10 Failed Alternatives To Upcoming Comic Book Movies

1. Darren Aronofsky's Batman Year One

Upcoming Film: The Batman. Director: TBC Alternative Films: Batman: Year One / Batman Beyond. Directors: Darren Aronofsky / Boaz Yakin Both Superman and Batman solo films were notably absent from Warner Bros' slate of DC releases, instead going head to head in their shared movie next year. The assumption is that they will both get a solo outing some time after The Justice League Part 2, with The Batman already rumoured. Ben Affleck's caped crusader is also rumoured to have a small role in the upcoming Suicide Squad movie, which would make sense considering it will feature his arch nemesis The Joker. Before Affleck, there have been numerous incarnations of Batman over the years, from Adam West to the Michael Keaton / Val Kilmer / George Clooney years to Christian Bale's Dark Knight trilogy, but there have further attempts to bring Batman onto film too... Batman Year One was considered after the colossal failure of Batman And Robin. Joel Schumacher suggested it, Warner Bros kicked him out and brought in Darren Aronofsky instead. Frank Miller - the man behind the iconic comic - was also engaged to write the script. Bizarrely, Aronofsky wanted to re-imagine the hero, not as a billionaire Bruce Wayne, but a man who grew up on the streets, plagued by nightmares and on medication. Aronofsky even considered Clint Eastwood for the role and planned to film Batman: Year One in Japan. Warner Bros dumped the project entirely in favour of the previously alluded Batman V Superman before Batman Begins was born. At the other end of the scale was another attempt to turn Batman Beyond into a film, again a reaction to Batman And Robin. The writers of the cartoon series, Paul Dini and Alan Burnett, were brought in to write the film that would see teenager Terry McGinnis take over the role of Batman from a retired Bruce Wayne. Boaz Yakin was hired as director. Unfortunately, along with a number of Batman-related projects, Warner Bros decided not to progress the project any further. There are a number of excited superhero films coming up over the next few years with Warner Bros / DC attempting to steal some of that Marvel magic. The bubble that is the superhero genre looks far from bursting, despite the occasional dud. What do you think of these superhero films that never saw the light of day? Missed opportunities or lucky escapes? Let us know in the comments section below!