MARVEL WHAT-IF: REIMAGINING SEQUELS & FILMS THAT NEVER WERE

[Airwings]

Picking directors is tougher for me than picking actors for the projects.

I can go with fit , i.e. similar styles in genres , but other times ,it's tougher for me since I only know the name of a handful of directors from each decade of the 40s-70s.

Coppola and Batman seemed to fit like a glove for a dark, noir, 70s Batman film. Hitchcock also seemed like a natural for a noir, thriller, mystery- like Batman film in the 50s.

I did a Mike Nichols Spiderman based film , based off of his handling of The Graduate . Since the Spiderman film was more of a dramedy with some action elements in it, I felt Nichols at that time(1966), could deal really well with Peter's bad luck with women, his struggle with balancing school, work, and being a superhero, etc.

I could see Nichols handling that type of film better than an action director from around that same time period.

Hammer productions also seemed like natural fit for a 70s era Blade film with Richard Roundtree , given their classic horror catalog and reputation.

In Secret Wars's case, I wanted to use some of the top talent who could handle sci-fi, drama, with humorous and human emotions, in addition to delving into the psyche of these larger than life characters.

So I went with Kurshner as the director, Nicholas Meyer who wrote and directed The Seven Percent Solution as one of the writers, and I went with Puzo who wrote the Godfather films and Superman films, to be the co writer. I imagine that the studio would have gone with the top hot talent of the late 70s.

I agree , the director is important. Unfortunately, my knowledge of directors, writers, and producers is shallow at best during the post war through late 70s era. I'm much better from the 80s to today.

You present good points!

I like especially a certain section of your long reply. It kinda makes me drool a little:

"Coppola and Batman seemed to fit like a glove for a dark, noir, 70s Batman film.
Hitchcock also seemed like a natural for a noir, thriller, mystery- like Batman film in the 50s."

Because those guys, along with David Fincher and a few others, are often thought of as fans' dream directors for Batman.
And it can still happen in theory, except for Hitchcock.

Wouldn't you say this goes for Stone and Cap too?
Not saying it's fans' dream director for the hero, but he still would have fit the character like a glove. Atleast between 1986 and mid 90s.

 

[Frodo]

You present good points!

I like especially a certain section of your long reply. It kinda makes me drool a little:

"Coppola and Batman seemed to fit like a glove for a dark, noir, 70s Batman film.
Hitchcock also seemed like a natural for a noir, thriller, mystery- like Batman film in the 50s."

Because those guys, along with David Fincher and a few others, are often thought of as fans' dream directors for Batman.
And it can still happen in theory, except for Hitchcock.

Wouldn't you say this goes for Stone and Cap too?
Not saying it's fans' dream director for the hero, but he still would have fit the character like a glove. Atleast between 1986 and mid 90s.

Oh yeah, I think Stone could make a great Captain America film. I especially would have liked to have seen his Winter Solider film.

You look at a film like JFK , he can handle the twists and turns and whos who quality of CATWS.

Additionally his films like The Doors, JFK, Nixon, all have this certain look and coloring to them that reminds me of Alex Ross's work.

 

[Frodo]

Actor James Daughton of Animal House looks like he could have played several different Marvel Heroes from Thor, to Cap, to Cyclops.

All in all, I think I'd chose him for Thor. While he does have that Steve Rogers look and build, I prefer Redford since he fits all the criteria I would want in a 70s era Cap.

Plus, Daugton reminds me of Hemisworth in terms of look and the fact that he can blend humor with his performance .

Also , I think a 70s era Tim Matheson would have made a hysterical Deadpool

 

[Airwings]

Oh yeah, I think Stone could make a great Captain America film. I especially would have liked to have seen his Winter Solider film.

You look at a film like JFK , he can handle the twists and turns and whos who quality of CATWS.

Additionally his films like The Doors, JFK, Nixon, all have this certain look and coloring to them that reminds me of Alex Ross's work.

Stone tends to get political in some films. JFK is a brick stone of a film in that sense.
This could give an extra layer to his Cap

Platoon and Born on the 4th of July are war themed, and show the negative backside of war. Cap is a WW2 hero. There is a connection there.
With Stone at the helm, Steve Rogers might not be the glorious leading man all through. He could oppose the system.
In a more violent way than MCU' seccond Cap film (Winter Soldier) ever did.

