Friday ’s spill ofAnt - Manis expected to be another succeeder history for Marvel Studios , which broke primer with 2008’sIron Manand afterwards released10hits in a row . moneyed with confidence , they ’ve been able to introduce Norse gods , talking raccoons , and a petite Paul Rudd agitate a microscopic war on offence .
But Marvel did n’t always get their way . Take a look at eight projects that never managed to come to fruition .
1. Quentin Tarantino’sLuke Cage
Despite being a longtime mirthful book fan , Quentin Tarantino seldom tackle graphic novel adaptations ; the closemouthed he has come to the superhero human beings is manoeuver a segment ofSin Cityin 2005 . But decent after 1992’sReservoir Dogsput him on the mathematical function , he was offered a chance to direct a film base on Luke Cage , a crime fighter with impervious skin created in response to the “ blaxploitation ” films of the 1970s . “ AfterReservoir Dogs , I had consider doing aLuke Cage , Hero for Hiremovie , ” hetoldMTV back in 2012 . “ I talked to [ Laurence Fishburne ] about being Luke Cage , and he really liked that idea . ” Tarantino finish up makingPulp Fictioninstead ; Luke Cage is fix to appear in his own Netflix series in 2016 .
2.Silver Surfer(With a Score by Paul McCartney)
Sean Howe
Of the chiliad of Marvel character that could have been select for cinematic adoption in the eighties , the Silver Surfer was one of the least likely prospect . Chrome - skinned , he spends his daytime flee through galaxies and find exotic races . Despite the hope of overtax a limited burden work party and budget , producer Lee Kramertriedhis best to get a moving-picture show going in 1980 . He envisioned a sprawling space larger-than-life on par with2001 , set to a rock soundtrack . Kramer even sentSilver Surfercomics to Paul McCartney , whose managerrepliedthat the singer was interested in providing some of the medicine . Unable to chance backers for his $ 25 million tube dream , Kramer never got beyond the concept art ( above ) level . The character did n’t seem in live action until the 2007Fantastic Foursequel , where he was voiced by Laurence Fishburne .
3.X-Men Origins: Magneto
After three successfulX - Menmovies , Fox want to pursue some solo ventures . X - Men Origins : Wolverinemade it to screen in 2009 , but a interchangeable project featuring adversary Magneto did n’t follow as planned . designate toexplorethe scoundrel ’s plastic years in World War II and his hunt for a Nazi Dr. , some of the plot point ended up beingusedin 2011’sX - Men : First Class . That became a pearl of contention forMagnetoscreenwriter Sheldon Turner : agree toThe Hollywood Reporter , heturnedto the Writers Guild of America for receive a level credit for the material .
4.Namor, the Sub-Mariner
One of the medium ’s oldest submarine — he first appear in the October 1939 issue ofMarvel Comics#1 — Namor was another character reference lame by the overactive imaginations of his creators . Ruling the seas requires wide shot on or near water , which almost always proves to be disastrous for filmmakers . Still , Philip Kaufman wanted to give it a scene . The managing director behindThe Right StuffandQuillstoldEntertainment Weeklyin 2000 thatNamorwas on his to - do list . “ I wish the estimate of the ‘ retribution of the thick , ' ” he enounce , “ how we [ mistreat ] the sea and treat everything so badly and that down there is some footling cat with wings on his base who ’s gon na come up and stomp some [ butt ] . ” As of 2014,legal complicationswith the character and his film right have prevented Marvel from stick in him into their current releases .
5.She-Hulk
Marvel
Bruce Banner ’s cousin never made an appearance on Bill Bixby ’s lively - action series , but that did n’t imply she was n’t being woo . In the early nineties , Marvel made an fast-growing attack to findfundingfor aShe - Hulkfilm starring 6’1 ” Brigitte Nielsen , best have it off at the time as Ivan Drago ’s wife in 1984’sRocky IV . Larry Cohen , who directed the killer - baby repugnance filmIt ’s Alive , was approached to indite it . The companionship arranged for a promotional photo shoot , but it was n’t enough to garner interest group .
6.Dazzler
A disco - get laid mutant who canconvertmusic into colorful ( or unsafe ) prism of igniter , Dazzler made her first comic strip appearance in 1979 ; Marvel go for they might be able-bodied to work with a record caller to produce tie - in euphony . That did n’t pan out , but in the course of trying to negotiate a deal , editor program - in - chieftain Jim Shooter cease upwritinga feature motion picture treatment . Bo Derek expressed interest in the part , at which dot the premise morphed into the character having the Wonder Woman - esque king of hale mass to tell the accuracy . Daryl Hannah afterward agreed to star in the film , but Dazzler ’s expiration day of the month was too closely tie to disco ’s . ( Her redemption may come in the form of 2016’sX - Men : Revelation , whichtakes placein the 1980s . )
7.Morbius, the Living Vampire
Marvel character tend to comply a formula : flawed human becomes powerful , juggles exterior terror with relatable upcountry problems . Little of that was on display in Marvel ’s repugnance comics of the 1970s , which included a graphic symbol call Morbius , a doc who contracted vampirism via a science lab stroke need bats and electroshock therapy therapy . ( If you’re able to relate , please write us . ) When Marvelsigneda carry on with Artisan Entertainment in 2000 , Morbius was expected to be one of the projects . But both the company and contracted screenwriter , Michael France , give him upin favor of go after what would become 2004’sThe Punisher .
8. Tobe Hooper’sSpider-Man
Midnight Madness
While James Cameron is the name oft affiliate with endeavor to make aSpider - Manfeature prior to Sam Raimi ’s 2002 film , he was n’t the only one : Tobe Hooper , who directed 1974’sThe Texas Chainsaw Massacre , was once set to take on a modestly - budgeted adaption for Cannon Films . Accordingto Joseph Zito , who was working with Cannon at the time , executives wanted to approach the comic as a kind of monster movie , with an eight - limbed Peter Parker struggling with his grievous transformation . After subsequent drafts exhibit a better understanding of the eccentric , Cannon hop-skip to muster in Tom Cruise for the confidential information . regrettably , the company was experiencing fiscal problems . They sold Spider - Man ’s film rights in a fire sale in 1990 .
