Pitch a DC Movie

[Hollis Mason]

Let's say you're a famous director/screenwriter and you had a good reputation with the industry, which DC movie concept would you pitch to Warner Bros? Adaptation, sequel, remake, anything. Any rating you want

 

[writer0327]

Easy. Teen Titans. Said this for years. And not that travesty on TV, but the actual Teen effing Titans. Rated PG-13, in a similar vein to GOTG or MCU Spidey. They already have a generation of fans who know and adore these characters and if you wanted to, you could launch an entire shared universe with the characters. It's the biggest no brainer in the history of mankind. Should've been done a long time ago.

 

[Primal Slayer]

Catwoman: Selina's Big Score adaption.

 

[metaphysician]

Martian Manhunter: A Day in the Life.

Its a detective story starring everybody's favorite Martian, J'onn J'onnz. He is investigating a mystery in his secret ID, one of those mysteries that is "noir, only weird", while meditating ( to himself and to a few knowing supporting cast ) on the nature of his relationship to humanity. This is emphasized by various scenes where he solves typical noir thriller problems with almost casual ease via his panoply of powers, leading to philosophical musings on what it means to be a detective who can read minds, for example.

Oh, the mystery? It ramps up over the movie, starting at maybe "Twin Peaks" level weird, and ends in "Dark City" level weird. Whatever crime he was initially investigating eventually culminates in some kind of Lovecraft-esque cult activity and eldritch alien horrors, leading to the final act transitioning from "low key investigating drama" to "high key superhero blowout". Only, this contrast is recognized and intentional, with the dramatic emphasis being "Yes, this really is an alien god walking amongst humans", with an emphasis on 'alien'.

In the end, J'onn saves the day, saves some of the initial victims from a fate-worse-than-death ( specifically *because* he's an alien demigod and can do weird things most cannot comprehend ), and goes home satisfied. Is he fundamentally changed? No, not really, many of his philosophical questions remain, as they have long remained for him and others. But he's okay with that. Earth is a good planet, and well worth fighting for. . . and he believes both those parts. *ahem*

Basically, the arc of the story is not a change in J'onn's character, but a change in the audience's understanding of him. At first he is just a weird guy with superpowers, but by the end they understand that he is a Great Old One, who legitimately loves and cares about people, and is willing to put in the effort to bridge the gap.

 

[Frodo]

Okay here's my idea for a smaller scale, standalone film outside the DCEU ala Joker and The Batman. It's an elseworlds type tale , so it's not the comics continuity . I see it as a character driven drama which a cross between The Motorcycle Diaries, The Godfather 2, In Love and War, Casino Royale, and On Her Majesty's Secret Service. It's in the tradition of the doomed love story taking place in a foreign country . This is a very rough draft , and a long pitch.

What follows is a summary:

It's a standalone story about a pre Batman 24 year old Bruce Wayne who's path towards becoming Batman is side tracked by a charismatic 26 year old school teacher named Carmen ,while traveling in a fictional Latin American country. It's a story spanning one year, and, In a sense, it's Bruce's last temptation to a normal life before making his commitment to return to Gotham and become a symbol of justice.

Bruce travels under an assumed name and has grown a goatee to disguise his appearance.
He's come to this fictional country to seek out one of the best martial arts experts in Latin America. The man is a legend ,and Bruce wants to learn everything he can from him before he returns to Gotham. The expert lives in a beautiful small town , which unfortunately, is under the thumb of a drug cartel.

While Bruce is there , he falls in love with the Experts daughter, Carmen , and while the two clash at first, however, over time he becomes captivated by Carmen . Bruce's training begins to fall by the waste side as she's a soothing and calming presence in the 24 year old's life. While living with Carmen and her father, She brings him to her School and he becomes the unofficial co teachers aide with her kindergarten class. In the process, he finds joy, for perhaps the first time, spending time with these 4 and 5 year old's and their beautiful , witty, and charming teacher.

After the two confide in each other they're shared tragic background, and after Bruce tells her who he really is , their mutual barriers come down even further. The two eventually fall in love and begin a slow courtship in the small town. As they spend time more together, Carmen's father tells Bruce that he'll only condone the relationship if he gives up this quest, and he agrees to stay in the country.

He doesn't want the man his daughter obviously cares about to be killed as a vigilante. At the same time, he doesn't want Carmen to be Bruce's fling to his daughter only to leave for Gotham after its done.

Young Bruce assures her father he plans on staying and that he wants to finish his education there at a University ,and get a regular job. It isn't long before the two begin dating and become a committed young couple. They end up being together for a year , and Bruce writes Alfred every few months to tell him of his life. After a year, a 25 year old Bruce's proposes to Carmen, and the two agree to get married. There plan is to marry in the small town with her family present then to fly to Gotham to start a and as Carmen states jokingly, " Get fat, and raise wealthy, spoiled, children"

While young Bruce is deep in romantic bliss, the town he lives in is still under the shadow of this deadly cartel. It isn't long until he discovers that the cartel who holds so much sway over the town is sending drugs to Gotham, which has caused a drug epidemic and sky rocketing crime in Bruce's former home. While it alarms him, its still not enough to tear Bruce away from Carmen and their future.

