First Film :
DARKWING RISES
Drake Mallard is an arrogant wise-duck living in St. Canard who flunks his college courses, is unable to hold onto a job or relationship, and is prone to shooting his beak off and getting into fist-fights, losing more than he wins.
Drake is in love with Morgana, a vivacious and resourceful duck who is a fellow student and who fancies herself an investigative reporter. She has a knack for solving problems with things made from everyday materials, and is as tough as she is graceful. Although she has much affection for Drake, she sees him as an immature rascal with nothing to offer her.
Drake's father, Professor Mel Mallard, is an eminent scientist currently working on an anti-gravity beam-cannon known as the Ramrod, along with his assistant, a misanthropic rat named Dr. Elmo Sputterspark, under the direction of his mentor, Professor Horace Waddlemeyer.
The project is funded by Taurus Bulba, a Spanish bull who is a media-mogul, real-estate tycoon, and major defense contractor, and who also is a leader of the criminal underworld specializing in extortion, murder, racketeering, counterfeiting, smuggling, bribery, and piracy, unbeknownst to the general public.
Bulba is preparing a hostile takeover of McDuck Enterprises, a global banking firm founded and led by Bulba's former associate, Scottish born Scrooge McDuck, an increasingly reclusive billionaire living in the coastal city of Duckburg. Bulba is planning to use the Ramrod to infiltrate Scrooge's vast monetary holdings, weakening his position in order to take control of McDuck Enterprises. Professor Mallard uncovers evidence of this, and notifies Professor Waddlemeyer. However, both ducks are betrayed by Dr. Sputterspark, who is on Bulba's payroll, and targeted for assassination by Hammerhead Hannigan, a goat who is Bulba's personal enforcer. Waddlemeyer is able to escape to Duckburg with his newly hatched granddaughter Gosalyn while his home is ambushed, and Mel Mallard is able to buy Waddlemeyer some time by fighting off Bulba's goons and Dr. Sputterspark. Mallard sacrifices his life attempting to destroy the Ramrod, electrocuting and seriously injuring Dr. Sputterspark in the process. Sputterspark is able to survive by infusing his body with electronic circuitry, a process that drives him insane, and he adopts the alias of Megavolt, feeling megomaniacal and using his newfound powers to embark on a series of robberies.
Although not aware of the whole story surrounding his father's death, but knowing that Megavolt was involved, Drake, enraged and devastated, leaves school and sets out to avenge his father, challenging Megavolt time and again, attempting to stop his reign of larceny, yet each encounter ends in humiliating defeat for Drake. Megavolt, meanwhile is brought back into the fold by Bulba, and the two are able to salvage enough of the Ramrod to enable it to cause serious havoc, but are missing key pieces of the formula that only Professor Waddlemeyer possesses. As time is running out before his deal with Scrooge, Bulba sends Megavolt to Duckburg to embark on a crime spree destabilizing Scrooge's business interests and to look for Waddlemeyer.
Morgana and Drake soon discover that Bulba is responsible for Professor Mallard's death, and are pursued by Hannigan across the country, evading danger and battling Bulba's goons at every turn. Meanwhile, Professor Waddlemeyer, who is being hidden by Scrooge, is able to reach Drake by secret code, and summons him to Duckburg. Scrooge, realizing the damage he has inflicted throughout his life due to his corporate pillaging and plundering, is driven by a sudden and urgent desire to atone. He provides Dr. Waddlemeyer and a young McDuck Enterprises science intern and chicken named Gyro Gearloose with unlimited monetary resources to create weaponry and vehicles in order to combat Megavolt, including the Thunderquack, a stealth fighter jet, and the Ratcatcher, a motorcycle. He takes on the guise of "The Masked Mallard", and aided by his strong, brave and kind-hearted, yet clumsy and accident-prone pilot, bodyguard, and right-hand duck Launchpad McQuack, begins to oppose Megavolt and Bulba's minions. However, being far past his prime, Scrooge is unable to turn the tide of Megavolt's wave of crime, leading Waddlemeyer and Gearloose to develop an invincible robotic suit for him, although when it is completed Scrooge has already lost the fight. The device, known as the "Gizmosuit" is then discovered by Scrooge's brilliant but scatter-brained and meek young accountant, Fenton Crackshell.
By the time Drake and Morgana arrive in Duckburg, much of Scrooge's empire has been destroyed. The battles have taken a huge toll on McDuck, and he devotes his remaining energy to Drake, whom he sees as equally eager to beat back Bulba and Megavolt as he is. Gearloose tutors Drake in technological matters while Launchpad trains Drake in hand to hand combat, and the two develop a mutual respect and admiration for one another, as well as a tendency to bicker and one-up each other. On Scrooge's deathbed, he bequeaths a sizeable chunk of his fortune to Drake, asks him to take up the mantle of The Masked Mallard, and orders Launchpad to assist Drake in every possible way to rid the world of crime and evil.
