Non-Marvel and DC Comic Books on Film

[SpiderBaby]

Nicolas Winding Refn should make a Punisher movie, only if under Marvel.

[flyonthewall2983]

It would probably never happen, but David Fincher would be a good choice as well. On one of the special features on the Blu-ray for Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, he talked about how he feels about portraying vengeance on screen. He used Alex Murphy's death in RoboCop as an example of how he believes it should be done. That it's important to feel the pain as it were, so that later when the hero gets their comeuppance it's that much more cathartic for the audience.

Since you brought up Marvel, it kind of depresses me now that I remembered Disney has their deal with them. Which means the movie I pitched would likely never get made.

[SpiderBaby]

Yeah, a PG-13 Punisher film doesn't sound right (assuming that is what a Marvel/Disney production would do). But Fincher would be another good choice.

[flyonthewall2983]

An R wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility, but I'd imagine it would be a tame R at best. The idea for it we've been kind of drooling over would certainly be a much harsher R if that makes any sense.

[SpiderBaby]

Makes sense.

[dx23]

Does Disney allow R rated films? They used to have Miramax for that but now that they are gone I don't remember Disney releasing R films through any of their sister companies. Punisher would have to a hard R to truly work.

[cdnchris]

They released plenty through Touchstone and Hollywood Pictures (Shoot to Kill, The Rock, Stakeout, Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Color of Money, Miracle at St. Anna, etc.)

[dx23]

Had completely forgotten about that. So an R Punisher from Marvel wouldn't be out of the question. I like the 70's story idea but Marvel wouldn't probably do it just because they want to keep their characters in the same era.

[Cold Bishop]

I thought it was pretty well known that, after the original film was such a disappointment (not just financially, but to Jane, artistically), he approached Walter Hill with the specific purpose of doing a Hard-R Taxi Driver influenced take on the material. They went even as far as giving a presentation to the studio, but Lionsgate kiboshed it.

Too bad Jane and Hill likely had a falling out over the Headshot screwjob; it's right up both their alleys. Wayne Kramer, perhaps (if he can keep the technological gimmickry in check)?

[ianungstad]

Unless plans have changed, there are plans to launch Punisher as a basic cable series.

[Mr Sausage]

I thought it was pretty well known that, after the original film was such a disappointment (not just financially, but to Jane, artistically), he approached Walter Hill with the specific purpose of doing a Hard-R Taxi Driver influenced take on the material. They went even as far as giving a presentation to the studio, but Lionsgate kiboshed it.

Yet for some reason Lionsgate gave the go-ahead for a very hard-R sequel, Punisher: Warzone.

[Cold Bishop]

It's must understanding that Lexi Alexander had a hell of a time getting that film made, and there were many compromises before it made it (barely) to the screen. I know the soundtrack alone was the source of much controversy: Anderson wanted a full orchestral soundtrack; Lionsgate wanted wall-to-wall Modern Rock, something they could market as a CD. That pretty much sums up the different headspaces between creative talent and brass on the project.

I'm guessing there were fine with the over-the-top non-stop action. It's the nuance, ambiguity and focus on character drama (if you believe Jane) that probably gave them cold feet.

[SpiderBaby]

I must say, there are a few things I love with P:WZ. I always disliked the trench coat look, and always saw the character Frank Castle like he was ready for war (to the point of obsession with weaponry), so the mercenary look I loved so much from that film (and hope any future film/T.V. version follows that). I already praised the art direction of the film and the comic book neon colors. The casting of Ray Stevenson, who looked like the perfect Castle. The problem is, you have to love Jane's passion for the character and only hope he returns.

[dx23]

Unless plans have changed, there are plans to launch Punisher as a basic cable series.

Plans have changed as the Punisher was not picked up by Fox. The rumor mill about the TV show started again because of the Jane short film above, but so far no network has picked the series. I'm glad Fox didn't pick up the series because it would not work unless it is shown on AMC, HBO, Showtime or FX.

[Cold Bishop]

I must say, there are a few things I love with P:WZ.

It definitely doesn't quash my theory that more masculine genres could use female filmmakers.

[flyonthewall2983]

I know the soundtrack alone was the source of much controversy: Anderson wanted a full orchestral soundtrack; Lionsgate wanted wall-to-wall Modern Rock, something they could market as a CD.

Considering this is like 4-5 years ago and well after the Pandora's box of downloading music free online, this is almost comical to think that a studio still sees as a marketing tool.

