1. X-Men (2000) 
OK. So this is me cheating. It's not so much the X-Men film that should be translated into a live action TV show, more just the X-Men themselves. The reason I initially fell in love with the X-Men was because of the original cartoon TV series. Since watching that show as a child, my love of X-Men has just grown and grown, and the idea of a well made live action X Men TV show just gives me a nerdgasm. As much as I loved this X-Men movie, and even more so X2 (I didn't so much care for any of the others- search my other articles to find out why) every X-Men film has left me just a little disappointed. I think the main reason for that is simply because there are so many characters that one film couldn't possibly do all of them justice. Also, there are so many characters I have been waiting to see properly translated into live action from the X-Men universe and so many X-Men storylines I have wanted to see that of course I am going to be some what disappointed. Translating X-Men successfully onto the small screen would be very challenging. Very few shows have been all that successful showing super powers on screen, although there have been a few successes. Heroes was successful for the most part and Smallville's earlier seasons were also pretty darn great. The most successful show to do it (and if you have read any of my other posts you know exactly what I am going to say now) is Buffy The Vampire Slayer... and this worked because the superpowers were kept very simple. There are many X-Men that could easily work on a smaller budgeted TV show, in fact most of the original members wouldn't be too difficult to pull off. Jean Grey is easy because her powers are mostly not very flashy (unless in Phoenix form), Beast would require a lot of make-up but Buffy had fancy looking demons on the show all the time so this is easy enough, and Angel would really only need two big wings. Cyclops would probably be the most difficult, but even then, not all that impossible. To make sure enough people are interested, you'd probably also need to include Wolverine in the show somewhere, but his powers are probably the easiest and cheapest to show. Ideally I'd like to see this show focused at a more adult audience, perhaps on HBO, and would prefer to see it less aimed at the younger teenage audience. I wouldn't want to see Cyclops and Jean in their teens but wouldn't completely object to this. Showing them in their early to mid twenties would be much better though. I also wouldn't want the show to be too focused on Xavier's School for mutants and be just another high-school drama , though having this as the base setting but not spending too much time in the classrooms would probably be the best and easiest way to go about it. The potential of a show like this for the X-Men universe is vast. All your favorite characters could have the development they truly deserve over 5 seasons, and your favorite stories could probably be featured as either a story of the week episode, or in a larger season long episode arc. The story I would love to see translated to the small screen, and one which would be pretty easy (for the most part) is the more recent Terminator-esque Messiah Complex and Second Coming stories (the X-Men try to protect the mutant messiah from being killed by various groups who want her dead- time travel is also heavily involved, as is the cool, not seen on screen so far character Cable), however there are so many great storylines to pick from. I'd also love to see the Rogue and Gambit relationship explored and the Jean Grey/Cyclops/Emma Frost love triangle also in later seasons. Still ,this would have to be an extremely well made show or I'd probably avoid it at all costs. But the potential for this show is vast and sets the imagination soaring with almost endlessly cool possibilities. And sorry Wolverine, but Cyclops should be the protagonist in this one. How about you? Are there any movies you'd love to see translated to the small screen? Sound off in the comments section...