Last month I posted an article about some Marvel characters who I would like to see turned into Netflix shows. Marvel has already announced Daredevil, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, and Jessica Jones shows, which will culminate in a Defenders mini-series. Marvel has stated that their goal is to tell grittier, darker, and more adult stories with their street level characters, and to show the darker side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In my article, I said that I think the Punisher, Ghost Rider, Blade, and Man-Thing would be perfect characters for this format. Welcome to my second article on the subject, these are characters who I think would be perfect for the Marvel/Netflix universe.
Moon Knight- Moon Knight would be a difficult character to put in a film, and have it be family friendly. I know what you're saying, "the Batman movies were PG-13 and they were good!" Well, that's my point. You can't do a family friendly Moon Knight movie without it being a rip-off of Batman. Let's face it, Moon Knight is basically Batman. The only way to differentiate the character from the Dark Knight would be to tell the darker, more adult Moon Knight stories. Anybody who has read the Charlie Huston/David Finch comics knows that they would be difficult to translate to the screen and still be family friendly. So the Netflix format works perfectly for the character. Not only can you have more graphic violence, but you can also explore the darker themes of the Moon Knight character. You can show his internal struggle to be a hero and his relationship with Khonshu and have it be a mystery as to whether Khonshu is real, or just one of his personalities. There are some great stories to be told with Moon Knight, and Netflix is the perfect place to tell them.
Howard the Duck- It's no secret that Marvel is extremely successful right now. They could make a Howard the Duck movie, and it would probably be successful. But I don't know if that's the right route to go with the character. Like I said, Marvel can pretty much do whatever they want, but I don't see them doing an R-rated film anytime soon. And that's the way I think a Howard the Duck adaptation should be. The character is crass and crude, and you really can't do it justice in a family friendly film. Yes, I know the early comics were toned down and were able to be read by kids, but read some of the Punisher's early comics, they're toned down, too. And yes, I know that any character COULD work as a PG-13 film, but that doesn't necessarily mean they SHOULD be PG-13. Punisher, Howard the Duck, Deadpool..., they all could be in a lighter film, but I'd rather see them adapted as they are in the comics. I want a Punisher film/tv show to be dark and violent, a Deadpool film to be funny and foul, and a Howard the Duck film/series to be crass and crude. Just watch the movie Ted and tell me that wouldn't be the perfect tone for a Howard the Duck series. The show could almost be like a sitcom, and they could get away with a lot more because it's on Netflix. By the way, I'm NOT saying that Captain America or Iron Man should appear in the show, and be treated as comedy because it's a sitcom. Keep the heroes separate and serious. But, Marvel has established that Howard exists in this universe, and if they intend on doing more with the character, I think that this would be the perfect way to go.
Hulk- I know what you're saying. "What about another Hulk movie?!" That's what I want, too. Believe me, I've wanted a Hulk sequel ever since the Incredible Hulk came out. And they could do still do it, even if this show is made. So hear me out.
I'm sure a lot of you have seen the Incredible Hulk tv show from the late 70's-early 80's. It starred Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno, and was a fantastic take on the character. In fact, the Ed Norton film took inspiration from the show, utilizing the brilliant 'man on the run' format. And that's what I'm proposing for this series. Now, I know that everyone says that this will ruin the continuity of the movies, but it wouldn't have to. It could take place before the Incredible Hulk film, and show his adventures that were hinted at in the opening credits. The television format worked so well for the Hulk in the past, I would love to see it done again and set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
So those are some of the Marvel/Netflix shows I would like to see. The format is fantastic and I can't wait to see what they have in store for us!
Thanks for reading!