on the big screen. Especially the FF, since they've never really gotten a good movie.
For DC, (now that the origin movie is out of the way) I would personally like to see a sequel the recent Justice League movie. I thought the after credits scene set up a really intriguing promise for the next film, with the possibility of the Injustice League being the antagonists.
Wow-- Enemy Ace. Red, that's a brilliant suggestion!
The Great War (WW1) has so much lore all its own-- so many different types of stories that can be told-- you know what? IT SHOULD BE A NETFLIX SERIES! (Or CW, or whoever does the DC television projects). At a century back, the subject has that irresistible "aura" of the past, yet it really marked the very beginnings of what we think of as "Modern" warfare (which itself has now become obsolete, of course)-- making it still possible to tell stories that have a modern relevance. And I imagine CGI could work visual miracles with compelling biplane dogfight sequences. And we're following a major anti-hero in Von Hammer, of course.
Man-- I like the idea so much that I wish the show existed right NOW!
hb
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