# which Marvel comic character's story would make the best movie? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 23, 1999, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-marvel-comic-characters-story-would-make-the-best-movie/17108 "1999-11-23T23:03:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 1999, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-marvel-comic-characters-story-would-make-the-best-movie/17108/1 "1999-11-23T23:03:00Z")
I just read that Sony is about ready to buy the movie rights for “Daredevil”. The article said that these studios have Marvel comic character movie rights: Sony: Daredevil, Spiderman, Dr. Strange Fox: Fantastic Four, X-Men, Silver Surfer. Which one do you think would make the best movie? I personally think that to bring in the crowds the Fantastic Four would be the best bet. Spiderman, while being the most interesting character, has a lack of “superpowers” and doesn’t lend himself to extraordinary special effects. I don’t think that a movie based on comic book superheroes would be very “character-driven”, which is why I’m nominating the Fantastic Four. P.S. I’m sure you all know that the project of James Cameron as director for the Spiderman movie is no longer in existence. * * * La franchise ne consiste pas à dire tout ce que l’on pense, mais à penser tout ce que l’on dit. H. de Livry ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 1999, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-marvel-comic-characters-story-would-make-the-best-movie/17108/2 "1999-11-23T23:13:00Z")
One of the late made-for-TV movies in the _Incredible Hulk_ series featured Daredevil. They actually stayed pretty true-to-the-original with this character, compared to other Marvel characters they brought in. (They had to tone Thor’s powers WAY down for the same reason they toned the Hulk down – 'cause if they didn’t he could just drop an apartment building on the bad guys and end the episode in 10 minutes.) ---
**Author:** ![SoulFrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 1999, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-marvel-comic-characters-story-would-make-the-best-movie/17108/3 "1999-11-23T23:20:00Z")
Out of the ones you listed, I think that FF would be the best. If ANY Marvel Character could be chosen, I’d choose (and I’m sure that I’m alone in this) a movie about Illyana Rasputin (Majik). They’d slaughter her storyline, but at least they could put in special effects galore… -David ---
**Author:** ![metroshane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@metroshane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/metroshane)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 1999, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-marvel-comic-characters-story-would-make-the-best-movie/17108/4 "1999-11-23T23:20:00Z")
how 'bout christopher reeves as the whell chair bound leader of the xmen, i forget his name. * * * We live in an age that reads to much to be wise, and thinks too much to be beautiful–Oscar Wilde ---
**Author:** ![SoulFrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 1999, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-marvel-comic-characters-story-would-make-the-best-movie/17108/5 "1999-11-23T23:29:00Z")
One selling point for an X-Men movie would be that pretty much EVERYBODY who starred on ST:TNG would be almost perfect as an X-Man. Xavier: Patrick Stewart Bishop: Micheal Dorn Psylocke: Mirina Sirtis Iceman: Brent Spiner Beast: Jonathan Frakes (pushing it a little…but at least he wouldn’t have to shave) etc, etc, etc. -David \*who could barely remember their names! Imagine that! \* ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 1999, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-marvel-comic-characters-story-would-make-the-best-movie/17108/6 "1999-11-24T00:15:00Z")
I’d love to see a character-driven adaptation of about any of the solo heroes (Spidey, Surfer, Doc Strange, or Daredevil), but as you say, it won’t bring in the bucks. I’ve been pretty X-Men-ed out in the past few years (Kitty Pride rules!), so I’d prefer not to ever see a life-action X-Men film. I guess FF is the best bet for an action flick. -andros- ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 1999, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-marvel-comic-characters-story-would-make-the-best-movie/17108/7 "1999-11-24T00:22:00Z")
By the way, **andros** , I didn’t mention this (because I thought it was common knowledge), but a film version of the X-Men is due for release next year. [X-Men: The Movie](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0120903) cast as listed on imdb: Patrick Stewart … Professor Charles Xavier/Professor X Ian McKellen … Eric Magnus Lehnsherr Famke Janssen … Jean Grey James Marsden … Scott Summers/Cyclops Hugh Jackman … Logan/Wolverine Tyler Mane … Victor Creed/Sabretooth Anna Paquin … Rogue Halle Berry … Ororo Munroe/Storm Rebecca Romijn-Stamos … Raven Darkholme/Mystique ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 1999, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-marvel-comic-characters-story-would-make-the-best-movie/17108/8 "1999-11-24T00:35:00Z")
Oh, I know, Jacques. I’m just not planning on seeing it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![RTA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@RTA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTA)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 1999, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-marvel-comic-characters-story-would-make-the-best-movie/17108/9 "1999-11-24T00:37:00Z")
The _Kitty Pryde and Wolverine_ limited series, which takes place in Japan, would make the best Marvel movie if shot as-is. Does anyone besides me remember this as one of Marvel’s best stories ever? ---
**Author:** ![hansel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@hansel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hansel)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 1999, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-marvel-comic-characters-story-would-make-the-best-movie/17108/10 "1999-11-24T00:46:00Z")
Kitty Pryde and Wolverine was a good series, and has enough integrity as a story to make a good movie. I’m holding out for Harvey Keitel to play Wolverine: he’s short and cranky, and has the right voice. From the list in the OP, I think a Daredevil movie could be fantastic if a director was found who’s just this side of Tim Burton (the director of Seven, f’rinstance). Frank Miller’s Elektra Lives Again would make a good movie, if the short haired woman from the Matrix could be cast as Elektra. I can’t even imagine how bad a Fantastic Four movie would be. It was tripe forty years ago, and age hasn’t improved it at all. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 1999, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-marvel-comic-characters-story-would-make-the-best-movie/17108/11 "1999-11-24T01:55:00Z")
