It's no small irony that at the same time WB's studio execs had given up on the comic book movie genre due to Batman's demise, the movie that quietly started this comic book movie renaissance was Blade, a surprisingly popular film produced by WB's own New Line division based on a property owned by Marvel Comics. These execs have been blasted for not being able to do what Marvel (and other studios) have. Here WB is sitting on the rights to the characters that popularized the genre and they can't seem to get it right.
When I saw Kevin Costner FLYING through the ocean in Waterworld, I thought, "THAT'S how Aquaman should swim!" What worries me now is
that any Aquaman project would look too much like Namor, which is already in development.
Green Lantern is rumored to be in the works with Adam Sandler in the title role, but I can't help drawing immediate comparisons to The Mask.
Wonder Woman is taking longer to get to the screen than Spider-Man, but for completely different reasons. Last I heard they still didn't have a script everyone (IE - informal corporate focus groups) liked.
The Flash was going to get the Smallville treatment this fall as a college student with the power of superspeed (including the ability to time travel), but the pilot was canned.
Captain Marvel is in development at New Line, though. I've got high hopes for the studio that brought us that fantasy trilogy the last couple years. But again, I'm worried a kickass SHAZAM! will only be perceived as a Superman knockoff.
(And don't get me going on the Superman franchise.
There's not enough web space...)
I want to be the Avi Arad of DC Comics, dammit!
