Comic book movies are all the rage now. While some superhero fatigue may be setting in, that hasn’t stopped studios from going all in on the genre. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is more significant than any franchise, and the DC Extended Universe is rebooting and already has an eight to 10-year plan for the franchise. Even beyond that, comic-based movies are here to stay.
As such, many comic book characters have been adapted to the big screen (or the small screen in a few cases). Even ones that no one would expect, such as M.O.D.O.K. or Steppenwolf, have been brought to life in various ways. Nevertheless, with the growing interest in continuing to develop comic-centered features, there are plenty of movies to be made. Which characters should be adapted for these comic book movies? Read through our choices below and let us know your picks.
Comic Book Movies: Nova Project Coming Soon?
Nova is one major character that Marvel Studios has yet to touch. They introduced the Nova Corps in Guardians of the Galaxy, but Richard Rider’s nor Sam Alexander’s Nova has shown up. That being said, a Nova project is allegedly in the works. However, some Marvel projects have gotten scrapped. It’s unclear what the future of Nova is, but he deserves a movie of his own.
A Good Green Lantern Film
The Ryan Reynolds-led Green Lantern film is pretty bad. It barely qualifies as a movie for Green Lantern because of its reputation among comic book lovers. Perhaps it’s not Hal Jordan’s Green Lantern that gets a movie this time. There are plenty of interesting Green Lanterns out there- including Jon Stewart. Making a good Green Lantern movie led by Jon Stewart should be a significant priority for Gunn’s DCEU.
Could The Lobo Rumors Be True?
Lobo has been rumored to be coming to the big screen for a while now, but nothing concrete. Jason Momoa is a popular fancast for the role despite already being Aquaman. Nevertheless, one of DC’s most brutal characters needs his time in the limelight. After Deadpool, Logan, and Joker proved that studios could make ultra-violent superhero movies, Lobo should have been next in line. Perhaps he will eventually get a movie because he absolutely deserves it.
Silver Surfer Comic Book Movies Would Be Excellent
Silver Surfer is one of the most interesting comic book characters out there. Despite that, he’s only been featured in one of the countless Marvel movies to date. He’s often seen only as Galactus’ Herald, but there’s much more to him. He has an exciting backstory, extraordinary powers, and much to bring to the table. Comic book movies exploring his life and his origin story would probably be outstanding.
The Bat Family Needs More Focus
There have been precious few sightings of the Bat Family on-screen. A few members have been seen in movies like Batman & Robin, but that’s not enough attention to some of the most iconic DC characters. Whether as a team movie or several individual comic book movies, the various Robins (Tim Drake, Damian Wayne, Jason Todd, Dick Grayson) and their other superhero names (Nightwing, Red Hood, etc.) need to be on-screen.
Additionally, so does Batgirl. The canceled Batgirl film, which DC called “unreleasable,” was almost finished but will never see the light of day. That should be released, or a new one should be made. Batgirl shouldn’t waste away in the archives of DC Studios.
Why Isn’t Gambit In Any Comic Book Movies?
Gambit was almost a film. It reportedly starred Channing Tatum before being canceled. Tatum has been outspoken about how heartbreaking that cancelation was. Despite their already being a vast X-Men universe, Gambit has never even shown up.
There have been numerous X-Men films about different characters, and Gambit hasn’t even been mentioned by anyone. The MCU is adapting X-Men into their universe at some point (Ms. Marvel is confirmed to be a mutant in that universe already, and a variant Professor X showed up), so they need to bring Gambit to life. Tatum may have missed his chance. Nevertheless, someone should play him in live-action.
If Blue Beetle Is Coming, Why Not Booster Gold?
Blue Beetle is coming out in theaters this August. With that happening, there’s no reason a Booster Gold movie can’t come out next. Booster Gold and Blue Beetle have formed one of the most hilarious and iconic duos in DC Comics, so it would be an absolute shame not to adapt that to the big screen. James Gunn’s propensity for comedy and absurdity in his films means that not using Booster Gold would waste his skills. He would fit right in with a Gunn film, so there’s no reason it shouldn’t be considered.
Martian Manhunter Needs To Come To A Real Film
Whether or not anyone likes Zack Snyder‘s original vision for the DC Universe, no one can deny that he had a lot of ideas. He planted seeds in many of his films, some of which came to fruition in his non-canon Justice League from 2021. One such seed was the appearance of the Martian Manhunter. He was a character in Man of Steel but didn’t appear as his alien self until ZSJL.
One of the most powerful and exciting characters in DC needs to have a movie sooner or later. If Gunn wants to lead up to a Justice League team-up movie, then he needs to include Martian Manhunter. He’s an integral part of any Justice League team. He is also a character many DC fans have been dying to see.
There have been plenty of comic book movies over the years, and they all feature quite a few comic book characters. Still, there are vast universes out there that haven’t been explored and tons of excellent characters just dying to be put in their own major project. These characters would be a perfect place to start.