However, Bruce eventually runs afoul of the cartel when he stops the oldest son of the Cartel boss from terrorizing the shop keepers of the small town. After beating the son and his guards to a pulp the son goes to his father and tells him about what Bruce did.

Several weeks later, at Bruce and Carmen's wedding reception The cartel opens fire on the guests and Carmen is killed in the process. Bruce is shattered. After Carmen's funeral Bruce and Carmen's father vow to take down the cartel by destroying their shipments and going to the family compound. They achieve their goals, however, Carmen' father is killed during the storming of the compound. Bruce nearly beats the drug kingpin to death but stops in memory of Carmen.

He demands to know who he's supplying the drugs to in Gotham. The cartel head says one name, " Falcone". Bruce knows now that he must return to Gotham, if for nothing else, to stop the drug trade in Gotham in Carmen and her father's memory , in addition to restoring hope to Gotham city. Before he goes ,he visits Carmen and her father's graves , vows that he will never forget them ,and he vows that every year , no matter where his path takes him, he will return to the town to visit their grave, and that Carmen is and will always be his loving wife.

The end

I still need to work on characters names, places, and expand the story, but this is the gist of it. I don't know who I envision playing a 24-25 year old Bruce but I at least know how I envision Carmen.

I see an actress like a young Mia Maestro as Carmen

I see an actor with the wisdom, command, and presence like Hector Elizondo as Carmen's father and Bruce's mentor

 

[Boom]

New Gods.

 

[Babillygunn]

New Gods.

I am more and more convinced that I need this. And I want it in all of its Kirby inspired wackiness. I want the Forever People, Sonny Sumo, I want Forager and the Bugs. I want Mantis, Devilance, Kanto and Amazing Grace. I want more than just Orion, Scott, Darkseid and the Furies. I want the whole Fourth World.

 

[JohnDubia]

We have seen many movies based on the Justice League. I would like to see a movie based on
Apache Chief

Let's say you're a famous director/screenwriter and you had a good reputation with the industry, which DC movie concept would you pitch to Warner Bros? Adaptation, sequel, remake, anything. Any rating you want

 

[metaphysician]

We have seen many movies based on the Justice League. I would like to see a movie based on
Apache Chief

My first instinct is to say "this would be impossible, and almost certainly racist". However, my second instinct. . . okay, you probably have to strip away almost everything, including definitely the name. But steal the few remaining bits from the various post-Superfriends adaptations, and mix them together with a dollop of neo-western stories about reservation life. Think "Longmire with Superpowers".

( And for the love of God, if you can't get some actual First Nation writers, at least have a solid set of advisors. To work, this absolutely must be both authentic and human, not some Magical Native caricature. )

 

[MissMarvelous]

For all of those who would like to cast your vote, this is your chance: 2020 SHH Awards Ballot

Spider-Fan is extending voting until after Sunday. Aka, 12am Monday EST! just follow the instructions on the link above and may the best user WIN! (*insert Rupaul's gif here*)

 

[CocoReturns]

Brad Bird's Superman-starring Henry Cavill

 

[Yowza]

I pitched a Deadman movie in 2019 in a thread wondering who the next character study film after Joker should center on. I'm looking for that thread.

 

[BobJM]

Since Flash, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman get to live beyond the Snyder films, here’d be a fun way to soft reboot both Batman (Ben Affleck) and Superman (Henry Cavill) so their stories can continue forward.

Bring in Jordan Vogt-Roberts (Kong: Skull Island, upcoming Metal Gear Solid) or Cary Joi Fukunaga (True Detective, upcoming No Time to Die) to direct.

BATMAN: HUSH
an HBOMax Series Event

Bruce Wayne / Batman: Ben Affleck

Dick / Nightwing: Charles Melton
Alfred Pennyworth: Jeremy Irons
Selina Kyle / Catwoman: Elodie Yung
Barbara Gordon / Batgirl: Kaitlyn Dever

Commissioner Gordon: J.K. Simmons
Thomas Elliot: Matt Damon
Amanda Waller: Viola Davis
Katana: Karen Fukuhara

Clark Kent / Superman: Henry Cavill
Lois Lane: Amy Adams

Riddler: Giovanni Ribisi
Poison Ivy: Eiza González
Joker: Jared Leto
Punchline: Emily Browning
Scarecrow: Sharlto Copley
Killer Croc: Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje


SIX (6) EPISODE STORY TREATMENT

Watch out for spoilers from the original storyline (and elements from the 2019 animated adaptation) in my write-up for a six episode series:

EPISODE I

BRUCE WAYNE is trying his best to keep a low profile at the latest charity gala, which he's obligated to attend as chairperson. He ignores the other partygoers & instead listens for updates from NIGHTWING in his Bluetooth earpiece, pretending its a pressing Wayne Enterprises business matter--

Miles away, Nightcrawler is breaking up a smuggling ring operating out of Gotham Harbor:

At the gala, Bruce then sees former flame SELINA KYLE, and reconnects. He then catches up with longtime childhood friend and renowned brain surgeon THOMAS ELLIOT until he receives an alert from ALFRED PENNYWORTH about a child kidnapping from KILLER CROC.

