Seven Marvel Properties That Should Make The Move To TV

Tuesday, June 29th, 2010 at 2:02pm
  • 75 Comments
 
Seven Marvel Properties That Should Make The Move To TV  

With the announcement on Monday that Marvel has at last established a television division, with veteran writer Jeph Loeb at the helm, the obvious question for comics fans is what characters might be winding their way toward the small screen.

Several of the company’s most recognizable properties are presumably tied up in licensing agreements with other studios (although, curiously, Sony reportedly returned all television rights to Spider-Man in September). However, even if you take characters like Daredevil, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men and Ghost Rider out of the equation, Marvel has numerous comic concepts ripe for adaptation as live-action TV series. Here are just seven:

Black Widow
Marvel seems more interested in laying the groundwork for a Black Widow movie — hey, with Scarlett Johansson in the role, who can blame the studio? — but the character is equally suited to an action series. Natasha Romanoff could take Sydney Bristow and Nikita with one hand tied behind her back. Slowed aging, combined with Natasha storied past as a Soviet operative with false memories, a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and a superhero opens up endless possibilities for flashbacks interwoven into contemporary espionage adventures — or entire arcs set in different decades. Throw in guest appearances by her one-time love interest Hawkeye, and you have a winner.

The Crew
The short-lived 2003 series inspired in no small part by the 1999 film Three Kings, The Crew was sparked by Christopher Priest’s desire to “write a good buddy book,” using a somewhat unlikely group of buddies: White Tiger (Kasper Cole), a New York City narcotics officer and acolyte in the Wakandan Panther Cult; Junta (Danny Vincent), a con man and ex-spy; Justice (Josiah “Josiah X” Bradley), son of Isaiah Bradley, the black Captain America; and War Machine (James Rhodes), pilot and one-time Iron Man. Set in the No Man’s Land between Brooklyn’s Little Mogadishu and the exclusive gated community of Princeton Walk, The Crew ended before it moved past character introductions and the origin of Josiah X. However, Priest laid the groundwork for an examination of family, friendship, gentrification, crime and so much more. It would be a great series for a cable network like AMC, HBO or Showtime.

Heroes for Hire
It’s like Burn Notice, but with superpowers. What more would an executive at USA or TNT need to hear? Luke Cage (aka Power Man) and Daniel Rand (aka Iron Fist) are superheroes who operate a private investigation and protection agency with the support of their secretary Jenny Royce and lawyer/business manager Jeryn Hogarth. It’s a solid premise that becomes more interesting, and more complicated, by occasional assistance from Colleen Wing and Misty Knight (Daniel’s love interest), private investigators whose clients’ goals — at least in the TV series — may not match those of Heroes for Hire.

The Incredible Hulk
Okay, so the two feature films didn’t exactly set the box office on fire. But there was a time, more than three decades ago, when The Incredible Hulk kicked off CBS’s top-rated Friday-night lineup and loomed large on the television landscape. If you’re unfamiliar with the series — surely you’ve seen reruns on Syfy — it took a Fugitive-like approach to the Hulk story, with Dr. David Banner (you can call him Bruce) hitch-hiking across the country searching for a cure for his condition, and frequently helping the people he meets. He’s pursued by a newspaper reporter, who believes the Hulk killed Banner and another scientist. If that sounds similar to Bruce Jones’ 2002 shakeup of the comic, that’s because it is — minus the conspiracy overtones. The new TV series, now with a CGI Hulk rather than a six-foot-five body builder in green paint, could embrace those conspiracy elements, as Banner struggles to control the monster while being pursued by the Hulkbusters. Add Betty Ross, General Ross, Rick Jones and Doc Samson as supporting characters, and Abomination, Absorbing Man, Glenn Talbot, the Leader and MODOK as villains, and voila!

Machine Teen
Marc Sumerak and Mike Hawthorne’s 2005 miniseries is ideal for Disney XD, the Walt Disney Company’s channel targeting boys, or maybe ABC Family: Adam Aaronson is popular, a straight-A student and captain of the football team. However, while in a fight with his high-school rival, Adam is injured, and soon discovers that he’s a robot constructed by the man he thought was his father. What’s more, his father’s former employers consider Adam to be stolen property, and are determined to get it back. High-school drama, action, adolescent wish fulfillment — Machine Teen is just begging to be adapted for television.

Power Pack
I hesitate to suggest Power Pack as a live-action series, if only because the budget constraints of weekly television might lead to difficulty in depicting the Power children’s powers (for instance, in the 1991 TV pilot Jack’s “cloud form” was eliminated, and he was instead given shrinking abilities). But I figure if Doctor Who and Smallville can pull off decent special effects — well, mostly decent — on tight budgets, then Marvel/Disney should be able to do the same. Plus, I want to see CGI versions of alien allies Aelfyre Whitemane and Kofi Whitemane, Smartship Friday and the menacing Snarks. Super-powered kids fighting alien reptiles while keeping it all secret from their parents? Who doesn’t want to watch that?

