Discuss: Should Fox Give Daredevil a Second Chance?

Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on September 10, 2008

By now it is likely that you have seen Variety’s report about 20th Century Fox’s intentions to retool and rebuild some of its superhero properties in the wake of a poor showing this past summer at the box office. It is then very likely that you saw where Variety’s report talked about Fox looking at more X-Men spinoffs along the lines of X-Men Origins: Wolverine and X-Men Origins: Magneto. One project that should stir up some interest is a Deadpool standalone project, based on the character played by Ryan Reynolds in next year’s Wolverine.

But probably the most interesting single line of the entire report on Fox’s future was this: “The studio is even considering reviving the Daredevil property.” The last time we saw Daredevil on screen, he was being played by Ben Affleck in Mark Steven Johnson’s 2003 adaptation. And while I personally didn’t think Affleck was a bad choice, and Colin Farrell was a solid choice as Bullseye, the film overall was rather underwhelming. I find it interesting that Fox would be interested in revisiting the character though, as Daredevil isn’t an A-level superhero. As well, I feel like they had their chance, much like Marvel did with Iron Man, to really bring him into the mainstream. But unlike Marvel, they blew it — and the character’s chances, at least this soon, of making it with a reboot would be slim. Then again, that is just my opinion, and this is all about getting your opinions…

So what do you think? Should Fox give Daredevil as second run? Also, which X-Men characters would you like to see get their own spin-off?


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  • Sam
    Depending on how well Deadpool's character is written, I would love to see that standalone. He's one of my alltime favorite characters, and I think Reynolds can pull it off fairly well. The problem will be if they still break the 4th wall or not.

    Daredevil was 'ok'. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't really all that amazing, and the whole kiss in the rain thing sort of ruined it. I was never really a fan of daredevil, and I think a lot of people probably feel the same way. I didn't mind him in other comics I was reading, but I wasn't going out of my way to pick up his books.
  • Wouldn't it be great if the spirit of a superhero translated into the type of film being made? Shoot Superman with a lot of pageantry if you have to, but do Dare Devil again with more gritty, indie feel and better acting. Affleck wasn't bad, but he's sort of the vanilla of acting. And Electra was...awful.
  • Trace
    I agree with what you say toward the end there, Neil. Fox blew their chances with DD and they oughta let it go. Even though the Hulk was rebooted and met much more success, I don't think people want Daredevil.

    I'm happy to see Gambit in the upcoming Wolverine movie. He should've been introduced a while ago, though.
  • JMoney
    gambit for sure
  • Alericc
    The only way Dare Devil should be made is by the comic book company directed by someone who actually reads the comic. Other wise they will try and rewrite it to "fit" into their notion of what Dare Devil should be and not what he is.
  • I have to agree, leave DD alone, the original showing was so lackluster that no one really cared about it, Ben Afleck was . . . ok . . . but Electra was crap, she ruined the movie with how much her character sucked. I groaned everytime she came on screen.

    If they do relaunch the DD series they need to keep it dark, more Film Noir than the last outing, and keep the origial stars (Save Afleck & Ferral) away from the film.
  • CapKwik
    Wasn't Frank Miller wanting to make a new DD? I think he would do a great job at it. Also Jason Statham wants to be DD. I think that they could make a good dark movie.
  • N
    I really don't like all these reboots being done only after 1 film. Superman and Batman really needed a reboot but I didn't think the Hulk did (although I suppose it was Marvel Studios doing thier version of the Hulk so I'm less miffed about that). I also don't think Superman Returns or Dare Devil need rebooting. Get a different director and make a sequel dammit! Comic-book films are beginning to get like comic books with various interpretations of characters. Soon we will end up with a Crisis on Infinite Earths film to tie all the loose ends. Seriously hollywood stop fucking about with the rebooting. Its not the only answer to mediocre comic-book films.
  • Harold
    I think what makes a comic adaptation successful is a. faithfulness towards the
    source material and b. no producer obstruction.

    I think the reason you can account for the success of certain films (ie. Iron Man,
    Spider-Man 2, X2, The Dark Knight, Batman Begins, 300, etc.) is because the films
    kept to the material. Okay MAYBE they shouldn't be shot panel for panel because
    you can hardly call that original (Sin City, 300 - still awesome nonetheless) but they
    should remain faithful thematically and stylistically and well for the most part to the
    plot. Obviously if you take the big name comics, you ought to make revisions to the
    story, but if you completely twist the story around and leave in a million plot holes,
    you end up having a film that completely style over substance. That doesn't mean
    it's not fun to watch, but it's not worth much as stand alone cinema. Call me a snob
    but V for Vendetta was not exactly AMAZING. It wasn't until I read the graphic
    novel that I actually understood everything that was going on. In said cases like the
    ones above where you have a single story, I think it's okay to be strict with the plot.
    It seems like Alan Moore didn't want to even have any association with the
    production because his name was dropped out of the credits for the film and all they
    credited was the illustrator David Lloyd.

    Moving ON, if you want to stay just thematically and stylistically faithful to the
    comic, you can't be having shithead producers like Joel Schumacher or whatever
    dicking around with the production. I'm pretty sure that's why Batman turned sour
    in the first place before it's awesome revision. I'm pretty sure that can account for
    EVERYTHING else ranging from the RoboCop sequels to Super Man Returns to X3
    (Spidey 3?), you get my drift. Now I'm just making these assumptions about the
    producers and I'm pretty sure you writers at FSR can substantiate or deny these as
    fact or fiction.

    My point about this IS, producers and production companies suck big elephant
    cocks when they dick around with the film production. It doesn't just happen to be
    the comic book adaptations but I feel like comic book adaptations get hurt a lot
    more than a lot of other adapted scripts. But, when they do get their grubby greedy
    little hands on the material, the main idea for them seems to be cash so they try to
    turn it into some sort of action porn and go over the top in SO many cases that the
    film is ruined and the characters are ruined and the stories are ruined. This isn't
    always the case, but when I've been most disappointed, it certainly was.

    My verdict to this long and perhaps unnecessary and probably rehashed (from a
    previous article from this website about how the Weinsteins are bastards) rant and
    response to the question: If you're going to remake it or make it at all, get
    someone with at least an ounce of credibility to write the script, put some solid hard
    effort into the film and for pete's sake don't just throw all the juicy fight scenes from
    the comic without some sort of character development. If I wanted a good action
    flick, I'd probably watch Rambo over and over again.

    Oh yeah and about sequel continuations - If it ain't broke, don't fucking fix it (I'm
    referring to you Joel Schumacher-Man, RoboCop sequels, Spider-Man 3, X3,
    Superman). Just stick with your guns and it'll be good for christ'sake.
  • Silver
    I definitely would like to see a DD movie. Personally I've never read the comic but I think the story was great (even though you still have to suspend your belief / I also understand that the comic story was much different). I don't know about Frank Miller directing though, the Spirit looks like crap. But with the right actor and director the movie could be a dark, gritty movie that I'd pay 10 bucks to see.
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