BATMAN clashes against Croc—more savage & monstrous than when we saw him last in 2016's Suicide Squad—and rescues the boy.

After the confrontation, Batman is approached by KATANA who tells him an unknown intruder has used the Lazarus Pit and asks for his assistance in identifying them.

• Katana is a former ally from Batman’s Outsiders team (a reference to Batman's '20 years in Gotham' mentioned in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice) and has been embedded within the League of Assassins of the past 18 months doing recon. She still carries the Soultaker Sword.

COMMISSIONER GORDON arrives with the police once Katana is gone to detain the unconscious Croc. As he and Batman review the crime scene, they notice the ransom is missing just as CATWOMAN (Selina Kyle) is making her escape.

Batman swings after Catwoman through Gotham City in pursuit of her until a MYSTERIOUS MASKED VILLAIN shoots his grapple line and he falls to the ground. He lands in Crime Alley, badly bloodied & bruised.

EPISODE II

BATMAN is barely conscious as CRIME ALLEY THUGS try to attack him. The suit's defense mechanisms hold them off long enough until the arrival of BATGIRL (spinning out from her own HBOMax Series) fights them off.

Catwoman, the ransom still in hand, goes to help Batman but Batgirl intervenes & the two have a brief fight before Catwoman retreats again.

She goes directly to a secret rooftop greenhouse hideout where she delivers the ransom money to POISON IVY, who is controlling Catwoman through a hypnotic kiss.

Alfred summons Thomas Elliot to remove skull fragments from Bruce's brain after Batgirl and Nightwing stage a car crash involving playboy billionaire Bruce Wayne. As Bruce recovers over the next few days, he reconnects with Thomas (

• Include FLASHBACK sequences of Tommy Elliot with YOUNG BRUCE WAYNE and his parents, THOMAS AND MARTHA WAYNE)

Batman dons a new improved costume (with a reinforced cowl) and drives to BLACKGATE PRISON to interrogate Killer Croc on the whereabouts of the money. AMANDA WALLER is on scene too, just in from Bell Reve to reclaim Croc for her Suicide Squad.

Unable to get answers, Batman eventually strikes a deal with Waller who allows Croc to escape so Batman can secretly track him to his boss / employer.

Croc leads Batman to Poison Ivy's now-abandoned greenhouse. Catwoman is there, seeking retaliation against Ivy for her manipulation, but Croc attacks her instead. Batman intervenes & gains the upperhand, allowing Waller to capture the savage Croc and transport him to back to Belle Reve.

Alone on a Gotham City rooftop, Catwoman offers Batman information on her whereabouts of Ivy in exchange for a kiss and a tenuous romance blooms between the two:

EPISODE III

Batman and Catwoman head to METROPOLIS to track down follow Poison Ivy.

After arriving, Bruce Wayne goes to the Daily Planet to give CLARK KENT the heads up that he’s in town, and he sees LOIS LANE.

Batman later breaks into LexCorp—which is in financial ruin after its CEO went to prison—to download information on a delivery list of an ethylene compound to further pinpoint Ivy's location.

Batman and Catwoman arrive at Ivy's new hideout only to find she has taken control of SUPERMAN, and tells him to kill them both (“We have to stop meeting like this, Clark!”):

During the fight, Batman observes that Superman is subconsciously resisting Ivy's influence & holding back on his attempts to kill them.

Using knuckledusters made from KRYPTONITE (which Superman gifted Batman after returning to life in Justice League), Batman stalls Superman while Catwoman lets Lois Lane fall from the Daily Planet building.

Of course, Superman is able to break free of Ivy's control and saves Lois.

Later, Batman, Superman, and Catwoman work together to capture Ivy who reveals that she was being manipulated by a mysterious foe called HUSH:

EPISODE IV

Back in Gotham City, Bruce Wayne goes finally goes on a date with Selina Kyle--who is unaware of the former's identity as Batman--much to the encouragement of Nightwing and Alfred.

The two, along with Thomas Elliot and his date, attend an opera when PUNCHLINE arrives and attempts to kill Bruce.

Earlier, she was approached by Hush to attack the opera after kidnapping the JOKER.

• Punchline is a social media influencer obsessed with the Clown Prince of Crime & the Joker’s latest squeeze after his split from Harley Quinn (Punchline will be a main adversary for Batgirl in her HBOMax series).

At the Opera, Bruce & Selina separately sneak away to get into their respective costumes and fight against Punchline and her ARMED HENCHMEN. As Batman protects the patrons, Catwoman goes after Punchline but is crushed under stage lighting which allows the clown to escape.

Batman runs out into rain after Punchline but instead finds the body of Thomas Elliot in the back alley, apparently shot dead by the Joker.

https://******************.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/jokerjimlee-750x400.jpg

An enraged Batman violently beats Joker despite his claims of innocence. It seems like he's going to finally kill him until he is stopped short by Commissioner Gordon who's just arrived on scene. He looks down at his bloody hands and then leaves the Joker to be arrested again & sent back to Arkham Asylum.

Bruce later attends Thomas Elliot's funeral and then, once back in the cave, deduces that the Joker really is innocent, and someone else orchestrated the whole event--including Tommy's death. Batman realizes that Hush must know his secret identity...

