64. Powers
Powers is a luxurious amalgamation of a number of different ideas, combining Brian Michael Bendis passion for crime fiction and the police procedural with a VH1: Behind the Music look at superheroes, all told through an irresistible noirish filter. The post-superhero subject matter is a gold-mine, and the idea of unruly superheroes combined with a good old-fashioned procedural makes it something we havent seen before.
How Close Is It To Being Made?: Well it has been made... but as a television series. FX had picked it up a couple of years ago and has shot a pilot with Jason Patric as the show's lead. Unfortunately FX weren't all that pleased with how the pilot turned out and the show's future looks up in the air. Two months ago Brian Michael Bendis said the show was still alive but who knows for sure?
Casting Choices: Only one man could possibly fill the over-sized boots of Christian Walker-
Patrick Warburton (who you might remember
I pushed forward as my ideal older Superman too), while his wirey sidekick Deena Pilgrim might get a good performance out of
Mary Elizabeth Winstead. She certainly has the moves and the attitude, but Id think it very unlikely shed step down to a TV show.
Suggested by Simon Gallagher
63. Sam and Twitch
Hands up if you remember the Spawn movie from a few years ago? Now, keep your hands up if you actually enjoyed it. I bet theres not many of you left are there? One of the main reasons (and there were many) why that movie sucked so much was the overexposure of Al Simmons alter ego. Spawn should exist in the shadows, seldom seen but always present. So how do you bridge the gap when your main character is used so sparingly on screen? Throw in two of the most popular characters from the McFarlane Universe and make it about them. Sam Burke and Twitch Williams self-titled series was everything youd expect from a comic based in the Spawn-iverse. Its dark and gritty appeal would feel right at home alongside such shows as Homicide or NYPD Blue. Also, Simmons was not an integral character in their comics so the supernatural element could be removed or kept for key story lines. The animated Spawn series was executed very well. A live action, understated spin-off with Sam and Twitch could be just as good especially if Gary Oldman played Twitch, complete with Commissioner Gordon moustache!
How Close Is It To Being Made?: Not very.
Casting Choices: Gary Oldman for Twitch and Michael Madsen from Sam!
Suggested by Matt Aspin
62. Batwing
Simply put, Batwing is the African Batman. He appeared on numerous occasions throughout the history of the Batman main-canon comic book and was re-introduced and expanded properly by Grant Morrison in Batman Incorporated circa 2011. And since DC rebooted their universe at the end of 2001, Batwing has gone on to enjoy his own popular dedicated monthly issue as part of the new 52. Batwing occupies a different space than his Gothamite counterpart and as such his crime-fighting methodology is different enough to be fresh, but still familiar enough to echo Batmans M.O. Compared to Batman however, Batwing is a much more realistic, brutal affair; his nemesis for example is a psychopathic, warlord-like murderer known as Massacre. Batwings tone may indeed be different, but at his core, Batwing remains a character very much grounded in the principals and the personal code of Batman.
How Close is It To Being Made: Woah, hold your horses! Batwing has barely just managed to climb out of comic book character obscurity, so itll be a while yet before we see him onscreen, if he ever gets an adaptation at all. DC most certainly have their pick of the litter when it comes to characters to adapt for film, and until weve seen the successful development of their larger, more bankable properties, were unlikely to get anywhere close to a Batwing movie. That said, you really cant rule anything out, especially with Warner Bros. planning an upcoming Justice League franchise. Lets just hope were not looking at another Steel.
Casting Choices: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Omar Epps, Donald Glover, Mekhi Phifer
Suggested by Stuart Bedford
61. Moon Knight
Moon Knight is often blagged as being a rip-off of Batman. But anyone who says this clearly has not read the comics. He is a powerless human being (if you ignore the time he was bitten by The Werewolf, and when he was possessed by his own God, Khonshu) who has trained to an extraordinary level of fighting prowess. He use his fortune to kit himself out with the edgiest crime-fighting armour and gadgets, including a moon-shaped helicopter. By day he plays millionaire philanthropist whilst at night he costumes up and faces down crime. A champion boxer, master of multiple martial arts and Olympic-level gymnast Marc Spector is a man who can look after himself. And lets not forget about his awesome array of justice-dealing weapons. Spiked knuckle dusters, adamantium staff and his signature crescent darts that are fired out of wrist-mounted gauntlet-guns in this modern era. Add to this his carbonadium armour and Moon Knight is one damned violent and well-protected adversary. Stuff the bat. It is the shining white beacon of vengeance against the night sky that criminals need fear.
How Close Is It To Being Made?: No plans at Marvel for a Moon Knight movie just yet.
Casting Choices: Jake Gyllenhaal. No one can doubt his abilities as an actor or his perfect range of awkward moody (think Donnie Darko or Zodiac), and though the film itself stunk, Prince of Persia: The Sand of Time showed that he can handle himself in a muscle-bound, unshaven action style.
60. Captain Britain
Although 2012 is essentially a giant PR campaign for Britain Plc, and that might not hurt the chances of getting a British superhero on the Marvel Studios radar, its not really any reason to launch the case for the Lionheart of Avalon, Captain Britain. No, heres a titanic homegrown hero worthy of cinematic spectacle all on his own (maybe with a little help from his American brethren I said a little). Sure, we have the superheroics of Flemings 007, but Captain Britain is a true superman, infused with mystical powers by Merlyn no less and Roma, the Lady of the Northern Skies. Hes a powerhouse, man mountain, a man who made the intellectual choice of the Amulet of Right over the Sword of Might, but who can still throw a bus through a wall and lay waste to enemies from this dimension, or any other. Of course his first name is Brian, but you cant have everything. Along with his superhuman strength he has enhanced reflexes, stamina and senses. He can also fly faster than the speed of sound for prolonged periods and derives his energies from the friction between dimensions, focused in a matrix centered on the British Isles.
How Close Is It To Being Made?: Captain Britain is likely behind Ant-Man, Luke Cage, Doctor Strange and others in the pecking order for origin movies.
Casting Choices: David Morrissey could be a good shout, albeit with months of physical training and some visual effects wizardry!
Suggested by Mark Clark
59. Livewires
Written by Adam Warren, with art by Rick Mays (based on Warrens layouts), the mini-series inhabits the espionage filled corner of the Marvel Universe that is home to Nick Fury, S.H.I.E.L.D, and numerous secret organizations, like A.I.M. And Hydra. The Livewires themselves are a team of human form combat mecha (never call them robots, its their R-word) created by a top secret, quasi- governmental R&D program. The team consists of Cornfed, medic and in charge of mission support and co-ordination, Gothic Lolita, the teams muscle (described as Ben Grimm in baby doll lace), infiltration agent Hollowpoint Ninja, Social Butterfly, who is designed to manipulate people into giving away any piece of information she needs, and our P.O.V. character Stem cell, the newest member who can re-create a piece of machinery she sees, thanks to a nano factory where her stomach should be. Their mission is simple: hunt down and destroy other top-secret, quasi-governmental R&D programs.
How Close Is It To Being Made?: No plans at Marvel for an adaptation of Livewires right now.
Suggested by Tom White