Then we have Natural Born Killers which is a bit more comic book-y, but in a darker sense.

The sum is that this could end up a really serious Cap film. And the world wasn't ready for that 30 years ago.

 

[Frodo]

Stone tends to get political in some films. JFK is a brick stone of a film in that sense.
This could give an extra layer to his Cap

Platoon and Born on the 4th of July are war themed, and show the negative backside of war. Cap is a WW2 hero. There is a connection there.
With Stone at the helm, Steve Rogers might not be the glorious leading man all through. He could oppose the system.
In a more violent way than MCU' seccond Cap film (Winter Soldier) ever did.

Then we have Natural Born Killers which is a bit more comic book-y, but in a darker sense.

The sum is that this could end up a really serious Cap film. And the world wasn't ready for that 30 years ago.

I definitely feel Stone would have dealt with the question of what it means to be a patriot and to be patriotic .

CATWS dealt with that concept as well, but I think Stone would have gone even deeper than CATWS did.

I think he'd go deep on that, and if anything, I think Cap would be the character he would be drawn to the most of all the MCU characters. I think it would have provided him alot more to chew on in terms of being in his wheel house than say a character like Spiderman, Punisher, or Hulk.

 

[Airwings]

I definitely feel Stone would have dealt with the question of what it means to be a patriot and to be patriotic .

CATWS dealt with that concept as well, but I think Stone would have gone even deeper than CATWS did.

I think he'd go deep on that, and if anything, I think Cap would be the character he would be drawn to the most of all the MCU characters. I think it would have provided him alot more to chew on in terms of being in his wheel house than say a character like Spiderman, Punisher, or Hulk.

I've been thinking in a similar way for more than a decade. Now reading your post, I'm really feeling Stone's Cap in my body, wishing it could have happened.
Maybe I would give away all of MCU, erease it from history, just to have Cap done by Stone.

It would be a whole different, and better, film than if someone like Spielberg would do it. His "classic" style is more glossy.
Stone's Cap would hit us at the bones.
The only other superhero film that could be compared with it would be Batman Begins.
And 2009's Watchmen if it isn't about typical Marvel/DC characters.
This is the kind of Cap we would get, albeit with much less night-time scenes.
(Not even Ang Lee's Hulk went THAT deep, from what my memory tells me).

But I also think Stone could have done Punisher quite well. There's more to the character than only the vendetta mission.

 

[Frodo]

X FACTOR (1978)
Director: Richard Donner

Wolverine : Clint Eastwood

Cyclops : Jeff Bridges

Angel : Ryan O' Neal

Iceman : Dennis Quaid

Beast : Richard Dreyfuss

Nightcrawler : Michael York

Colossus : Arnold Schwarzenegger

Jean Grey : Katherine Ross

Storm : Pam Grier

 

[Frodo]

THE FANTASTIC FOUR! In Technicolor (1954)

Sue Storm: Grace Kelly

Johnny Storm : James Dean

Reed Richards : Robert Stack

The Thing :Ernest Borgnine

Alicia Masters : Debbie Reynolds

Namor : Jack Palance

Doctor Doom: Christopher Lee

The Fantastick Launch site

The Fantastick

Outer Space

The Baxter Building

Interior design of the Apartment level of the Baxter Building

The Baxter Complex street level , Daytime

Latveria , Doctor Doom's Castle

Doom's Castle side view

Doctor Doom's Throne Room

Namor's Kingdom

H.E.R.B.I.E craft capable of Land, Air, and Underwater travel

Pre Transformation Astronaut design

Basic Team Suit Design

Mr. Fantastic

Human Torch in Flame on Mode

The Thing

Doctor Doom Latveria Ruler Look

Namor Look

 

[Peyton Westlake]

I always thought , since Marvel are big budget & big name movies, you have to go for the best in casting.
I would shoot for the moon for a few characters who have not made an appearance in the MCU yet.
And a big & integral character to the upcoming MCU (Reed Richards) needs a big name star.
My personal dream wish would be casting George as Reed.
Would be a slam dunk in my opinion.

 

[Frodo]

I think Clooney would have (and still could depending on how old they want the team to be) a great Reed Richards . He's only a few years older than Downey , so they're of the same generation and could be contemporaries.