Union Jack
Given that this is U.S. television, it’s probably inevitable that an adaptation of Union Jack would cast an American in the lead role — a California cousin of the Falsworth family, no doubt — if not change the setting entirely. But I can’t worry about that. Union Jack brings together so many terrific elements — a fantastic costume design, a legacy, espionage, the supernatural — that it’s a shame he’s not more popular in comics. Surely there’s a place for a vampire-hunting, Nazi-fighting masked adventurer/spy on television. It’s The X-Files meets MI-5/Spooks.

There were plenty of other candidates obviously, like Doctor Strange, Sentinel and Cloak & Dagger (although the latter has had a difficult time working outside of the original ’80s concept). What Marvel characters do you think would translate well to live-action television?

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Newer Comments →
  • Squashua

    They already had a live action Power Pack TV show – it aired in Canada, or at least the pilot did.

    Also surprised you didn't cite X-Statix.

  • Mr98

    Cloak & Dagger.

  • Christian

    New X-men/New Mutants
    Young Avengers
    Runaways
    Sentinel
    Mystique
    Thunderbolts
    NYX
    Marvel Zombies
    Alias
    Franklin Richards- Boy Genius

  • http://www.spinoffonline.com Kevin Melrose

    I mentioned the '91 Power Pack pilot.

  • Red

    I'd love to see a “Astro City” type of Marvel show, where the capes are not the focus but the way their actions impact the citizens of the Marvel universe is.

  • Rich

    So, MARVELS, basically? Same writer, and hit two years before ASTRO CITY.

  • E Scaduto

    They need to do an X-Men television show. There are sooo many mutants, and so much drama that's already in the books, it would be a perfect fit.

  • Ablescholar

    Personally, I think these characters could support a series:

    X-Factor
    Moon Knight
    Runaways
    Machine Man
    Werewolf by Night
    Union Jack
    Pete Wisdom

  • Pachanga323

    The as-of-yet unfinished series by JMS, The Twelve, has a great premise and could make for interesting TV…

  • Rogerio1408

    Black Widow, please!

  • Wojr

    What about The Pulse? Reporters in a world of superheroics

  • Artattack00

    How about , Moon Knoght, Rom, Strikeforce Morituri,

  • Jlmcyr

    Alpha Flight would be awesome.

  • NS317453

    Daredevil is perfect for TV.

    Effects/cost wise: His powers aren't overly flashy, minus some good stunt work. Most of his villains aren't overly powered either.

    As for the story, with his darker and more realistic corner of the Marvel U, a show like this could be a cross between Smallville and The Shield. If done right, serial killers like Bullseye, criminal leaders like the Kingpin, rapists/killers like the Purple Man, etc… It could be hit with older audiences. Of course, it would need a later airtime and a more daring company, like FX or HBO to really run with the ball.

  • Gambit

    RUNAWAYS!!!!!!!!

  • Richjb77

    damage control…comedy…no laugh track…

  • Erik

    Agreed. Most of the characters have relativley mellow powers, so it would be relativley cheap too.

  • Ahab

    Alpha Flight – definitely

  • http://twitter.com/crestmere J. A. Crestmere

    So your picks are a guy who fights Nazi vampires and a lot of properties that are disturbingly close to shows that are already on the air?

  • Ittousagi

    Exactly. Daredevil should never have been made into a film because he's too complex a concept to encapsulate within 2 hours.

    And if they leaned toward the trained-by-Stick background instead of the science-defying radioactive-enhanced super-senses they kept playing with in the film, it could bring a great sense of reality and keep production costs waaay down.

    If they wanted to introduce the superpowered set, they could include visits by Danny Rand, Luke Cage, and maybe even Steve Rogers. But not Galactus, et al.

  • http://twitter.com/T_Lawson Trey Lawson

    Moon Knight would be perfect for a tv series.

  • Philosophermax

    I would love to see Devil Dinosaur and Moonboy as an animated series for all ages…although some parents would probably protest anything with “Devil” in the title.

  • Supergirl's Pal

    I would love to see a live action She-Hulk TV series, but please use an actress to play Shulkie instead of a CGI model.

    A Spider-Girl series from the MC2 universe would be cool, but I like your idea of a Black Widow series also. Casting an actual Russian actress would be a plus.

  • Brian from Canada

    An X-show wouldn't work because references counter the movies' contract. This would have to be something completely separate.

    Hence why I think characters that could work include Moon Knight, Werewolf By Night, Power Pack, Cloak & Dagger, Master Of Kung-Fu, or Heroes For Hire.