I vaugely remember they DID make a Fantastic Four movie, a low-budget project that was never released. Saw stills from it in some cinema magazine. My vote for which character would make the best movie would be the Silver Surfer, only that would mean dragging in the FF. Darn, they’ve done so many bad or so-so adaptations of Marvel heroes already at one time or another: FF, Spider Man, Hulk, Dr. Strange. Did they do Iron Man, or am I thinking of another direct-to-video movie with the same basic plot (techno-wizard builds powered exoskeleton to kick butt)? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 1999, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-marvel-comic-characters-story-would-make-the-best-movie/17108/12 "1999-11-24T02:30:00Z")
Lumpy, I saw the stills of the shelved FF movie too, in ‘Film Threat’. Looked kinda cheesy. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 1999, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-marvel-comic-characters-story-would-make-the-best-movie/17108/13 "1999-11-24T04:31:00Z")
Lumpy - don’t forget Captain America. Gods the costume looked cheesy… * * * ‘They couldn’t hit an Elephant from this dist…!’ Last words of General John Sedgwick ---
**Author:** ![\_00\_The\_Fool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/ed655f/32.png) [@\_00\_The\_Fool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_00_The_Fool)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 1999, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-marvel-comic-characters-story-would-make-the-best-movie/17108/14 "1999-11-24T06:11:00Z")
Darkhawk. The first few issues were just meant to be filmed. * * * “Oh we were brought up on the Space-Race, now they expect us to clean toilets. When you have seen how big the world is how can you make do with this?” Pulp, “Glory Days” ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 1999, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-marvel-comic-characters-story-would-make-the-best-movie/17108/15 "1999-11-24T06:40:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Psylocke: Mirina Sirtis No way! Look , it’s confusing enough that Psylocke is a British former New Mutant with psychokinetic powers who was somehow “transformed” into an Asian ninja by Mandarin. Now you’re gonna give the role to a pseudo-zaftig Greek actress? Oy. And Data is too old to be Iceman. I say minimize the Star Trek influence as much as possible. Good advice for day-to-day life too. ## Although Scotty could play The Blob. Back off, man. I’m a scientist. ---
**Author:** ![Neobican](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Neobican](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neobican)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 1999, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-marvel-comic-characters-story-would-make-the-best-movie/17108/16 "1999-11-24T07:44:00Z")
Arnold Winkelried: > [@](#): > > Spiderman, while being the most interesting character, has a lack of “superpowers” and doesn’t lend himself to extraordinary special effects. Say what? Have you ever read a Spiderman book? Spiderman lacks nothing, he has plenty of “superpowers” that would be most challenging to create with effects. Strength: Spiderman is said to have to proportionate strength of a spider, he can lift 10 tons. Speed/Agility: Same deal here. He is among the fastest there is, remember the Matrix? Fast enough to dodge bullets. His agility is far better than the most prominent gymnast, as he is able to balance on wires, make 40 foot leaps, and perform more flips and twists in one jump than can be seen in an Olympic competition. Powers: So there is no special effect for Spider-sense, but he does stick to walls. How about that webbing? Swinging 30 stories high seems demamding to me. My vote goes to a Spiderman movie, and I believe out of all the heroes you mentioned, Spiderman will take top at the box office. ---
**Author:** ![Sake\_Samurai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sake\_Samurai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sake_Samurai)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 1999, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-marvel-comic-characters-story-would-make-the-best-movie/17108/17 "1999-11-24T08:13:00Z")
I’m holding out for the Watchmen movie. Maynard from Tool could play that weird blue guy perfectly. * * * Hell is Other People. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 1999, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-marvel-comic-characters-story-would-make-the-best-movie/17108/18 "1999-11-24T12:40:00Z")
Are we tied to marvel? I always thought Neil Gaimans “Sandman” would make a great series of movies…great reading…no superpowers though. * * * If you can’t convince them, confuse them. Harry S. Truman ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_North](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Peter\_North](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_North)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 1999, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-marvel-comic-characters-story-would-make-the-best-movie/17108/19 "1999-11-24T15:31:00Z")
Famke Janssen Halle Berry Rebecca Romijn-Stamos Wow, there’s three great reasons to see X-Men. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 1999, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-marvel-comic-characters-story-would-make-the-best-movie/17108/20 "1999-11-24T17:51:00Z")
**Neobican** , your comments are well taken. But you’ve got to admit that Spiderman’s powers aren’t as “flashy” as those of the Fantastic Four. I remember telling my ex-girlfriend “The spiderman movie might finally be made!” Her answer was “Spiderman sucks. He can’t fly like superman and he doesn’t have a car or a plane like Batman.” Not my opinion, but maybe other people think that way? As far as comic book plot lines: I’m sure any Hollywood movie would come up with its own screenplay that would be unrelated to any previous storyline. And I’m going to disagree with **hansel** that the FF is “tripe.” I loved reading about their fights with Dr. Doom. * * * La franchise ne consiste pas à dire tout ce que l’on pense, mais à penser tout ce que l’on dit. H. de Livry [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-marvel-comic-characters-story-would-make-the-best-movie/17108.md?page=2)