By the denouement, a newly mature but no less cocky Drake has defeated Bulba and Megavolt, won Morgana's love, avenged his father, changed the name of his alter ego to Darkwing Duck (the name Masked Mallard being too much a giveaway to his actual identity of Drake Mallard), discovers his purpose, and triumphantly returns to St. Canard as it's guardian and protector. The adventure begins.............
Second Film:
DARKWING RETURNS
Picking up a few years after the first film, Darkwing has made a name for himself in St. Canard. The inheritance he has received from the late Scrooge McDuck has allowed Drake to focus solely on crime-fighting, his egotistical and self-righteous personality unlikely to well serve him in the workplace anyway. He has a base of operations in the tower of the Audubon Bay Bridge from which he monitors the city, as well as a house in the suburbs that he shares with Launchpad McQuack, the two often bickering like an old married couple.
Darkwing's hands are full dealing with a never-ending rogues gallery, the most pressing villains currently being Quackerjack, a deranged prankster terrorizing the city, and Moliarty, a mole who has taken over the remnants of Taurus Bulba's criminal rackets which he oversees from his underground lair. Darkwing is usually successful in his pursuit of criminals and is loved by the public, and himself.
After being ambushed by government agents, as a test of his abilities, Darkwing is recruited into S.H.U.S.H., a secretive international espionage and law-enforcement agency overseen by Director J. Gander Hooter, an owl, and Vladimir Goudenov Gryzzlikof, a gruff and combative Russian bear and S.H.U.S.H.'s Deputy Director, whom Darkwing suspects of being a traitor, a suspicion Gryzzlikoff reciprocates. Hooter informs Darkwing that intelligence chatter indicates that F.O.W.L, a global terrorist organization masterminded by Phineas Sharp, a British vulture rarely seen or heard, is in the midst of planning something major.
Coincidentally, Drake Mallard's old friend Professor Waddlemeyer, who is still living in Duckburg, has been at work on the Tronsplitter, a device which can separate, duplicate, reduce or enhance negatrons and positrons. His home laboratory is raided by agents of F.OW.L., led by Steelbeak, a sinister rooster with a metal mouth. Waddlemeyer is killed trying to prevent his machine from being stolen, but with his dying breaths, he tells his now pre-teen granddaughter Gosalyn to seek out Drake Mallard / Darkwing. Evading and out-witting agents of F.O.W.L. who are pursuing her, the spunky and precocious Gosalyn stows away on a train and travels east, showing up at the home of Drake Mallard and Launchpad.
Devastated by the death of his old friend, Drake agrees to lodge Gosalyn and protect her until other accommodations can be made. The two soon clash, as Gosalyn, a gifted archer, stows away on Darkwing's dangerous missions, craving to be part of the action and preoccupied with vengeance (much as young Drake was), while Darkwing is not pleased at the interruptions to his routine. Gosalyn finds a more supportive ally in Launchpad, himself a big kid at heart.
While Darkwing and Launchpad investigate F.O.W.L.'s fiendish plans with the Tronsplitter, an assignment that takes them to Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean, Darkwing finds himself becoming entangled with Dr. Sarah Bellum, an enigmatic scientist working for S.H.U.S.H., his old flame Morgana having abruptly and unexpectedly long ago left him to travel the world. But the closer he gets to Bellum, the less sure he is that she can be trusted.
Eventually F.O.W.L.'s plot is uncovered. They are using the Tronsplitter to create mass lawlessness by accentuating the malice inside everyone, and replacing world leaders with evil duplicates under their control.
Steelbeak is assisted in this operation by Dr. Reginald Bushroot, a once promising scientist and expert on DNA who many years ago accidently transformed himself into a half-plant, half-duck monstrosity by injecting himself with plant DNA while experimenting with photosynthesis. A decent duck slowly being driven mad by his condition, he is black-mailed into participating in F.O.W.L.'s global domination scheme with the promise of an antidote.
Throughout the course of the adventure, Drake and Gosalyn grow fond of one another, and Drake's selfishness begins to lessen as he decides to adopt her, seeing her as a kindred spirit.
Although victorious against F.O.W.L. in the end, during the climactic battle as the Tronsplitter is destroyed, Darkwing is severely wounded, and when he comes to, he realizes the full extent of the price he has paid. Weakened, and not fully himself, he learns he is about to go up against his most challenging adversary yet. One who knows all his tricks. His every strength, his every weakness, his every secret. Himself..........
Third Film:
DARKWING : SHADOW OF THE DUCK
Beginning immediately where the previous film left off, Darkwing Duck/Drake Mallard is recovering from injuries sustained during his vanquishing of F.O.W.L. and the destruction of the Tronsplitter, a device which during the final battle against Steelbeak created an evil duplicate of Darkwing known as Negaduck. His toughness and tenacity having been extracted during the creation of Negaduck, Darkwing is now a quivering coward, sickly and unsure of himself, and he retreats into exile, no longer feeling obligated to defend St. Canard.