EPISODE V

Batman and Nightwing are still no closer to catching Hush when they're alerted to a robber-in-progress being carried out by 'C-Lister' RIDDLER. While interrogating Riddler over his lack of riddles connected to the crime, Batman sees Hush and gives chase, but fails to catch him. Hush warms Batman that no one in his life is safe...

Batman asks Catwoman to leave Gotham so she doesn't fall victim to Hush which she of course refuses. He eventually decides to trust Catwoman and reveals his identity to her instead and invites her back to the BAT CAVE.

Later, Batman investigates the office of Thomas Elliot and discovers one of his patients was someone called ARTHUR WYNNE who sought an operation for an inoperable brain tumor months ago.

Nightwing and Catwoman investigate a graveyard break-in and are attacked by the SCARECROW. Nightwing is overpowered by the fear toxin, but Catwoman defeats Scarecrow and gets Nightwing to safety. However, she is captured by Hush after Nightwing escapes.

At Arkham Asylum, Batman interrogates Riddler who reveals that he has been Arthur Wynne as well as Hush.

• He had used a Lazarus Pit to cure himself of his brain tumor and during his time in the pit, he figured out Batman's identity as Bruce Wayne. Riddler then formed a plan involving several villains to destroy both the personal life and the crime-fighting career of Batman.

Batman deduces that Riddler is actually CLAYFACE mimicking his identity while the latter communicated via satellite.

EPISODE VI

Batman and Gordon work together to takedown Clayface in Arkham Asylum as the inmates, including Joker, root against them.

After defeating Clayface, Batman deduces Riddler's location and the two engage in a final confrontation while Catwoman’s life hangs in the balance.

Riddler is nearly killed but is saved by Batman’s grapple. When it becomes apparent the rope can’t hold both men, Catwoman makes the choice to cut it and allow Riddler to fall to his death...

In the aftermath, Batman and Catwoman decide to go their separate ways after a fierce disagreement over Batman's ethical code.

FULL SUPPORTING CAST PHOTO GALLERY

BAT FAMILY
Dick / Nightwing: Charles Melton

Alfred Pennyworth: Jeremy Irons

Selina Kyle / Catwoman: Elodie Yung

Barbara Gordon / Batgirl: Kaitlyn Dever

ADDITIONAL
Commissioner Gordon: J.K. Simmons

Thomas Elliot: Matt Damon

Amanda Waller: Viola Davis

Katana: Karen Fukuhara

METROPOLIS
Clark Kent / Superman: Henry Cavill

Lois Lane: Amy Adams

VILLAINS
Riddler: Giovanni Ribisi

Poison Ivy: Eiza González

Joker: Jared Leto

Punchline: Emily Browning

Scarecrow: Sharlto Copley
http://www.*****************.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/sharlto-copley-district-9.jpg
Killer Croc: Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje

 

[Captain Tired]

A K9-esque buddy cop film that stars Matthew McConaughey working alongside Detective Chimp. Superman, planning to to leave Earth for a little while, tasks Jimmy Olsen with pet sitting for Krypto the Superdog, who subsequently disappears while searching for its master.

Olsen then enlists the help of Animal Man to look for Krypto before Superman can return to Earth and discover Jimmy's incompetence. To aid in this, Animal Man kidnaps and absorbs the powers of Rex the Wonder Dog. Detective Chimp and his partner are then assigned the case of locating the missing Rex. To do this, they go undercover and take themselves completely off the grid.

Superman then returns to Earth, and after learning of all five 'disappearances', enlists the help of the rest of the Justice League in locating them. It'd be a wild-goose chase comedy caper in the same vein as It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.

 

[Mandon Knight]

Kingdom Come directed by Zack Snyder.

 

[Boy Scout]

A K9-esque buddy cop film that stars Matthew McConaughey working alongside Detective Chimp. Superman, planning to to leave Earth for a little while, tasks Jimmy Olsen with pet sitting for Krypto the Superdog, who subsequently disappears while searching for its master.

Olsen then enlists the help of Animal Man to look for Krypto before Superman can return to Earth and discover Jimmy's incompetence. To aid in this, Animal Man kidnaps and absorbs the powers of Rex the Wonder Dog. Detective Chimp and his partner are then assigned the case of locating the missing Rex. To do this, they go undercover and take themselves completely off the grid.

Superman then returns to Earth, and after learning of all five 'disappearances', enlists the help of the rest of the Justice League in locating them. It'd be a wild-goose chase comedy caper in the same vein as It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.

This is brilliant.

 

[Captain Tired]

Thanks. I had some other ideas that I've bandied about before in other threads, but I've forgotten them all.

 

[The Lazarus Pit]

Damon Lindelof’s ‘New Frontier’ on HBO

 

[FeedOnATreeFrog]

This would never happen for obvious reasons, but I'd like to see a Cyborg film, directed by Barry Jenkins, called “Cyborg: Second Life”.

The story would be all about examining the digital age’s affect on communication, self-esteem, and isolation.

I would show how Vic, despite having found a new family in the JL, is still not exactly comfortable with what his life has become post-accident. After all, he spends most of his time in the Hall of Justice (or Watchtower) as the JL's missions coordinator, and he often has his mind in the "digital world" (where he projects himself to look like his old self, mind you), instead of actually living life out in the real world.

