Nowadays, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the most lucrative franchise of all times, with almost $9 billion after 12 movies (as a comparison, the long-living Bond franchise made a little more than $6 billion with 25 movies).
But, no matter how well is Marvel at the moment, there was a time when its characters didn't sell, with filmmakers trying and failing to bring some of the heroes to life. Here are those characters, those failed projects.
Quentin Tarantino and Luke Cage
Right after Tarantino made history with Reservoir Dogs, he was offered the chance to direct his first comic book movie. That was a time when superhero movies weren't a trend at all - still, the director was close to signing a deal, with the movie set to be a response to the blaxploitation films of the "˜70's.
And we know that Tarantino is the best at doing these types of movies. The guy is literally an encyclopedia of all the movies ever made!
For the role of the Marvel street-level superhero, Tarantino spoke with Laurence Fishburne, who was also enthusiast about the project. However, the director made Pulp Fiction instead, while Luke Cage is set to have his own Netflix series in 2016.
After leaving the Marvel project, Tarantino never came so close to directing a superhero movie again - though he did helm a small segment of Sin City.
On the next page, the Silver Surfer!
The "˜80's Silver Surfer
One of the least likely Marvel characters to appear in a solo film in the "˜80's, the Silver Surfer was very close to appearing on the silver screens. Envisioned as a space epic set in various places in the galaxy, heavily influenced by Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, and featuring a rock soundtrack of Paul McCartney, the Silver Surfer movie was supposed to have a budget of about $25 million. And it was a bit too much for those times.
Because of this, the Marvel superhero didn't go any further than the concept art stage. About 25 years later, the Silver Surfer made an appearance in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, voiced by Laurence Fishburne.
Of course, some of us are still waiting for this Marvel character to be portrayed in a proper way on the big screens.
On the next page, Brigitte Nielsen and She-Hulk!
Brigitte Nielsen and She-Hulk
Nowadays, one of the most beloved Marvel characters is the Hulk. But there was a time when his cousin was supposed to have a solo movie before him.
In the early "˜90's, after Tim Burton proved that superhero movies aren't necessarily as campy as everybody thought them to be, Brigitte Nielsen was approached to take on the role of She-Hulk, with Marvel aggressively trying to find investors.
Her as the lead superheroine might be an odd choice right now - but, at that time, it actually made sense casting her. At 6'1", with movies such as Red Sonja, Cobra, and Rocky IV under her belt, she would have made the perfect She-Hulk.
But the Marvel superheroine didn't make it past a photoshoot.
On the next page, Bo Derek and Dazzler!
Bo Derek as Dazzler
In the early "˜80's, when Marvel sold many of its first-tier superheroes, the company struggled to make a deal in order to bring a mutant to live. That mutant was the relatively unknown Dazzler and the deal was supposed to be made with any big record company of that moment.
It is easy to see why: Dazzler is a mutant who can convert sounds to light, to various effects. So it made sense trying to make a hit and make some money by seeking a record company as an investor.
Bo Derek was approached to portray the disco-loving mutant, the actress being more than happy to portray the character. However, things didn't go as planned for the studio and Bo Derek went and did Tarzan: The Ape Man, where she starred as Jane.
Daryl Hannah was then approached. Obviously, it didn't work this time either.
On the next page, one of the oldest superheroes!
Marvel's Namor the Sub-mariner
Yes, Namor was supposed to have a solo movie well before any MCU film was released. That was back in the early 2000, when Philip Kaufman (Invasion of the Body Snatchers) said that he is more than interested in doing such a movie, about a guy with wings on his feet, coming to exert vengeance on all those who destroy the oceans and seas of the Earth.
However, it didn't happen. And that is because of the legal issues concerning the character. To this day, it isn't known whether or not this Marvel film will ever happen.
On the next page, a Spider-Man villain!
Morbius - The Living Vampire
Little can be said about this Marvel project, other than the fact that it was supposed to be released in the early 2000's. Artisan Entertainment signed a deal with Marvel and it was expected for Morbius to receive a solo film (which would have been great, considering the fact that the Blade franchise was doing pretty well at that time).
It wasn't so. Though it owned the rights for the character, the studio went and did Punisher instead, with Thomas Jane.
On the next page, the special mentions!
Other failed Marvel projects
Spider-Man: James Cameron and Tobe Hooper (the director of Texas Chainsaw Massacre wanted to make a Spider-Man movie in which Peter Parker suffered a horrible transformation, growing 4 extra limbs).
Magneto: X-Men Origins: Wolverine changed Fox's intention of making a solo film about Magneto. However, the character's origin story (with elements from the already written script) was presented in X-Men: First Class.
