From the limited number of Marvel comics I have read, I can see that there are still hundreds of untapped corners of the comics world that would make for fantastic films within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. My favourite stories tend to be self-contained with a distinctive style, which is something that the best MCU movies- Thor Ragnarok, Winter Soldier, Avengers- tend to have as well. In this blog post I have compiled some of my 'MCU movie pitches' based on storylines/characters that deserve an adaptation. I definitely took this way too seriously.
Vision
Inspired by comic(s): Vision #1-12 by Tom King
Tone: American Beauty, Ex Machina, Nightcrawler
Potential directors: Yorgos Lanthimos, Jordan Peele
Plot: Tom King's run on Vision is one of my favourite comic book storylines because of its darkly comedic tone. The story follows a Vision who has removed his capacity to feel emotions. He has designed an android family for himself: a wife, Virginia, and twin children, Vin and Viv. There's even an android dog (we can check the 'cute pet' box for this movie pitch).
What appears to be a normal synthetic android family on the surface (come on, we all know a synthetic android family, right? Right?), quickly descends into violence, secrets and betrayal. Since it tackles themes such as artifical intelligence, normality and family, Jordan Peele (director of Get Out) would be a great choice but Lobster director, Yorgos Lanthimos, would infuse the story with off-beat dialogue and dark comedy, perfect for my...vision for Vision.
Where it would fit in the MCU: Since Vision was in the Avengers at this point in the comics, perhaps, after Endgame, Vision could be part of the West Coast Avengers and this film could be a self-contained spin-off from that?
2 Hawkeye's and a Mockingbird
Inspired by comic(s): Hawkeye by Matt Fraction
Tone/style: Mr and Mrs Smith, Baby Driver, The Nice Guys, Ocean's 11
Potential directors: Steven Soderbergh, Guy Ritchie, Shane Black
Plot: No, that isn't a typo in the title. In the comics, there are currently two Hawkeyes: the classic Clint Barton and the newer Kate Bishop. Fraction's run on the comics featured both archers, but I would also love to add Mockingbird (Bobbi Morse) to the mix as a highly skilled SHIELD agent who happens to be Clint's ex-wife.
The story could feature the three of them uncovering a conspiracy led by the Russian mob (who call everyone 'bro', by the way) to buy a compromising tape of a famous superhero commiting a crime, a story directly inspired by the comic. Also, Pizza Dog. Gotta have Pizza Dog.
Steven Soderbergh, known for Ocean's 11, would be the perfect director for this comedy-action, though giving the reins to The Man From U.N.C.L.E director, Guy Ritchie, would make for incredible action sequences which were a definite highlight in the comic.
Where it would fit in the MCU: links to SHIELD as both Mockingbird and Hawkeye work for the spy organisation. It would have to be an alternate universe though since MCU Hawkeye is so different. From the TV shows, I'd keep Adrianne Palicki as Mockingbird (Agents of SHIELD) and Wilson Bethel's Bullseye (Daredevil Season 3) as the main antagonist.
Champions
Inspired by comic(s): Champions by Waid, Zub (and more)
Tone/style: Edge of Seventeen, Breakfast Club, Into the Spider-Verse
Potential directors: Kelly Fremon Craig, Stephen Chbosky
Plot: The name Champions has been around for a while in Marvel comics, but the version I would like to see on the big screen is based on the current run of the team. In brief, the Champions consists of many of Marvel's young heroes such as Ms Marvel, Nova and Miles Morales. They want to make the world a better place, something they believe the Avengers are failing to do, so take matters into their own hands.
This film could target a teenage demographic whilst bringing to life characters who may not be able to carry a solo film. Adjusting to the MCU, potential members could be Ms Marvel, Miles Morales, Peter Parker, Shuri, Viv Vision (see above), Harley (from Iron Man 3), Cassie Lang, Groot and X-23. Oh, and maybe Pizza Dog?
Where it would fit in the MCU: a lot of the potential members are supporting players from larger MCU entries. The team could target smaller scale issues whilst also tackling a 'coming of age' storyline such as in Spider-Man: Homecoming. I could see this being a Spider-Verse style animation or a TV show as well.
Dawn Greenwood & the Silver Surfer
Inspired by comic(s): Silver Surfer by Dan Slott
Tone/style: Doctor Who, Spirited Away, Star Trek
Potential directors: JJ Abrams, Robert Zemeckis
Plot: Dawn Greenwood is a young woman who lives in a seaside town, and, unlike her twin sister, has no intention of ever leaving to travel. That is, until she meets the Silver Surfer who takes her on adventures across time and space (hence the Doctor Who tone).
