10 Non-Superhero Comic-Book Movies That Must Happen

2. We3

Imagine Homeward Bound reinvented by James Cameron in his prime. Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? Welcome to We3: a beautiful, powerful, evocative, kick-ass comic book just waiting for the right team to bring it to a wider audience. Three animals €“ a dog, a cat, and a rabbit €“ have been kidnapped from their owners and used in military experiments. Our furry heroes are encased in heavy-duty exosuits and sent to perform covert assassinations €“ until, that is, a guilt-ridden scientist aids their escape. With vague memories of 'home', the three set out to find their families and the better lives they believe lie in wait elsewhere. Needless to say, the military isn't happy to see them go, and aim to bring their investments back by any means necessary. The action that unfolds across the three issues is nail-biting stuff, exploring such heavy themes as: man's dual potential for extreme cruelty and selfless kindness; unbreakable loyalty; the dangers of scientific and technological advancement; the importance of all life; and sacrifice for the ones we love. Written by super-genius Grant Morrison and illustrated by Frank Quitely, We3 was published by Vertigo Comics back in 2004 but is truly timeless. While this has all the ingredients of a heartbreaking watch, a movie based on We3 could well be an important piece of science-fiction cinema that provokes life-changing thoughts and feelings in audiences. Audiences might find the concept hard to take at first, as films based around animals are typically for families, and We3 has moments of violence that could not be cut. James Gunn recently had an informal chat about adapting this with Morrison himself, but no more has been said since. As anyone who follows Gunn on Facebook and Twitter will know, he's a huge animal-lover €“ combined with his impressive writing and directing skills, this makes him the perfect man to adapt We3 for the screen. The man behind mega-hit Guardians of the Galaxy would surely pique studios' interest and be a nice selling hook for mainstream audiences.