The Spirit Reboot

[Gunga Diner]

Nope, there isn't one planned. Not right now anyway.

Will Eisner's seminal series The Spirit changed comics forever. It's credited by many to be one of the first comics to push the medium, inspiring writers and artists like Michael Chabon, Art Spiegelman, Alan Moore, and countless others. But as important as the series was, I don't think anybody was really clammoring for a movie adaptation.

When Frank Miller's abortion adaptation was released on Christmas Day in 2008, it was a critical an financial failure. It grossed 19.8 million dollars on a budget of 60 million, while recieving a 15% on Rotten Tomatoes.

With the superhero movies of the last ten years being rebooted entirely, would Hollywood even consider pouring money into another adaptation of The Spirit? Is there even a demand for it?

I don't know about the latter, but it CAN be done well. I think the first step would be hiring Michael Chabon as a screenwriter.

What do you guys think? Would a reboot be worth it? If so, how would it be done?

 

[chapin]

That reboot is not necesary at all

 

[IDrawDeadPeople]

While I've certainly made my peace with Miller's film and have grown to actually "appreciate" it for what it is... one heck of a silent film... I would honestly love to see the characters utilized in a way that I enjoy listening to as much as seeing.

If there is one character that gets discussed on the Hype that I could probably pass as resident expert on, it would be Denny Colt and his supporting cast, but I honestly don't know what direction to go in for a reboot.

Miller actually did remain faithful to a LOT of Eisner's words and characterizations (as lame as the scene turned out, Plaster's intro and speech were panel for panel from her storyline and a lot of the passing references were Eisner titles or lines [ie, "El Spirito"]). Where the film sorta failed abysmally was when Miller couldn't/didn't direct well or recycled unreasonable amounts of his own ideas.

Case in point; once upon a time, Miller had Daredevil running across telephone lines and rooftops in a snowstorm while giving a monologue about how much "his city" needed him. And that's just the opening scene of the film... it's a ton of self-homage like that that I think caused some of the off-kilter stuff that general filmgoers were sitting there thinking "this probably makes sense to somebody somewhere". Because, as much as I love the actors, visuals, and even to an extent most of the plot... the film just reeks of *********ory, self-reverential screenwriting.

All that to say this: I don't know how to be more faithful than Miller actually succeeded in being, yet I can't imagine a less faithful film at the same time. It's a dichotomy.

My sincere hope is this: Brad Bird never gave up on doing a Pixar style animated feature. I would give an awful lot for a Brad Bird animated The Spirit. I think his love of the characters and his ability to tell a story would slay any other filmmakers' approach to Eisner's work. Live action or otherwise. Because, an awful lot of what makes the obvious parts of The Spirit stories so strong (the femme fatales, for instance) is how those particular character arcs are always buffered by almost absurd or otherworldly plot devices.

As an example: I've made it clear on here that my personal favorite Spirit story is actually about a plastic gun that wishes it was a real gun until it sees how terrible violence is. Combine that with a golden age cover that I love from my collection that has an organ grinder playing on a corner while his monkey is headfirst in a bank night deposit drop unloading the cash. It's ridiculous, but it is a major part of the charm of Eisner's work. I think those types of nuances would be picked up far better by Bird than most others, although credit where credit is due, Miller having Denny throw snowballs at thugs with machine guns was pretty darn near perfect characterization.

Anyhow, my short answer is not so much a desire for a reboot, but to go back to the original plan, which was a Brad Bird animated feature.

End rant.

 

[SuperFerret]

No. It's had its chance, leave movies for more important and marketable characters.

 

[Panthro]

I wouldn't mind seeing a Spirit film that's actually good, but I don't see it happening any time soon.

 

[Octoberist]

I doubt we'll see another one..

 

[Paste Pot Pete]

Yeah, The Spirit isn't the same type of "too big to let languish" property like Hulk or even Punisher, where filmmakers will just keep trying.

It's more like The Shadow - it had its chance; it'll get another one in 15 - 20 years.

 

[Panthro]

Yeah, The Spirit isn't the same type of "too big to let languish" property like Hulk or even Punisher, where filmmakers will just keep trying.

It's more like The Shadow - it had its chance; it'll get another one in 15 - 20 years.

And that's if it's lucky.

 

[Octoberist]

Even then, I think The Shadow, Doc Savage or even The Phantom are somewhat bigger properties than The Spirit.

Despite the huge influence that the Spirit had on comics and the media, it never took off into the public's lexicon.

 

[Gunga Diner]

Even then, I think The Shadow, Doc Savage or even The Phantom are somewhat bigger properties than The Spirit.

Despite the huge influence that the Spirit had on comics and the media, it never took off into the public's lexicon.

I think that has a lot to do with the fact that The Spirit is way more interesting because of what it did for the comics industry than because of the characters themselves. The Spirit, Dolan, Ebony White, Ellen... None of them are really fascinating as characters, and the universe they inhabit really isn't all that exciting. What was exciting was the way Eisner used them to try different things with how a comic book could express a story.

 

[KenK]

Miller actually did remain faithful to a LOT of Eisner's words and characterizations (as lame as the scene turned out, Plaster's intro and speech were panel for panel from her storyline and a lot of the passing references were Eisner titles or lines [ie, "El Spirito"]). Where the film sorta failed abysmally was when Miller couldn't/didn't direct well or recycled unreasonable amounts of his own ideas.