Again, this is one of my favourite comic storylines- it is so delightfully adventurous, including elements such as time loops, space casinos, sentient planets, the living embodiment of the actual universe and giant space whales. It also has a quirky love story at its centre with a beautifully written, bittersweet ending. The writer, Dan Slott, describes Dawn as a 'Miyazaki' heroine (after Hayao Miyazaki, director of My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away) in that she never seeks conflict and would rather talk than fight, just like the young protagonists of Miyazaki's films for Studio Ghibli. This is something that makes Dawn one of my favourite modern comic book characters.
Where it would fit in the MCU: this would take place primarily on the cosmic side of Marvel: we could encounter the Guardians of the Galaxy, Knowhere, Xandar etc whilst also broadening the scope of the MCU's universe. It could also tie in with a potential Galactus/Avengers storyline, as Silver Surfer is primarily known as being the herald of Galactus, one of the greatest comic book villains ever.
Mockingbird
Inspired by comic(s): Mockingbird by Chelsea Cain
Tone/style: I, Tonya, Fleabag Season 1, Thelma and Louise
Potential directors: Greta Gerwig (get Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Chelsea Cain to write it!)
Plot: Mockingbird by Chelsea Cain is an incredibly fun and stylish comic. Presented in non-chronological order, we follow Bobbi Morse, an agent of SHIELD, who has a mystery to solve and SHIELD medical check-ups to attend. What could make this movie really compelling is that Bobbi is an unreliable narrator which leads to an intriguing mystery. There's also fantastic comedy. As an example, there are rapid-fire flashbacks sprinkled throughout the story depicting things like marriage councelling between herself and Hawkeye.
Bobbi is such a positive, intelligent (she has a degree in Biochemistry), witty character and with the potential to be one of the MCU's greatest female heroes. Also, I'm 100% up for the infamous 'ask me about my feminist agenda' t-shirt making an appearance.
Where it would fit in the MCU: This could be set after Hawkeye, Hawkeye and Mockingbird (look at me, I've got my own timeline going now), with that film providing an introduction to her. Maria Hill should make an appearance as a morally ambiguous player in the mystery.
House of M
Inspired by comic(s): House of M
Tone/style: Back to the Future, It's a Wonderful Life
Potential directors: Joss Whedon, Patty Jenkins
Plot: House of M is a story where Scarlet Witch goes insane and resets all of reality. In the new world, mutants are the dominant race instead of humans, Magneto is in charge and no one except Wolverine remembers the old reality. Every superhero wakes up with a different life- Peter Parker, for example, is married to Gwen Stacy and Captain America never left the 1940's. This storyline would have to be heavily adapted to fit in with the MCU's version of the characters.
My first 'event' film on the list has made me realise how difficult it is to pick directors for these cross-over stories. Both Joss Whedon and the Russo Brothers have proven themselves as being able to juggle multiple characters in a high stakes storyline, however the highly comic-booky nature of House of M means that I lean towards Whedon as the director for this one.
Where it would fit in the MCU: this would be an event film but perhaps at the end of Phase 5 or 6 once the X-Men are established (she says, like any of this is real).
Mighty Thor
Inspired by comic(s): Mighty Thor by Jason Aaron
Tone/style: Thor Ragnarok, Wonder Woman, Your Name
Potential directors: Makoto Shinkai, Alex Garland
Plot: This one was hard to pinpoint. All I know is that the director *has* to take inspiration from the utterly gorgeous artwork from Aaron's run of the comic which is why Makoto Shinkai, known for his stunning animations (Your Name, Garden of Words), might make for a visually gorgeous and yet character driven movie.
The story follows Jane Foster, dying of cancer, who suddenly gains the ability to lift Thor's hammer, Mjolnir, and turn into the Mighty Thor! I see this movie being an action-packed yet inspiring adventure, especially since Jane is a character who constantly grapples with death, and yet chooses to be a hero.
Where it would fit in the MCU: this would probably have to be an alternate reality because Mjolnir is no more....unless an alternate-universe Mjolnir appears which is why Jane can lift it? Who knows. This film would be split between Earth and Asgard, with Hemsworth's Thor making a cameo appearance.