I think that role would be a much better fit with his personality than Batman was.

 

[Frodo]

X FACTOR (1978)
Director: Richard Donner

Wolverine : Clint Eastwood

Cyclops : Jeff Bridges

Angel : Ryan O' Neal

Iceman : Dennis Quaid

Beast : Richard Dreyfuss

Nightcrawler : Michael York

Colossus : Arnold Schwarzenegger

Jean Grey : Katherine Ross

Storm : Pam Grier

Xavier's school for gifted youth

Xavier classroom

Logan's room

Danger Room with 3D computer simulations

Asteroid Elm

Weapon X Facility

Sentinel Factory

The Blackbird

X Men hovercycle

Mutant Hunting Sentinel

 

[Frodo]

THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN (1958)

Director : Nicholas Ray
Motion Picture soundtrack featuring : The Crickets, Little Richard, The Coasters, Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, Dion and the Belmonts, Fats Domino, Eddie Cochran , Chuck Berry and more!

Spiderman/ Peter Parker : Ricky Nelson

Harry Osborn : Ken Osmond

The Green Goblin / Norman Osborn : William Talman

Gwen Stacy : Tuesday Weld

Flash Thompson : Troy Donahue

Kraven The Hunter : Guy Williams

Doctor Octopus : Theodore Bikel

The Lizard/ Curt Connors : Russell Johnson

Vulture : Peter Cushing

Sandman : John Russell

Aunt May : Clores Leachman

Manhattan Skyline

Oscorp

Green Goblin's High tech Lair with sky light opening

Goblin Lair level two armory

Science lab with radioactive spiders

Wakanden hunting grounds where Doc Ock recruits Kraven

Midtown High School

Peter and May's Forrest Hills home

The Daily Bugle Building

Interior of the Stock Exchange where Spiderman battles the sinister six

George Washington Bridge

Classic Peter Parker look

Spiderman suit

Green Goblin suit

Doc Ock

The Lizard

Kraven The Hunter

Sandman

The Vulture

 

[Frodo]

SPIDER-MAN : THE SERIES (1989-1993)

Produced by James Cameron

Network : Fox TV
Premiere Airdate : Sunday , August 20th 1989
Finale Airdate : Sunday, May 23rd 1993



Spiderman/ Peter Parker : Corey Nemec

Black Cat/ Felicia Hardy : Jeanie Garth

Gwen Stacy : Christine Taylor

Flash Thompson : Mark Paul Gosselaar

Mary Jane Watson : Nikki Cox

Harry Osborn : Brian Austin Green

Aunt May : Sandy Duncan

J.J. Jameson : Dabney Coleman

Robbie Robertson : Robert Guillaume

Notable Guest Stars as recurring villains throughout the series run

Green Goblin/ Norman Osborn: Bruce Greenwood

The Lizard/ Kurt Connors: Anthony Stewart Head

The Vulture : Colm Feore

Doctor Octopus : Bob Gunton

Kraven The Hunter : Tom Selleck

Sandman : Brian Thompson

Hydro -man : Thomas F Wilson

Venom/ Eddie Brock : Martin Cove

Kingpin / Wilson Fisk : Paul Sorvino

The Jackal / Miles Warren : Michael Gross

The Chameleon : Brett Spiner

Mysterio : Christopher Lloyd

The Prowler / Aaron Davis : Rocky Carroll

Electro: Matthew Frewer

The Shocker : Kurtwood Smith

 

[Peyton Westlake]

SPIDER-MAN : THE SERIES (1989-1993)

Produced by James Cameron

Network : Fox TV
Premiere Airdate : Sunday , August 20th 1989
Finale Airdate : Sunday, May 23rd 1993



