12 Comic Book Film Adaptations Stuck In Development Hell

2. Flash Gordon

Flash Gordon has long been a problematic property. As is well known it took George Lucas failing to secure the rights to give the world Star Wars, and barring Mike Hodges's vibrant take, and the abortive Sci-Fi series, subsequent filmmakers have suffered similar fates. Like with the pay-off of receiving Star Wars though, this might not be an altogether bad thing. The closest the project came to fruition was when Steven Sommers the director of "Indiana Clones" flick The Mummy was attached. You only have to look at Sommers's Van Helsing, and the fact that he planned to cast Ashton Kutcher in the lead role, to realise we have dodged a laser bolt on that one. The latest status is that it is at Fox and currently being developed by Star Trek 3 writers J. D. Payne and Patrick McKay. It's anybody's bet whether or not this is the version that will finally make it to the big screen. One barrier could be the astronomical box office failure of similarly themed property John Carter, though it is arguable that Flash Gordon is a far more recognisable character to modern audiences. The enduring love that exists for the 1980 version could well contribute to it finally being realised.