    To me, Heroes For Hire would work best because it requires the least amount of special effects and is more human interaction-based. It would have a nice soap opera-like romance on top of the action. And they could spin Shang Chi off it easily enough.

  • Mike

    Law and Order + The Shield + Smallville = DAREDEVIL!

  • SC

    I think that Power Pack would make a better animated show; you don't have to worry about the kids aging.

    The rest are good choices, though. I'd add Daredevil, which would make a great TV series; it's got legal/police drama, the villains are mainly street-level and would require minimal special effects, etc.

  • Cho-od

    the Starjammers…X-men meets Firefly.

  • Todd

    I think Power Pack would be perfect as a Disney Channel TV series. Strikeforce Morituri would make a great TV series. I think a Daily Bugle series could definitely work as Marvel/Disney's answer to Smallville. I would definitely try to recruit Paul Dini and Bruce Timm to develop animated programming.

  • Bruce_F

    How about a S.H.I.E.L.D. TV show? There's lots of possibilities there – Maria Hill, LMD's, Sharon Carter, Leonard Samson, Both Black Widows, Jimmy Woo, Dum-Dum Dugan, and almost anyone ever affiliated with the agency.

  • demoncat_4

    definitly would love to see cloak and dagger for those two would work as another buddy film. plus spider woman would also work like black widow. since no one has her film rights . and the hulk would be better on tv though if that happen would mean red hulk.or better tv would work well for the defenders to get some loving. and also would save some work on doing a separate doctor strange and hulk shows though think the studioes only own the movie rights not the tv rights .

  • demoncat_4

    Rom Marvel can no do for they do not own the rights to the character. and strike force morituri was for a while being developed for the sci fi channel.

  • dumbsaint

    Hercules w/ Cho would be awesome for TV.

  • Powervolume46

    Daredevil is the perfect property for television: it melds a lawyer series/soap opera with martial arts-based ass-kicking.

  • NickPheas

    Who the heck is Sentinel?

  • NickPheas

    “So your picks are a guy who fights Nazi vampires and a lot of properties that are disturbingly close to shows that are already on the air? “

    That does seem to be how TV works

    (sorry, can't work out how the Reply works)

  • Alex H

    I'd agree with Daredevil, but I'd make sure to go out of my way to make sure it was good and not just a tie in.

    Also, I'd say that pretty much any of Marvel's lower selling critically acclaimed ongoings could easily work as TV series:

    X-factor, Immortal Iron Fist, Captain Britain, Guardians of the Galaxy (possibly animated?)

    Hercules should really be in there, but runs the slight risk of looking like the tacky sort of 'ancient hero is alive now!' sort of thing when there is no context for it.

    What I'd really like to see Marvel do is have the TV series' be part of Marvel's film continuity, so as to lay the groundwork for characters that might turn up later in the avengers.

    Also – animated Nextwave anyone?

  • Servando Gomez

    Of the list, only Union Jack stood out to me. he should be more famous in comics.

  • stevelabny

    Power Man / Iron Fist, Runaways and Cloak & Dagger have all been mentioned. But the most obvious live-action Marvel hero is…

    Wonder Man

    With all the filming you can do on the backlot/studio without actually having to worry about sets? Cost efficient and easy to understand.

  • Christian

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentinel_%28comic_…

    Sean McKeever and Udon from 2002, i really liked it

    From Wikipedia

    Sentinel is the story of Juston Seyfert, a normal human teenager tormented by the seniors at Antigo High School in Wisconsin. He is dirt poor and lives in his father's junkyard with his little brother named Chris; their mother walked out years ago. Being poor, Juston must find his own fun, and spends the days playing in the salvage yard. He finds the remains of a giant robot programmed to exterminate mutants: a Sentinel. Rebuilding and reprogramming the Sentinel, Juston attempts to give himself a better life while avoiding the government agents that are quickly following his trail. After the CSA discovers his big secret, Juston decides to run away and use the Sentinel's DNA Detection skills in looking for his long-lost mother

  • Mark_whittington0607

    Why should a UJ series have to feature a yank. Surely Marvels TV dept could co-produce with the BBC and keep the national identity of the character intact?

  • Stannish

    The Pulse!!! – would be perfect

    Punisher
    Daredevil (if they can get the rights)
    Moon Knight
    Heroes For Hire
    Black Panther
    – or all of the above in a Marvel Knights format?!

    all would need an HBO style budget/production and all would be teen+ or however you age rate things in the states.

    for the family audience is trickier…
    Howard the Duck – would be awesome although i'm sure it would bomb like the movie…
    Runaways – should work need good kid actors though

    mostly they should concentrate on animation though ( a la the excellent Spectacular Spidey)
    where the budgets don't have to be so outrageous to get over standard comic book action – some more teen orientated cartoons would work too (would love to see a long running X-Men cartoon that could get as grim as the books).