It was a combination of both, but in terms of the general public, the former was a major issue. Understandably, I can see where Miller might have wanted as much control of the project as possible, having had bad experiences with being a screenwriter, and that being the end of his involvement with a film (the two Robocop sequels). And if not for the Sin City film, I don't know if he'd be so bold as to think he could direct an entire film on his own. (then again, Miller might have that kind of ego regardless) But really should have known better than to direct the film himself.

 

[C. Lee]

I would love to see a new SPIRIT movie. For now, I still have the TV movie...which is hundreds time better than the recent Miller abomination.

 

[TheVileOne]

It was a combination of both, but in terms of the general public, the former was a major issue. Understandably, I can see where Miller might have wanted as much control of the project as possible, having had bad experiences with being a screenwriter, and that being the end of his involvement with a film (the two Robocop sequels). And if not for the Sin City film, I don't know if he'd be so bold as to think he could direct an entire film on his own. (then again, Miller might have that kind of ego regardless) But really should have known better than to direct the film himself.

Looking at All-Star Batman and Robin, he definitely has that much of an ego.

 

[BillPardy]

I loved Miller's Spirit. I thought it was hilariously ******ed, one of my favorite movie going experiences.

 

[S.A.A.D.]

I can deal without a remake.

 

[Lord Blackbolt]

They should do a TV series instead.

 

[Gunga Diner]

They should do a TV series instead.

2D animation. Produced by Bruce Timm or Brad Bird or Michael Chabon. Or all three.

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

Don't need one... don't particularly want one.

 

[Octoberist]

I loved Miller's Spirit. I thought it was hilariously ******ed, one of my favorite movie going experiences.

It just shows that just because you're a geek, it doesn't mean you have good taste. t:

 

[JoeyConQueso]

2D animation. Produced by Bruce Timm or Brad Bird or Michael Chabon. Or all three.

That's what I'd say. get Darwyn Cooke involved and do an animated adaptation.

 

[BillPardy]

It just shows that just because you're a geek, it doesn't mean you have good taste. t:

What can I say, I like bad movies lol

 

[mego joe]

I would like a faithful Spirit reboot. The Miller film was just horrible and utterly boring.

 

[mego joe]

While I've certainly made my peace with Miller's film and have grown to actually "appreciate" it for what it is... one heck of a silent film... I would honestly love to see the characters utilized in a way that I enjoy listening to as much as seeing.

If there is one character that gets discussed on the Hype that I could probably pass as resident expert on, it would be Denny Colt and his supporting cast, but I honestly don't know what direction to go in for a reboot.

Miller actually did remain faithful to a LOT of Eisner's words and characterizations (as lame as the scene turned out, Plaster's intro and speech were panel for panel from her storyline and a lot of the passing references were Eisner titles or lines [ie, "El Spirito"]). Where the film sorta failed abysmally was when Miller couldn't/didn't direct well or recycled unreasonable amounts of his own ideas.

Case in point; once upon a time, Miller had Daredevil running across telephone lines and rooftops in a snowstorm while giving a monologue about how much "his city" needed him. And that's just the opening scene of the film... it's a ton of self-homage like that that I think caused some of the off-kilter stuff that general filmgoers were sitting there thinking "this probably makes sense to somebody somewhere". Because, as much as I love the actors, visuals, and even to an extent most of the plot... the film just reeks of *********ory, self-reverential screenwriting.

All that to say this: I don't know how to be more faithful than Miller actually succeeded in being, yet I can't imagine a less faithful film at the same time. It's a dichotomy.

My sincere hope is this: Brad Bird never gave up on doing a Pixar style animated feature. I would give an awful lot for a Brad Bird animated The Spirit. I think his love of the characters and his ability to tell a story would slay any other filmmakers' approach to Eisner's work. Live action or otherwise. Because, an awful lot of what makes the obvious parts of The Spirit stories so strong (the femme fatales, for instance) is how those particular character arcs are always buffered by almost absurd or otherworldly plot devices.

As an example: I've made it clear on here that my personal favorite Spirit story is actually about a plastic gun that wishes it was a real gun until it sees how terrible violence is. Combine that with a golden age cover that I love from my collection that has an organ grinder playing on a corner while his monkey is headfirst in a bank night deposit drop unloading the cash. It's ridiculous, but it is a major part of the charm of Eisner's work. I think those types of nuances would be picked up far better by Bird than most others, although credit where credit is due, Miller having Denny throw snowballs at thugs with machine guns was pretty darn near perfect characterization.

Anyhow, my short answer is not so much a desire for a reboot, but to go back to the original plan, which was a Brad Bird animated feature.

End rant.

I don't know if I'd say he was actually faithful, I think Miller used some superficial elements to appear 'faithful,' but the substance of what is in the movie just isn't faithful in ways that really matter.

It's really just horrible writing- which is what Miller seems to do so well these days. I still don't see how the producers didn't see it coming.

 

[Octoberist]

I think the problem with Miller film was that..I've often felt that a movie adaptation of a comic book should be as faithful as possible. At least in spirit, no pun intended. The reason being is because a comic book film could be used as a gateway to the comics for new fans. So, the movie is the mainstream representation of the comic, and if it's not done well, then people may be turned off by the entire franchise in general.

Case in point, Frank Miller's The Spirit could worked if it was an 'Elsewhere' comic, but as a movie, it was just bad. It had good intentions but it was too far removed from the comics, and too contrived to be even 'Frank Miller' good. I felt like he tried way too hard and just didn't know what to do as a director.