'Martain Manhunter' spin off to replace 'Smallville' ???

[CFE]

http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/691603/Is_Martian_Manhunter_Replacing_Superman.html

Is 'Martian Manhunter' Replacing Superman?
Posted by Joseph Baxter - Tuesday, December 09, 2008 12:18 PM

As some may have heard, a spinoff to the CW's Smallville starring Justice League founding member, John Jones aka: Martian Manhunter (Phil Morris) is set to happen. However, the spinoff may actually end up being the original's replacement. It's possible that despite a successful eighth season, Smallville may be a wrap by the season's end. It seems that Superman himself, Tom Welling's contract is coming up soon and the show (which has been on since 2001) may be growing a bit weary.

So, exactly what would a Martian Manhunter show bring to the CW? The network has made no secret of its desire to maintain a "tenny-bopper" theme among its shows, (even going so far as letting go of its highest-rated show, WWE Smackdown.) So what would a show about a middle-aged guy who is actually in disguise from his real form of a green-skinned alien? He has basically all of Superman's powers, but has fire as a weakness (Fire is a pretty rough weakness to have. I would take kryptonite, personally.) Is this fitting of a show on "the Gossip Girl network?"

It will be interesting to see whether or not CW closes the books on Smallville, and exactly how they are going to approach this new show. Will the Justice League ever come to full fruition? Is the "CW DC-verse" going to remain separate from the "Movie DC-verse?"

Thoughts?

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[Lord Blackbolt]

they will probably turn him into a teenager for the spin-off

 

[Wesley Dodds]

I supose thats the beauty part of this show... Everytime it gets stale they can just recast the actor and have him move to another town.

 

[Lighthouse]

I like Martian Manhunter, and the character as portrayed on Smallville, but I'm gonna be honest....I don't think CW is ever going to have a successful DC franchise after Smallville. I think between the movie division's restrictions, and CW's ideas for spinoffs, they just aren't going to catch the same thing they had with Smallville. Frankly the other heroes just don't have the mythic status Superman does. Superman is now up on the same levels of cultural myths, like Hercules, Sinbad, and Robin Hood. One of Smallville's greatest features is watching this boy grow up to become something thats truly legendary. Except for Batman, no other DC hero has reached that status, not even Wonder Woman. And since a Batman TV series is not an option, I just don't think CW can pull it off, especially when they thought a pre-Robin TV series was a good idea.

 

[Sawyer]

Phil Morris or nothing. If they attempt to recast, I'll lose interest.

 

[haephestus]

Vaguely interesting, but not sure it will happen within the current Smallville continuity.

Unless they decide to give Martian Manhunter a teenage son and daughter who each inherit some of his abilities and have to secretly use their powers while trying to find hot dates to the next school dance. Or perhaps they'll do a "Miss Martian" spin-off with the white martian super-hero chick.

Irrespective of the possible Bat-restrictions, I'm surprised that given CW's demographic they haven't considered a teenage Barbara Gordon spin-off. They could start off with the death of Bab's parents and she moves to Gotham to live with her uncle Jim (Gordon). Her first big "mystery/mission" is finding out who killed her parents and she uses Uncle Jim's home computer to increase her sleuth skills. They could basically make it a comic-book version of Veronica Mars with Barbara being a junior detective of sorts who is especially talented with computers (as a hint to her later role as Oracle).

Throw in Dick Grayson as a love interest at her high school and it could have real potential. Or if Robin is off-limits (which the demise of The Graysons spin-off suggests), then perhaps they could have another Batverse connection, such as Lady Shiva teaching the local self-defence/martial arts classes that Bab's attends? Or even a teenage Harley Quinn as Bab's crazy "best friend".

Cheers.

 

[Serene]

We need to back this up a bit.

The G4 article claims that the MM series is "set to happen." Really? Aside from this seeming throw-off and JOKE of a comment by Swimmer in the recent TV Guide interview, I haven't seen a single confirmation about an MM series being a done deal.

If negotiations fail for a ninth season, Swimmer suggests a Smallville
spin-off starring Phil Morris (John Jones aka Martian Manhunter), who
next appears January 22. Cracks the producer: "A Martian Manhunter
Variety Hour might be fun!"

Am I the only one who thinks Swimmer was JUST JOKING AROUND? It's amazing how literally this quote has been taken and is showing up all over the place as gospel.

 

[Lighthouse]

As much as I like Hartley as Green Arrow, I don't think a series with him would survive either. I just don't see CW viewers being drawn in by GA story, nor would I see them being interested in Supergirl. They would have to come up with a really killer concept to get people to watch the show. Just having GA or Supergirl isn't enough.

 

[Sam Fisher]

They should have stuck with Auqaman.

 

[X-Maniac]

I don't think a spin-off is 'set to happen' at all, like the report at the top states. Swimmer merely mentioned the idea that he'd like a Martian Manhunter spin-off.

I reported it on my blog as follows

SMALLVILLE could be forced to end because of 'actor availability' issues with Tom Welling, according to one of the show's executive producers.

The show reimagines the younger years of Clark Kent before he became Superman, with 31-year-old Welling in the lead role.