So one day, he gets an invite from his ex (during the time of the accident) to her wedding. The JL notice, and they tell Vic to take time off, to disconnect. So, we see Vic going back to his hometown to live with his grandma for a while. There he runs into old teammates and friends, who we learn he shut out of his life after his accident, not the other way around. And ultimately, it'd be about Vic mending old friendships, getting his life back, dating again, etc.

The villain would be a mysterious online threat, an expert hacker, which would bring Vic into the digital world for some inventive and trippy action scenes, where he appears as a being much faster than Vic. The villain, despite his hacking prowess, actually aims to bring the world back to the stone age (no pun intended) to disable all the world's communications/technology (by somehow hacking Vic to do so). We reveal that the Roose Bolton crew in JL were working for him, and in fact the act was meant to draw out Vic himself.

At the end, Vic's able to track down the villain's whereabouts in the real world, where we see it's just some average lonely young man in a small apartment who hates his life, and feels scorned by those who've rejected him since young (It's clear now why the Roose Bolton crew attacked a group of teenage girls).

The film ends with Vic living in a new apartment of his own, going on a second date, and becoming the true public hero and inspiration he was meant to be. At the end, Vic realizes what his most powerful ability was all along -- communication -- as he messages every single person on Earth, mirroring the message he received from his dad, reminding them that life is short, and that we ought to use our time not fearing what others think, but rather having the strength to be vulnerable and opening yourself up, actually talking to your loved ones (before they're gone), and becoming a more positive person and living your life. We see that some of the people who receive Vic’s message include Beast Boy, Raven, and Starfire, who are inspired to emerge out into the world, along with Dick, who gives Bruce a call.

A sequel, “Cyborg: Anti-Life”, directed by Rick Famuyima, would be a Captain America: Civil War type film (inspired by the DC Legends mini-series), dealing with Gordon Godfrey, a popular online opinion leader, like a Ben Shapiro type, feeding into a lot of the online hate regarding race politics, woke vs anti-woke sentiments, exploring themes of hate and group think. Godfrey would spearhead a movement against metas and superheroes, etc, leading to the establishment of the Justifiers, humans who support Apokalips/Anti-Life (and are gifted the Warhounds). At some point, the rest of the JL are detained, and Vic is on the run, where he meets Beast Boy, Raven, Starfire, and Dick. Vic is the one to find the equation by the end of the film and decide what to do with it.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

How would I do Adam Strange?



A character known as a B lister at best in the pantheon of DC Comics Adam Strange none the less has his fans and there is great potential for a live action adaptation in my mind. Adam is a human archaeologist that found himself transported to the exotic world of Rann where he is enlisted by it's greatest mind Sardath as a hero and romances Sardath's daughter Alanna. While his stories are full of Buck Rogers/Flash Gordon "gee-whiz" styled sci fi fantasy elements, Adam as a character is really always been a thinking man's hero. Less about fisticuffs and more about using quick thinking and scientific knowledge to solve problems and get out of hairy situations.


I think that you could go with either a period piece, taking place in the 1950's or modern day. While both have their positives I can see the negatives as well. If period, taking place in the late 1950's then I would not go crazy on the period signifiers as it were. So, no making Adam a "hep cat" talking teen or the like. If modern, well... None of the usual go to elements like making Adam a pop culture spouting "bro". For myself I would prefer a modern set film. In my mind Adam is an intellectual hero in the mold of Indiana Jones. I would have it that Adam is a field archaeologist that also writes books in the GUNS, GERMS AND STEEL mold. Adam is an expert on the rise and fall of civilizations. He's been all over the world, operating in war zones and places far from anything we would call a city. Set in the current DCEU as the film opens we see Adam leading a team to investigate a find that is anomalous to most of known history. In a strife ridden South American country there has recently been discovered a find from the Pre-Columbian era that defies the archaeological record. Evidence of aspects of both the local Mayan/Incan influenced society but also things which call to mind Egyptian influences.

Adam is shown to be someone already used to coming up with novel solutions to problems as his team treks to the site as well as being an able negotiator as they come into contact with corrupt law enforcement/Military but rebels and drug cartels. Strange is smart but not really arrogant. He is actually good natured and his work has given him a perspective on life which is based on humility and a great respect for knowledge and the fleeting quality of life. He lives for new experiences and discovery.