  • redvector

    I wouldn't be surprised if Fox decided themselves to move Daredevil to TV rather than as a feature film. But they may only be limited to movies not TV. If that's the case Fox could partner with Marvel's TV divison to get a Daredevil show on the air.

  • Dmgallagher

    Runaways and NYX would both make for great live-action shows.

    You could possibly do a good live-action show based on The Hood, too, sticking more closely to BKV's original than Bendis' integration.

    Nova, if done in a big sci-fi epic sort of way, could work as well.

  • Ozymandas

    The general idea of Machine Teen has been seen on TV a few times already; I forget what those shows were called. For Black Widow we've had, as mentioned, Alias & several versions of Nikita (one upcoming). Any comics-to-TV projects should offer something new that can't be done with original characters, IMHO.

  • Ozymandas

    The general idea of Machine Teen has been seen on TV a few times already; I forget what those shows were called. For Black Widow we've had, as mentioned, Alias & several versions of Nikita (one upcoming). Any comics-to-TV projects should offer something new that can't be done with original characters, IMHO.

  • Mwedmer

    DareDevil should be the first one they adapt.
    The show should be a cross between L.A.LAW or the Practice with a good mix of The Shield and 24.
    The effects would be the most cost friendly out of any of their properties. You could guest Star Black Widow AND the Heroes for Hire and lay the groundwork for a spinoff series.
    The show could fit primetime Network TV just like 24 did, or it could hit USA or FX.

    I would start there and then start bringing out more characters with powers.
    Also, They could once the character is established on TV and has an Audience, could bring out Theatrical release films of him to better success.

    Doctor Strange would be good also. but he needs to be modernized into something like the Dresden files meets Warehouse 13.

    The Pulse would be good to develop the greater Marvel Universe.

    Lets not forget the cosmic stuff either.
    Silver Surfer vould be Interesting. So could Guardians of the galaxy. Both can be made on a TV budget.

  • Mwedmer

    Machine Teen has been done already. Its called Kyle XY
    Punisher would not work on TV. The character is a cold blooded killer with very little humanity. the audiance would not be able to realate enough to him.
    Runaways could work well. Just adapt the comic exactly.

    Regarding MASTER OF KUNG FU; MARVEL, I know your reading this so pay close attention and do as I recommend.

    Hire Tony Jaa to direct, Choriagraph, and star in the film. He's the best Martial Artist working in film today. He showcases multiple styles including weapons based ones, and the action would be very dynamic. Just watch Ong Bak 2 for proof. He wrote, Directed, choriagraphed and starred in it.
    and it rocked. He is ripe for a Big Budget film.

  • Red

    Yeah essentially but not necessarily a adaption of that story as the rights to some characters are likely not available to Marvel.

  • I_Captain Blanco

    True. And that way, if it got canceled prematurely, it would even be true to the source material! :)

  • Stannish

    Totally agree with you about Tony Jaa being a good shout for Master Of Kung Fu – although i would much rather see an Iron Fist movie or show.

    As for Punisher – why not? In as far as he's a “cold blooded killer with very little humanity”, that hardly stopped the comic being successful. I could point to Dexter as being a show that succeeds on those terms. I mean i get your point but at the same time if you play up his backing cast (microchip, the cops that hunt him, etc) and make him a fugitive on a mission style character why would that not work?

Newer Comments →
 

Recent Articles

Disney Reverses Merida Makeover, But Still Seems to Miss the Point  
  •  

Disney Reverses Merida Makeover, But Still Seems to Miss the Point

Saturday, May 18th, 2013
Animation, Movies
Three Great Young-Adult Novels <br />That Should Become Films  
  •  

Three Great Young-Adult Novels
That Should Become Films

Friday, May 17th, 2013
Movies
Samuel L. Jackson Teams With <br />Hailee Steinfeld in <i>Barely Lethal</i>  
  •  

Samuel L. Jackson Teams With
Hailee Steinfeld in Barely Lethal

Friday, May 17th, 2013
Movies
Whedon Confirms Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver are in <I>Avengers 2</i>  
  •  

Whedon Confirms Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver are in Avengers 2

Friday, May 17th, 2013
Comics, Movies
Syfy Renews <i>Warehouse 13</i> <br />For Fifth and Final Season  
  •  

Syfy Renews Warehouse 13
For Fifth and Final Season

Friday, May 17th, 2013
Television

Contributors

Kevin Melrose

TJ Dietsch

Terri Schwartz

Katie Calautti

Keri Luna

Anna Pinkert

Kiel Phegley