1. Shaft
Background: Caucasian writer Ernest Tidyman created John Shaft, a kind of African-American amalgamation of James Bond and Sherlock Holmes, in 1970. However, Shaft is a great original character that has been immortalised on screen and is truly a cinematic hero. Gritty, witty and a sex machine to all the chicks.
Famous Portrayals: Richard Roundtree (1971-3, 2000) in four films
Last Major Appearance: John Singletons Shaft (2000), starring Samuel L. Jackson as Shafts nephew
Why We Need Him Back: I know what youre all thinking- eh? Where the hell does Shaft fit into a list of centuries-old pulp heroes?. Well, let me tell you- Shaft is the man. You know the name, his theme tune is more legendary than Supermans, Darth Vaders or Indiana Jones, hes cooler than a icecube and the smoothest operator this side of a butter churner. Who doesnt love Shaft? The only problem is because the literary origins are recent, and the character is best known for his on-screen adventures, its harder to adapt or update for an audience. But the fact is it is Richard Roundtree and Isaac Hayes music that is more renowned than the actual character of Shaft. And since he is nowhere near a famous or recurs quite as often, he is truly ripe for reinvention without being a cynical attempt at milking a cash cow. The last attempt to resurrect Shaft was a little hamfisted, and the original trilogy is kind of naff once you step back and look at it- so because he is not as untouchable as, say, James Bond, where there is little room for experimentation, and he is not as memorable, you truly can reinvent a brand-new character without bastardising a directors vision with CGI and merchandise. He has the potential to be huge, but the anticipation is low, so it could easily be a positive situation, a la Jack Reacher or Jason Bourne. You could effectively remake the trilogy, do a reboot/ origin story, a modern-day take theres a lot of different directions a reinvention of John Shaft could go.
The Future: God only knows. There were a few rumours a while back of a Singleton-helmed sequel starring Roundtree after Jackson lost interest in reprising the role, but it appears they are rumours only. God only knows if we will ever see the man who was marketed as "Hotter than Bond, Cooler than Bullitt"