Spiderman/ Peter Parker : Corey Nemec

Black Cat/ Felicia Hardy : Jeanie Garth

Gwen Stacy : Christine Taylor

Flash Thompson : Mark Paul Gosselaar

Mary Jane Watson : Nikki Cox

Harry Osborn : Brian Austin Green

Aunt May : Sandy Duncan

J.J. Jameson : Dabney Coleman

Robbie Robertson : Robert Guillaume

Notable Guest Stars as recurring villains throughout the series run

Green Goblin/ Norman Osborn: Bruce Greenwood

The Lizard/ Kurt Connors: Anthony Stewart Head

The Vulture : Colm Feore

Doctor Octopus : Bob Gunton

Kraven The Hunter : Tom Selleck

Sandman : Brian Thompson

Hydro -man : Thomas F Wilson

Venom/ Eddie Brock : Martin Cove

Kingpin / Wilson Fisk : Paul Sorvino

The Jackal / Miles Warren : Michael Gross

The Chameleon : Brett Spiner

Mysterio : Christopher Lloyd

The Prowler / Aaron Davis : Rocky Carroll

Electro: Matthew Frewer

The Shocker : Kurtwood Smith

The Fox series idea & cast are pretty good as well.
I think most of the casting ideas are a blast from the past.
Nice stroll down memory lane.
Only thing with all this is, Fox was at its infancy then, so not sure how much money they would have thrown into a series like this.
But since it's a what if scenario, it doesnt matter!

 

[Frodo]

The Fox series idea & cast are pretty good as well.
I think most of the casting ideas are a blast from the past.
Nice stroll down memory lane.
Only thing with all this is, Fox was at its infancy then, so not sure how much money they would have thrown into a series like this.
But since it's a what if scenario, it doesnt matter!

So true . It would probably have to be a syndicated show like the Superboy series was ,and Fox would happen to be one of the networks the series would run on if it really happened. The Fox TV budget of the late 80s and early 90s, not so much.

I consider this casting list a fun a stroll down memory lane of the early 90s TV. Fox on Sunday night's was the best circa the late 80s through the early 90s.

At first I thinking about making it part of TGIF on ABC around the same time, but I figured that a show about a teen angst hero which has both its humorous and more dramatic moments would probably fit better among the shows like Married With Children, 21 Jump Street, Beverly Hills 90210 and The Simpsons than with Step by Step and Family Matters.

 

[Frodo]

LOGAN (1983)
Director : Stanley Kubrick

Logan : Clint Eastwood

X 23 : Soleil Moon Frye

Gabriela : Rachel Ticotin

Charles Xavier : Yul Brynner

Caliban : John Hurt

Donald pierce : Michael Gothard

Dr. Zander Rice : David Warner

 

[Airwings]

SPIDER-MAN : THE SERIES (1989-1993)

Produced by James Cameron

Network : Fox TV
Premiere Airdate : Sunday , August 20th 1989
Finale Airdate : Sunday, May 23rd 1993



Spiderman/ Peter Parker : Corey Nemec

Black Cat/ Felicia Hardy : Jeanie Garth

Gwen Stacy : Christine Taylor

Flash Thompson : Mark Paul Gosselaar

Mary Jane Watson : Nikki Cox

Harry Osborn : Brian Austin Green

Aunt May : Sandy Duncan

J.J. Jameson : Dabney Coleman

Robbie Robertson : Robert Guillaume

Notable Guest Stars as recurring villains throughout the series run

Green Goblin/ Norman Osborn: Bruce Greenwood

The Lizard/ Kurt Connors: Anthony Stewart Head

The Vulture : Colm Feore

Doctor Octopus : Bob Gunton

Kraven The Hunter : Tom Selleck

Sandman : Brian Thompson

Hydro -man : Thomas F Wilson

Venom/ Eddie Brock : Martin Cove

Kingpin / Wilson Fisk : Paul Sorvino

The Jackal / Miles Warren : Michael Gross

The Chameleon : Brett Spiner

Mysterio : Christopher Lloyd

The Prowler / Aaron Davis : Rocky Carroll

Electro: Matthew Frewer

The Shocker : Kurtwood Smith

Oh, Corin as Spidey seems perfect when looking at the gif where he enters a room. I give you 5 stars out of 5.
The Flash Thompson suggestion is good too.

And then there's a TNG actor, I dig it.

 

[Frodo]

Oh, Corin as Spidey seems perfect when looking at the gif where he enters a room. I give you 5 stars out of 5.
The Flash Thompson suggestion is good too.

And then there a TNG actor, I dig it.

Thank you very much ! . Corin just seemed like the perfect fit for a early 90s era Peter. He could play the outsider yet could also be funny and snarky.

I like Glosser as Flash as well. I hesitated at first since he wasn't really the jock type physically, but he could have bulked up a bit and certainly could use his Zack persona except as a popular bully who would be a thorn in Peter's side at school while idolizing Spiderman.