One member of his team is a scientist with an expertise in Archaeological Astronomy, plotting the position of stars as ancient cultures knew them. He tells that Adam that currently they will have a clearer alignment with Alpha Centauri much as when it is estimated that this find was built long ago. This scientist also tells Adam that through his satellite phone
he is in contact with friends at observatories around the world and NASA who are currently buzzing with strange radiation phenomena that appear to be bombarding the Southern hemisphere. Somehow Adam always makes deal and comes out on top or finds a unique way to get his team what they need as they make their way through the rough tropical terrain. Both with the gift of gab but also with a surprising ability to "MacGyver" logistical solutions, Adam makes his way to the site. One late afternoon on hunch Adam by himself investigates what he finds to be an unseen entrance and soon through his doggedness finds an unopened chamber which leads to a mountain top "temple" with symbols that show all sorts of differnt "gods", winged hawk gods, reptilian gods, and on and on. These would correspond to various known aliens from the world of DC comics. Looking out from a vantage point of the mountain's peak Adam knows he's discovered something special. He looks up to the sky at dusk and takes a deep breath... And then notices the obviously unnaturally colored display of light headed to his precise location. He turns around and sees the entire chamber he is in shake and as it does so the material encrusted upon the walls and floor begin to be shook off and cracks appear which show gleaming metallic material underneath as well as lights and energy sparking from all over Just as Adam is about to run towards the exit the entire room dematerializes and we see from Adam's point of view a cascade of light and images which indicate a trip across the void of space. Adam blacks out. When he wakes gasping for air he is on what bears a similar look to an Earth radio telescope dish like the one in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. He and the room he was in has been transported to somewhere else and as he looks up he sees an alien sky and looks around to take in the rest of the alien landscape he is in now. Thus Adam ends up on Rann and becomes embroiled in a cosmic adventure.

I would go against the more modern interpretations where Adam was actually brought to Rann on purpose as a breeding stud by Sardath to jump start the gene pool of Rann. No, I would make it that Sardath was looking for artifacts to help his society against invaders from various worlds. I would keep the genetic and cultural stagnation aspects of Rann though. This gives Adam something to contribute still but doesn't paint his allies in a nefarious light.
In this version Rann was a once highly advanced society and hub of galactic technology and cultural interaction. It's own star had become unstable and so it's scientists had used their greatest technological advancement hundreds of years ago the Zeta beam, to transport their whole planet into a new solar system, the Polaris system, on the opposite side of the planet Thanagar from the twin suns there. Unfortunately the Thanagarians were in a period of despotic conquest and their system was in the middle of a great war of survival. Various space faring races soon plundered Rann, attacked swiftly and brutally and now the remaining Rannians live in hiding on their own world.
This all occurred when Sardath was a young man, centuries ago (This would go to the Rannians having problems breeding and the cultural stagnation as they had engineered themselves to have centuries long life spans at the cost of fertility). Hoping to repel both the Thanagarians and the various enemies of their empire from the planet who seek to use it as a base against the Hawkmen, he had used one of the large Zeta beam stations which had been part of the system to teleport the planet to it's current location to find detritus from a world he knew that Thanagarians had visited in antiquity in hopes of finding something to defeat them, as he feels duty bound to try and turn the tide since he himself was the creator of the Zeta beam which in his mind was responsible for the destruction of the Rannian culture. Alanna would be Sardath's loyal daughter.
No damsel in distress I would make her the protector of her aged father and one of the current generation of Rannians who never knew peace. As such she grew up in world of conflict and scarcity. Still she is a true believer in her father's mission and was raised by him to respect the old ways of Rann as it a was a beacon of enlightenment in the universe. Strange becomes entangled in the story as the Zeta Beam stations are his only way home. Thus he is forced to take a stand with Sardath and Alanna to help them with their own mission so he can go home. Among the skills he brings to the table we see him almost at home again negotiating with various factions that normally would not work together as the trio attempt to bring the old Zeta system back online to take Rann out of the Thanagarian sphere of influence and return it to it's original location since the period of solar instability had passed in the Rann home solar system. The main threat to their mission is a functionary of the Thanagarian empire, a veteran commander of Thanagarian forces and the leader of a mercenary band of a hodge podge of various aliens looking to plunder the scientific resources left on the planet led by one Kanjar Ro, who was responsible for the death of Sardath's late wife.

For Strange I see someone youthful but not exactly "young". Between 30 and 40 but with a boyishness to them. The actor would also have to be able to project intelligence more than say, machismo. A quit wit would also help. I would for sure go with the more modern version of the outfit with the holographic displays, force fields ect. Perhaps a James Franco or Dan Stevens type for Strange. For Alanna I would like to see a female lead in the Alicia Vikander, Rooney Mara mold. For Sardath I think perhaps Iain Glen or Sean Bean, something like that. Use make up to really sell the advanced age. For the Thanagarian Commander I see a Clive Owen or Daniel Craig type. For Kanjar Ro, Ben Whishaw or Cillian Murphy in that wheelhouse.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

Martian Manhunter: A Day in the Life.

Its a detective story starring everybody's favorite Martian, J'onn J'onnz. He is investigating a mystery in his secret ID, one of those mysteries that is "noir, only weird", while meditating ( to himself and to a few knowing supporting cast ) on the nature of his relationship to humanity. This is emphasized by various scenes where he solves typical noir thriller problems with almost casual ease via his panoply of powers, leading to philosophical musings on what it means to be a detective who can read minds, for example.

Oh, the mystery? It ramps up over the movie, starting at maybe "Twin Peaks" level weird, and ends in "Dark City" level weird. Whatever crime he was initially investigating eventually culminates in some kind of Lovecraft-esque cult activity and eldritch alien horrors, leading to the final act transitioning from "low key investigating drama" to "high key superhero blowout". Only, this contrast is recognized and intentional, with the dramatic emphasis being "Yes, this really is an alien god walking amongst humans", with an emphasis on 'alien'.