Negaduck, passing himself off as Darkwing, uses his knowledge of law enforcement and security to render the St. Canard police useless, and he is able to wreak havoc on St. Canard, blackening Darkwing's once hallowed reputation. He destroys all bridges leading into and out of the city, and springs loose from jail many of the criminals which Darkwing had previously put away, including Quakerjack, Bushroot, Moliarty, and the Liquidator, AKA Bud Flood, a corrupt former businessdog known for his commercials who after being kicked into a vat of his own toxic water-supply by Darkwing, is able to transform his body into liquid because of his altered molecular structure.
As St. Canard becomes a virtual no-ducks land governed by thieves, gangsters, and mad scientists united under Negaduck's leadership who are holding the citizenry hostage for billions, and the real Darkwing is nowhere to be found, Fenton Crackshell, always secretly envious and resentful of his friend Drake Mallard's abilities and popularity, sees this as his golden opportunity. The Gizmosuit, developed years earlier by his best friend Gyro Gearloose and the late Professor Horrace Waddlemeyer, has been languishing in Crackshell's closet for many years, Duckburg being a virtual utopia with no need for superheros, thanks to improvements made and programs put in place by Scrooge McDuck during his efforts to find redemption late in life. Crackshell and Gearloose are able to activate the Gizmosuit, and christening himself Gizmoduck, Crackshell heads to St. Canard seeking glory.
Launchpad, Gosalyn, and Morgana (who has returned to St. Canard after several years away to be with DW in his time of need) each plead with a newly humbled Drake Mallard to rejoin the fray, while many other forces descend on St. Canard, including the army, S.H.U.S.H. (now under the leadership of Darkwing's old rival Grizzlykoff), the remnants of F.O.W.L., and even Gosalyn herself, under the guise of Quiverwing Quack, a costumed archer. However, while all of these characters join the battle, each with their own agenda, only one knows Negaduck well enough and is best equipped to take him on. But the question remains, will he?.......
CAST:
Darkwing / Drake Mallard / Negaduck: Jake Gyllenhaal or Christian Bale
Obviously all the characters are getting sexed up, and many of the classic superhero motifs will be parodied. Gyllenhaal was being forever included on shortlists for the lead in almost every comic book movie made within the last decade. He has the right combination of goofiness and and hunkiness to hang the franchise on. Christian Bale is maybe a little too obvious, but he's definitely got the voice and the bravado, and would be able to go to the dark side when inhabiting the duel rule of Darkwing and Negaduck.
Launchpad McQuack : Hugh Jackman or Robert Downey Jr.
I see the dynamic between Darkwing and Launchpad similar to Holmes and Watson in the Holmes reboot, two people who can't stand one another but are unable to function apart, with slight gay undertones used to comedic effect. Both Jackman and Downey are multi-talented and excel at action and comedy, and both could convincingly put across the lovable heroic dimness that made Launchpad iconic to millions.
Scrooge McDuck : Michael Caine or Ian McKellen
Not as cuddly as Uncle Scrooge on DuckTales, here is much colder, almost sinister.
Morgana : Anne Hathaway or Keira Knightley
It might be wise to do away with the more occult aspects of the character, seeing as how they raised controversy on more than one occasion. I did come up with a back-story with Morgana being the daughter of Magica de Spell.
Gizmoduck / Fenton Crackshell: James Franco or Orlando Bloom
Gosalyn Waddlemeyer-Mallard : Ellen Page or Abigail Breslin
Gyro Gearloose: Joseph Gordon-Levitt or James McAvoy
Professor Mel Mallard : Jeff Bridges or William Hurt
Professor Horace Waddlemeyer : Jim Broadbent or Tom Wilkinson
Dr. Sarah Bellum : Natalie Portman or Emily Blunt
J. Gander Hooter : Ben Kingsley or John Hurt
Vladimir Goudenov Gryzzlikoff : Michael Clarke Duncan or John Turturro
President Gladstone Gander : James Cromwell or Kelsey Grammer
Admiral Grimitz : Jon Voight or Nick Nolte
Duckworth : Patrick Stewart or Christopher Plummer
Taurus Bulba : Javier Bardem or Andy Garcia
Megavolt / Dr. Elmo Sputterspark : Bill Murray or John Malkovich
Hammerhead Hannigan : Benicio Del Toro or Mickey Rourke
Steelbeak : Alec Baldwin or Josh Brolin
Dr. Reginald Bushroot : Christopher Walken or Steve Buscemi
Quackerjack : James Woods or Tim Roth
The Liquidator / Bud Flood : Willem Dafoe or Ed Harris
Moliarty : Bob Hoskins or Paul Giamatti
Phineas Sharp : Christopher Lee or Clive Owen