Kryptonsite reports that executive produce Darren Swimmer told TV Guide that although the show is enjoying a ratings rebound in its eighth season, it may have to end in May because of actor availability problems, notably with Welling. There was no response to calls to the actor's agents.

A grand finale for the show is being prepared in the event that it is finishing for good. Lex Luthor actor Michael Rosenbaum has already left, as has Kristin Kreuk who played Lana Lang. Lex's father Lionel (John Glover) was killed off and Clark's mother (Annette O'Toole) was written out some time ago.

We are unlikely to see Welling (pictured right) don the classic Superman costume for Smallville's final scenes because it would conflict with the big-screen franchise, according to Swimmer. But viewers will see Clark developing the classic dual identity in episodes later this series.

Swimmer suggests that if the ninth season is scrapped and the show ends, one alternative might be a Martian Manhunter spin-off featuring the superpowered supporting character played in the show by Phil Morris (pictured below left).

The news obviously leads to questions over why Welling is unavailable. Is he simply moving on or does he have some other role lined up?

There have been calls - and petitions - to see Welling appear as Superman on the big screen. Could it be possible that he is a contender for a movie version of Superman - either in the proposed Man of Steel movie (which will be a reintroduction, not a sequel to Bryan Singer's Superman Returns) or in George Miller's proposed Justice League team-up film?

A Superman actor would also be required for the Clark Kent cameo planned for the Green Lantern movie, which starts filming next year, although such a cameo wouldn't create a long-term availability problem.

http://blogs.coventrytelegraph.net/thegeekfiles/2008/12/smallville-prepares-to-finish.html
http://www.kryptonsite.com/tvguide-dec08.htm

 

[The Sage]

If the spin-off happens, it can't havethe same teeny-bopper feel.

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/691603/Is_Martian_Manhunter_Replacing_Superman.html



Thoughts?

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2 thoughts:

1) People are taking Swimmer's off hand comments about a MM series WAY too seriously

2) Dont get your news from G4TV (have we forgotten the IESB/Welling in JLA fiasco?)

 

[RakuMon]

For real. If they're basing this off that offhand comment in TV Guide, then what's with all the speculation? Swimmer clearly said it was going to be the Martian Manhunter Variety Hour!

 

[zerohour films]

We are unlikely to see Welling (pictured right) don the classic Superman costume for Smallville's final scenes because it would conflict with the big-screen franchise, according to Swimmer. But viewers will see Clark developing the classic dual identity in episodes later this series.

If this proves true that is a tremendous let down I feel for those of us who have watched this show from the beginning. Sticking with it through the ridiculous times (witches, kryptonite gum) to not get the payoff and see Superman fully realized or at least a glimpse.

With the really good direction that the new powers that be are taking the series hopefully this can be righted.

Also with a new film seemingly very far from reality at this point and the possibility of Smallville ending this season or next I don't see what the issue would be personally.

 

[ZIPBAGS]

Only spinoff I would be interested in...Either a Green Arrow or Justice League one. With guest appearances by Welling.

 

[Lighthouse]

I think its pretty much a guarantee that Justice League live-action show on CW will never, ever happen.

 

[Bruce_Wayne29]

I would prefer a Green Arrow show but I would see it just because of Phil Morris, he is awesome and deserves the break.

 

[StorminNorman]

I think the fact Zantanna is being introduced right after there is news that Tom Welling may not come back is not a coincidence.

Zantanna is the perfect fit for a CW Superhero show. I would want Olly to still be a main character in that show as well. I could even stomach the obvious Zantanna-Oliver-Diana love triangle.

 

[AgentPat]

1) People are taking Swimmer's off hand comments about a MM series WAY too seriously

For real. If they're basing this off that offhand comment in TV Guide, then what's with all the speculation? Swimmer clearly said it was going to be the Martian Manhunter Variety Hour!

Bingo. He was clearly joking.

That said, I'm sure the producers would like some job security should SV end this season, so any attempt to pimp a potential spin-off or new show doesn't surprise me. After all, these are the luminaries that pitched a TV show about sidekick Dick Grayson before he becomes a superhero. *shakes head*

 

[Serene]

Bingo. He was clearly joking.

Hey. I called the emperor has no clothes first.

 

[ariellem]

Aquaman show idea was scrapped (wish it hadn't been; hoping they'll bring it back).
Martian Manhunter show idea: possible. Would be interesting. Morris is great.

If they try to cover all bases, we'll get:
Aquaman + Martian Manhunter = AquaMartian, the tale of Mars' lost Atlantean civilization.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

Ah, so now Martian Manhunter has joined the growing list of Smallville spin-off ideas, surprised it's taken this long actually.

 

[storyteller]

The Cw suffers from trying to cater to teenage boys and girls. And quite frankly, thats not the treatment dc characters need to get unless they were made for it(cought teen titans, legion of superheroes)

 

[Syncos]

The Cw suffers from trying to cater to teenage boys and girls. And quite frankly, thats not the treatment dc characters need to get unless they were made for it(cought teen titans, legion of superheroes)

Actually, I was under the impression that the CW target demographic is women 30-45....

 

[Kaboom]

what i find most humorous is the CWs glaring desire to be "teeny bopper" when all its best series and most loyal fan bases are sci-fi/cultish