Astonishing X-Men
Inspired by comics(s): Astonishing X-Men by Joss Whedon
Tone/style: Ocean's 8, The Royal Tenenbaums, Captain Fantastic
Potential directors: Ryan Coogler, Matt Ross, Joss Whedon
Plot: The MCU would not be complete without an X-Men movie, and I think Joss Whedon's run of the comics could be a good starting point since it is a modernised take on the famous super-hero team, with an interesting mix of characters.
Potential members for the MCU: Dazzler, Storm, Emma Frost, Cyclops, Beast, Rogue, Iceman and X-23 (no Wolverine/Magneto/Xavier to be found here, boys and girls).
Emma Frost is a particular favourite of mine as a telepathic former villain with a dark sense of humour. Plus, she's British which is cool. Storm should be one of the most powerful members of the team alongside Emma. Iceman and Dazzler can be the comic relief, Cyclops the leader, Beast the brains, Rogue should be the muscle and X-23, the young member of the group serving as the audience's viewpoint. Everyone should wear colourful costumes (no black leather) and, for the love of God, please no 'mutants are scum' storylines. I've had enough of that.
Legion, the son of Charles Xavier and a powerful mutant with multiple powers, could be an interesting villain due to his psychic abilities for Frost to battle, and then his ever-changing powers for everyone else to deal with.
Where it would fit in the MCU: this will be a highly significant movie in my imaginary MCU phase, since it is the backbone of all X-Men related spin-offs.
Rogue + Gambit
Inspired by comics(s): Mr and Mrs by Kelly Thompson
Tone/style: The Nice Guys, Bonnie and Clyde
Potential directors: Coen brothers, Shane Black, Guy Ritchie
Plot: Rogue and Gambit have been shining in their ongoing run of Mr and Mrs, a comic that follows the newly-weds fighting together against various Marvel villains. For those who are not familar, Rogue is a frequent member of the X-Men with the ability to absorb other mutant's powers and Gambit is a smooth-talking thief with the power to charge objects with kinetic energy. Both are amongst the most famous X-Men and one of Marvel's most iconic couples.
I imagine Rogue + Gambit to be a Nice Guys style buddy comedy, with a Western vibe. The characters should be in a relationship already so that we can cut out the whole 'will they, won't they' charade. As for villains, I am not entirely sure who the pair could go up against, perhaps Mystique?
Where it would fit in the MCU: an X-Men off-shoot that builds the role of mutants in the MCU.
Psylocke, Jean Grey and Emma Frost
Inspired by comic(s): New X-Men/X-Men Red/X-Force
Tone/style: Charlie's Angels, Inception, Legion S1/2
Potential directors: Joseph Kosinski, Ava DuVernay, Catherine Hardwicke
Plot: Okay, I'd give anything to see this one. Not particularly based on a specific storyline, this film could follow three powerful telepaths- Psylocke, Jean Grey and Emma Frost- who reluctantly team up to defeat Xavier's evil twin, Cassandra Nova. I want this movie to be Inception times 100: pyschic landscapes, psionic energy and mental manipulation. Each of the three leads have such different personalities and philosophies, but I can see them becoming an absolute powerhouse of a team.
Visually, this has the potential to be unlike anything before, so Joseph Kosinski, director of Tron Legacy and Oblivion could be an interesting pick, though Catherine Hardwicke may bring her own sense of style.
Where it would fit in the MCU: telepathy is my favourite powerset and I feel as though it has been barely explored in the MCU. This would be another X-Men off-shoot, with Emma Frost featuring in the Astonishing X-Men, as mentioned previously.
Daredevil: Yellow
Inspired by comic(s): Daredevil Yellow by Jeph Loeb
Tone/style: Lost In Translation, The Verdict
Potential directors: Sofia Coppola
Plot: Essentially a love letter to Karen Page, Daredevil's girlfriend who was killed by the supervillain Bullseye. Daredevil Yellow is narrated by a grief stricken Matt Murdock, reminiscing on his past. This concept could make for a beautiful drama, something that few superhero properties have done, apart from Logan and Jessica Jones. Through flashbacks centred on the pair's relationship, we also get some Daredevil action to look forward to.
Purple Man would be a great villain for this with his disturbing power to mind control those around him. We could also get a courtroom drama sub-plot featuring She-Hulk as a supporting character, since both her and Daredevil are lawyers when they're not saving people.
Where it would fit in the MCU: I imagine this as a movie intended for Disney's streaming service because the lack of action might not interest general audiences, but I will accept no Daredevil other than Charlie Cox.