 

[Frodo]

THE MIGHTY AVENGERS (1983-1987)

Saturdays 8-9pm
Premiere Air Date : January 1, 1983
Series Finale Air Date : June 20, 1987




Network: NBC

Sponsored in part by:

Main cast :


Iron Man/ Tony Stark : Tom Selleck

Captain America /Steve Rogers : Jack Coleman

Bruce Banner/ The Hulk : Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno

Hawkeye/ Clint Barton : Marc Singer

Black Widow : Meg Foster

Thor : James Daughton

Namor : Michael Nader

Vision : Peter Weller

Scarlett Witch : Stephanie Zimbalist

Jim Rhodes : Lois Gossett Jr

Pepper Potts : Erin Gray

Edwin Jarvis : John Hillerman

Recurring guest stars

Ant Man : Scott Bakula

The Wasp : Veronica Hamel

Black Panther : Denzel Washington

Quicksilver : Eric Stoltz

She Hulk : Tracy Scoggins

Falcon : Bernie Casey

Nick Fury : George Peppard

 

[Airwings]

Thank you very much ! . Corin just seemed like the perfect fit for a early 90s era Peter. He could play the outsider yet could also be funny and snarky.

He also has the same boyish appearance as Holland.
Maybe he's Tom's father? lol

 

[Frodo]

CAPTAIN AMERICA AND THE MARVELS OF THE UNIVERSE! (1946)
Director : Frank Capra

Captain America / Steve Rogers : Guy Madison

Peggy Carter : Linda Darnell

Red Skull : Conrad Veidt

Baron Zemo : James Mason

Dr. Zola : Peter Lorre

Bucky Barnes : Montgomery Clift

Howard Stark : Clark Gable

Abraham Erskine :Edward Van Sloan

The Black Widow : Ingrid Bergmann

The Wolverine : Humphrey Bogart

The Submariner : Tyrone Power

Doctor Reed Richards : Robert Stack

The Human Torch / Jim Hammond : Van Johnson

Sgt. Nick Fury : John Wayne

Dr. Strange : Vincent Price

Loki : Roddy McDowell

Special Agents Mary and Richard Parker : Donna Reed and Jimmy Stewart

 

[Frodo]

THE PUNISHER (1977)
Director: Martin Scorsese

Punisher/ Frank Castle : Robert DeNiro

Howard Saint : Harold J. Stone

Jigsaw : Jack Nicholson

Bullseye : Harvey Keitel

Frank Castles Mentor and former Boss : Frank Sinatra

Chip : Gene Hackman

Maria Castle : Talia Shire

The Russian : David Prowse

 

[Frodo]

THE TWILIGHT ZONE PRESENTS

THE INCREDIABLE HULK! (1957)
Director : John Newland
Writer : Rod Serling

Bruce Banner : Kevin McCarthy

The Hulk : Steve Reeves

Rick Jones : Tony Dow

Betty Ross : Maggie McNamara

Thunder Bolt Ross : Keenan Wynn

The Leader : Peter Cursing

 

[Frodo]

IRON MAN: STEAMPUNK (1991)

The Iron Man/ Anthony Stark : Timothy Dalton

Pepper Potts : Sadie Frost

Iron Monger/ Obadiah Stane : Jack Palance

Jim Rhodes : Denzel Washington

Edwin Jarvis : Terrance Stamp

The Mandarin : James Hong

Justin Hammer: Kevin Kline

Whiplash : Mel Gibson

Ultron voice: Keifer Sutherland

Stark Industries

Stark's Manor

Iron Man suits

Final Iron Man suit

Ultron suit

Whiplash

Iron Monger

 

[Airwings]

IRON MAN: STEAMPUNK (1991)

The Iron Man/ Anthony Stark : Timothy Dalton

Pepper Potts : Sadie Frost

Iron Monger/ Obadiah Stane : Jack Palance

Jim Rhodes : Denzel Washington

Edwin Jarvis : Terrance Stamp

The Mandarin : James Hong

Justin Hammer: Kevin Kline

Whiplash : Mel Gibson

Ultron voice: Keifer Sutherland

Stark Industries

Stark's Manor

Iron Man suits

Final Iron Man suit

Ultron suit

Whiplash

Iron Monger

Amazing! Double-like!!!!