[Mr Sausage]

I must say, there are a few things I love with P:WZ.

It definitely doesn't quash my theory that more masculine genres could use female filmmakers.

From what I understand, director Lexi Alexander is a karate champion and former stunt woman, so it seems she has the sensibility for it.

[flyonthewall2983]

I'm glad Fox didn't pick up the series because it would not work unless it is shown on AMC, HBO, Showtime or FX.

AMC would probably fumble the ball with it, HBO would just pass it on to Cinemax, and Showtime would let it run too long. FX would be a better fit if you consider the kind of areas they went with The Shield and more recently American Horror Story. Plus they kind of have a niche for the kind of macho material The Punisher represents.

[dx23]

I'm glad Fox didn't pick up the series because it would not work unless it is shown on AMC, HBO, Showtime or FX.

AMC would probably fumble the ball with it, HBO would just pass it on to Cinemax, and Showtime would let it run too long. FX would be a better fit if you consider the kind of areas they went with The Shield and more recently American Horror Story. Plus they kind of have a niche for the kind of macho material The Punisher represents.

Starz could also do it since they have a relationship with Disney and like doing violent series.

[dx23]

Marvel confirmed on Monday that Joss Whedon is returning to direct Avengers 2and will do some Marvel related TV show. I'm glad he is returning but I fear that film will be completely overcrowded with characters. This will also be the end of what Marvel calls Phase 2. As for the TV show, I wouldn't be surprised to see a minor character on a series that will be tied with the Marvel films.

[feihong]

They should Peter Jackson this stuff up. Just make 6 hours of movie and cut it into two 3-hour features, and have Avengers 2 and 3 tell two halves of the same story. Then they can manage the large cast and some excitement, to boot.

With Thanos as the implied villain, I imagine the Guardians of the Galaxy will travel from their movie and appear in the Avengers sequel.

[mfunk9786]

I wonder if there'll ever be an end to the popularity of these superhero films. You can only make the same fucking movie over and over again so many times, right?

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

It depends because you could say the same about the comic books, right? Batman has been around for seventy-three years and there's been no end to the comics. If it makes money, after all. The stories aren't always the same story and the movies don't have to be the same movie. Not that too many executives in charge seem to care. A better question is why people in your estimation seem to want to watch the same movie?

[Siddon]

I don't see comic book films coming to an end anytime soon. I think the critical and commercial success of Amazing Spider-man and X-men First Class demonstrated that you can reset these films and the audiences will come back which tells me that the sub-genre has a versatility that other popular sub-genres don't have. I also don't understand why people would be upset about these films, they are lets face it a level ahead of the typical summer blockbusters.

[flyonthewall2983]

It's definitely a better wealth of source material, as opposed to a board game or amusement park ride.

This bit from an interview with David Cronenberg and Robert Pattinson talking about Cosmopolis has been getting some attention. I respect Cronenberg, and he has a fair point at the end, which I think is directed at the uber-fanboys but I don't think he's seeing the forest from the trees on this subject.

David, you've done drama and horror. Some fairly formidable directors have branched out into superhero movies pretty beautifully —is that something you would consider doing?

DC: I don't think they are making them an elevated art form. I think it's still Batman running around in a stupid cape. I just don't think it's elevated. Christopher Nolan's best movie is "Memento," and that is an interesting movie. I don't think his Batman movies are half as interesting though they're 20 million times the expense. What he is doing is some very interesting technical stuff, which, you know, he's shooting IMAX and in 3-D. That's really tricky and difficult to do. I read about it in "American Cinematography Magazine," and technically, that's all very interesting. The movie, to me, they're mostly boring.

Do you think the subject matter prohibits the elevated art form?

DC: Absolutely. Anybody who works in the studio system has got 20 studio people sitting on his head at every moment, and they have no respect, and there's no…it doesn't matter how successful you've been. And obviously Nolan has been very successful. He's got a lot of power, relatively speaking. But he doesn't really have power.

So that's a no.

DC: I would say that's a no, you know. And the problem is you gotta… as I say, you can do some interesting, maybe unexpected things. And certainly, I've made the horror films and people say, "Can you make a horror film also an art film?" And I would say, "Yeah, I think you can."

But a superhero movie, by definition, you know, it's comic book. It's for kids. It's adolescent in its core. That has always been its appeal, and I think people who are saying, you know, "Dark Knight Rises" is, you know, supreme cinema art," I don't think they know what the f**k they're talking about.