Fantastic Four
Inspired by comic(s): Fantastic Four by Mark Waid, Dan Slott, Jonathan Hickman and more
Tone/style: Captain Fantastic, Star Trek
Potential directors: Brad Bird, Steven Spielberg
Plot: We've seen the origin story of Fantastic Four one too many times, so I propose that we start with the family already established: Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, Ben Grimm as well as the kids, Valeria and Franklin. Instead of a conventional Fantastic Four vs Doctor Doom storyline, it might be interesting to focus on scientific exploration through both time and space. However, what is most important to get right is the family dynamic which is someting that sets this team apart.
Everyone calls The Incredibles the best Fantastic Four movie ever made so its director, Brad Bird, may be an obvious choice, however he also has an incredible flair for action sequences. Spielberg would be an interesting pick as the master of both tension and wonder, and his talent for working with children.
Where it would fit in the MCU: there could be potential cross-over with Silver Surfer due to their matching tones and stories. Oddly, I think this would make a great animated film, in the vein of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe
Inspired by comic(s): Deadpool Killustrated, Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe
Tone/style: John Wick, Kingsman
Potential directors: Lord and Miller, Matthew Vaughn
Plot: The plot is in the title. Deadpool essentially realises he is a fictitious character and kills all the Marvel superheroes in the most brutal way possible. I would also add the follow up story-line where Deadpool kills characters like Moby Dick and Huckleberry Finn from classic literature.
Adapted to the big screen, we could see Deadpool kill famous movie characters like Han Solo (er, before TFA did), Marty McFly, Ripley, The Bride, Harry Potter etc. It will be an unashamed pop culture bonanza, which I know a lot of people disliked about Ready Player One, however, with Lord and Miller at the helm, this could be the most outrageously entertaining movie to be released in a long time.
Where it would fit in the MCU: I mean, this has to be an alternate reality. Due to the dark undertones of insanity, breaking the fourth wall in an unsettling way and a whole lot of murder, this would have to be R rated.
Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E
Inspired by comic(s): Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E by Warren Ellis
Tone/style: 21 Jump Street, Hot Fuzz
Potential directors: Edgar Wright, Lord and Miller
Plot: A group of B-list superheroes try to save the world, and along the way have to fight off deadly Koala bears, a giant dragon and broccoli men. Seriously. Featuring a monster hunter, robot, a former Avenger and a Nick Fury parody, this is one bizarre concept that someone like Edgar Wright could adapt perfectly.
Nextwave is often called one of the funniest Marvel comics and, with its wacky assortment of characters and strange humour, could make for a hilarious and self-referential MCU movie. For example, there is a scene where one of the characters parodies a much maligned Captain America line from another comic book, so I can see this film being the self-deprecating member of the MCU, along the lines of what Deadpool is to X-Men.
Where it would fit in the MCU: this could be the Suicide Squad of the MCU, except with B-list superheroes instead of villains. And er...actually good.
Secret Invasion
Inspired by comics(s): Secret Invasion by Brian Michael Bendis
Tone/style: 'Self Control' from Agents of SHIELD S4, Blade Runner, 10 Cloverfield Lane
Potential directors: Joel Edgerton, Lynne Ramsay, Dan Trachtenberg
Plot: Another event film, but this time without the traditional heroes vs villain formula. I imagine this as a thriller/mystery where none of the heroes can trust each other, having to treat every single person with suspicion because Skrulls, shape-shifting aliens, have secretly infiltrated Earth.
With Captain Marvel introducing the Skrulls, this one might be a real possibility. Imagine an MCU with the Fantastic Four, X-Men, Avengers, Champions and street level heroes, where one team realises the invasion has happened and struggles to warn everyone else. Every team should have sleeper Skrulls agents, with that character's odd behaviour set up in previous movies.
Agents of SHIELD had a fantastic episode with most of the cast replaced by LMDs (basically robots), so hopefully the films can take a few pointers from the show for setting up a secret invasion. In terms of directors, Joel Edgerton impressed me with his film, The Gift, which had a controlled sense of horror that would make for a really unique superhero movie.
Where it would fit in the MCU: this has the potential to be an Infinity War level event film, as long as it affects the entire Marvel universe.
Thank you for reading this article, I would love to hear which of the above pitches you would like to see most. For me, it has to be Vision or Mockingbird. I got myself way too excited imagining those movies. Follow me on
instagram (cinematicwallflower) or Twitter (@filmdomblog) to find out when I post my next article.
I do not own any of the images used in this blog post.
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