In the end, J'onn saves the day, saves some of the initial victims from a fate-worse-than-death ( specifically *because* he's an alien demigod and can do weird things most cannot comprehend ), and goes home satisfied. Is he fundamentally changed? No, not really, many of his philosophical questions remain, as they have long remained for him and others. But he's okay with that. Earth is a good planet, and well worth fighting for. . . and he believes both those parts. *ahem*

Basically, the arc of the story is not a change in J'onn's character, but a change in the audience's understanding of him. At first he is just a weird guy with superpowers, but by the end they understand that he is a Great Old One, who legitimately loves and cares about people, and is willing to put in the effort to bridge the gap.

I like it, especially the idea of J'onn's "cases" almost being besides the point, because as you stated, there's really no mundane criminal activity that he shouldn't be able to solve or prevent given how much he can do.


My own take, granted I was thinking more streaming/cable show when I came up with this:

How would I do J'onn J'onzz, The Martian Manhunter?

A character that until very recently did not get a lot of exposure to the audience outside of the comic book faithful, J'onn J'onzz has been fighting evil in one form or another (literally) since making his debut in 1955.
In the comics a founding member of the JLA J'onn has just now been showcased in all his glory on the CW Supergirl, as well as been in Smallville and of course the never broadcast JL 90's pilot. But in these live action adaptations J'onn has been a supporting character and I think as a character that is short changing him and the potential inherent in such a powerful and versatile super hero. I think that J'onn, as much as I would like to see him on the big screen is actually a better fit for TV, cable or streaming. So with that in mind, here is how I would do a Martian Manhunter live action series (With some animated flashbacks ).


1. The Set Up-

For starters I would have the first season of the show based in the 1950's era that spawned J'onn. Were I to have my druthers this would for sure be linked to the DC universe in films which was started with MAN OF STEEL. J'onn arrives on Earth amid an onslaught of images that we can barely decipher. Alien faces, language, vistas and above all...
Fire. Then suddenly we are in the presence of a older human man.
The man turns around and his look is that of fear and awe until it gives way to physical pain and the man collapses. This is Dr. Saul Erdel and his experiment is what has dragged J'onn through space, and eventually we learn as the first season progresses, time, into the laboratory space Erdel has in the facility in the top secret base known as Area 51 in Nevada. What the audience learns eventually is that Erdel used alien technology he had reverse engineered from the space vehicle which crashed in New Mexico in Roswell.


Only those aliens were not from Zeta Reticuli... They were from Mars.
And they were of the White Martian race. Erdel's experiment was based off of what he could glean from the technology from the damaged vehicle and this is what brought J'onn to Earth though at this time he is not aware of the part White Martians played in his arrival. Before Erdel dies he and J'onn share a moment of psychic bonding giving J'onn a limited amount of information about the planet he is on and of English as a language. J'onn hides the body and escapes the base by using his mind powers to project the image of Erdel. Weakened by the transportation to Earth his shape shifting and other physical powers are stunted and will take time to manifest themselves, so he hops on a train whose destination is Chicago and rests. Finally he arrives in Chicago and his powers are starting to come back. He takes the form of a vagrant and is of course mistreated by many until he is assisted by a driven police detective named John Jones. Given a meal and a sympathetic ear by the detective John thinks he has found the beating heart of human goodness when a hail of gunfire ends the life of the detective. J'onn communes psychically with Jones just as he did Erdel and learns Jones is a good cop and that Jones and his partner are about to bring evidence to Federal investigators about the police with ties to organized crime in Chicago. Jones' last thoughts are about his partner Bradley and Bradley's wife and newborn child. As Jones passes J'onn decides to go to his home and secure the evidence that Jones had but finds it missing amid Jones' ransacked apartmet. Through J'onn's travel to Chicago we learn through flashbacks, which will be a common occurrence in the show in animated form, that he was a member of his race's law enforcement and protection service. Now J'onn feels he may have a duty to seek justice for this human counterpart. J'onn assumes the identity of Det. Jones and thus the first season is set in motion. J'onn attempts to finish the work that Jones started but must tread a fine line as he has to do this all on the down low and not reveal his existence to the wider world. Threaded through that will be a conspiracy of White Martians to kill off the populace of Earth, as in flashbacks we get the full story spread throughout the season of how J'onn's brother Malefic conspired with radical White Martian extremists to eradicate the Greens. J'onn failed to stop them on Mars, though the weapon they unleashed ended up ripping apart the Martian atmosphere and eventually killing all life on the surface via a planet wide inferno. There were suvivors though and they arrived on Earth in 1947. The White Martian conspiracy would be the background arc and J'onn's time fighting crime and trying to bring Jones' killers to justice would be the foreground arc.

2. J'onn J'onzz the character-

In presenting the character of J'onn it's important to stress that despite an overlap of powers with Superman he is in so many ways a different character. For one, while many point to Superman as an example of the immigrant's story of coming to a new land J'onn does so as a fully formed adult. Superman was raised by humans in the American culture. For all the talk of his alien nature logically he thinks and feels as we do, but his heritage comes through in his physical powers. J'onn is a true outsider. This should be made clear in the stories the show tells. I see J'onn as a sort of wizened zen sage type on the one hand but also a righteous warrior on the other. J'onn in this version was both a philosopher and a Martian peacekeeper (translated as best as can be into English as the word "Manhunter"). J'onn is rightfully afraid of the consequences to both himself and humanity if his secret ever is revealed but he's also not exactly judgmental about us as a race. He has his moments of disgust or bafflement at our actions as both individuals and as a species, but he also has a perspective that is above all that as well and is sort of a zen like chagrin at us. Through the flashbacks to J'onn's life with his wife M'ryah and daughter on Mars we learn about the specifics of his people's culture, a culture of shape changers who use duality as a starting point to most of their view of existence. As a race of telepaths they also have huge wells of compassion and acceptance as feelings and thoughts, even deep dark ones, are evident in some way to each other. J'onn also knows that his own world had a brutal and bloody past, one it ultimately did not overcome as that past is what ended up destroying the idyllic civilization he was transported away from.

On the show J'onn would have multiple native forms. First would be the true "inner" form, the physical form Martians maintained when in their homes or with their families. This would be the most "alien" of his forms but only rarely seen on the show though in animated flashbacks we would see it much more. This is the form J'onn takes while sleeping, which he does in the same lotus style position levitating as he does when awake but in deep meditation. Thin and with an almost stereotypical "alien" look and no "clothing" this is J'onn at his most serene and calm. This was the primordial form of the Martians when they first emerged as a thinking sentient race. The next form would be in line with the more modern design of J'onn from the comics. This would be J'onn when going out on "missions" so to speak. This was the form the Martians held when in contact with others outside of their family or with other alien races. Finally there would be a powered up "battle" form. This would be like J'onn's Super Saiyan form if you will. A cross between the two previous version with greater mass. It's a form J'onn adapts when he absolutely must us overwhelming power, both physically, but also psychically.

Now of course this requires some CGI. I think it also requires some deft acting. J'onn needs to be played by someone that can project great intellect but beyond that great wisdom, along with wells of compassion and righteous anger. What is important to point out with this version is this... This actor is playing the alien form(s) of J'onn only. This person will play J'onn in these base forms. When J'onn is in the identity of Det. John Jones that will be a totally separate actor. I really dislike the idea that the Manhunter needs to "moon" the audience as well as the people around him in universe by looking similar in both forms. No. He is a perfect shape shifter. As such whenever J'onn assumes a new form, and I put it that he would assume all types of forms through the series, it's of course with a different actor playing J'onn in that new form. This would provide for possibly fun or funny guest starring opportunities. In any case the dramatic load of the show would be shared between two performers: Alien J'onn and the human form John. Given that J'onn is working to keep a low profile, despite all his powers I think keeping insanely over the top examples of what the can do to workable minimum is a must. That's not to say that there won't be episodes where he can and will cut loose don't happen. It's just that from a story and production standpoint it makes sense to keep that under wraps most of the time. Make this a more character based style of storytelling, at least, especially in the initial season.

3. Season One ending and beyond-

I see that first season jumping back and forth between the story of J'onn learning and accepting American and the wider world's culture as he tries to bring the killers of Det. Jones to justice and protect Bradley and his family (who would eventually learn the truth of what J'onn really is) and J'onn learning of a conspiracy by the White Martians (we don't learn until later seasons that Malefic is still alive) to colonize Earth. J'onn learns that he's not the only refugee or resident alien on Earth and finds out about a loose confederation of peaceful alien individuals who call the planet home as well. J'onn's reaction to American culture in the 1950's would play a big part in the show. Both the ideals we as a country publicly proclaimed to believe in, but also of course the reality behind that facade. This would be a sci fi/fantasy married to a pseudo noir in many ways, with occasional flare ups of big action. Along with meeting other aliens on Earth J'onn would also team with other characters from the 1950's era of DC comics like the Challengers Of The Unknown for one or two episodes. I would see the season length as being no less than ten but no more than 13. It would range over some fairly long times too with some jumps between episodes possibly covering months, up to a year until we reach 1960. In the end of season one J'onn confronts the White Martian conspiracy but in doing so the Jones identity "dies". This would be the set up for the next season where J'onn adopts a new identity during the decade of the 1960's. And so on each season until the show is cancelled or ideally until it reaches the "present" which I suppose would be J'onn seeing the dawn of the modern world super heroes in the public eye. Each season J'onn's cover ID is changed, perhaps he even has multiple ones. Thus the show can explore all sorts of issues relevant to the time each season takes place in, with a great variety of performers that can play J'onn when incognito. Man, woman, white, black ect., J'onn as a character can experience it all and the show can explore American culture. Think of it as kinda like Mad Men but for the alien super hero set. Each season a new decade until the final one which I think would be a personal showdown between J'onn and his brothr Malefic. Also there are chances to do guest star episodes that feature DC characters in the context of the time they first appeared. Given that this would be about J'onn keeping under the radar as well as the obvious lack of characters as Batman or Flash being able to be used, instead there would be more off the beaten track guest stars like The Demon, Spectre, Hawk and Dove ect.

 

[Babillygunn]

Kingdom Come directed by Zack Snyder.

Have you read Kingdom Come?

 

[Mandon Knight]

Have you read Kingdom Come?

I have yes.