The Batman was recently released to critical acclaim, with Matt Reeves and his incredible cast delivering a new take on Batman that goes in a different direction than previous Dark Knight directors have. The fact that there are still so many Caped Crusader stories to tell speaks to how malleable he is across different mediums.
While The Batman is yet another successful Batman reboot, other popular heroes are well-deserving of their own reboots. Some of these characters are either struggling to have new films made or were poorly adapted to film and haven’t been touched since. If Batman can come back from a failure like Batman & Robin and be on top of the film world again, then there’s no reason that other heroes can’t bounce back with proper reboots of their own.
10 The Green Hornet And Kato Need A Film With More Sting
Britt Reid/The Green Hornet and Kato actually pre-date Batman. Despite this and their presence on a short-lived television series, they haven’t become quite as iconic. They might most be well known for 2011's The Green Hornet, which was a notorious failure. Even star and co-writer Seth Rogen called The Green Hornet a nightmare to make.
Universal Pictures and Amasia Entertainment announced in 2020 that a film reboot was in the works called The Green Hornet And Kato. Whether this version moves forward or not, a reboot of The Green Hornet that takes itself a little more seriously and takes more inspiration from the source material is much deserved.
9 A New Howard The Duck Film Could Be A Self-Parody Of The MCU
Howard the Duck hasn’t appeared much outside of comics ever since his notorious film, aside from some delightful cameos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The potential is there for Marvel Studios to make a better solo film for the character than what was possible back in 1986.
A larger budget and modern effects guarantee the chance to capture the scope and the satirical yet surreal style of Steve Gerber’s original comics and transplant it into the MCU. Perhaps a new Howard The Duck film could act as something of a self-parody of the MCU, looking at the ridiculous nature of the Marvel Universe from Howard’s perspective and how he reacts to his role as a hero in it.
8 Dick Tracy Should Be Back On The Case
The last time that Dick Tracy graced the silver screen was in Warren Beatty’s 1990 film adaptation, which starred Beatty as the famous comic strip detective. Dick Tracy was a box office sensation, though Disney was not impressed and halted any sequel plans.
Beatty has talked about making a sequel for years. Whether Beatty gets around to a reboot or if his lease on the rights expires and someone else takes a shot, a new Dick Tracy film would be another great throwback to older noir movies. Taking a fully animated approach to the film could be beneficial in better capturing the source material.
7 Steel Is Deserving Of Stronger Material
John Henry Irons/Steel has long been a popular character in DC Comics. Fortunately, Warner Bros. thought this as well and produced a solo film for the character in 1997. Unfortunately, Steel (starring Shaquille O'Neal in the titular role) was a colossal failure.
While it's unclear what the future is for Henry Cavill's Superman in the DCEU, a new Steel film would be a great way to tie him back into the franchise. A reboot could see Irons become inspired by Superman's return after the events of Justice League, deciding to quit his job and use his weapons for good by directly going after the corruption in Metropolis. In turn, this could reinspire Superman as well.
6 Jonah Hex Should Get Back On The Saddle
There were many reasons why 2010's Jonah Hex failed, but it's not because Hex is an uninteresting character. He's one of DC's most underrated anti-heroes and he absolutely requires an R-rating, something the 2010 film lacked. While most of DC's characters can get by with a PG-13 rating, Hex is another beast entirely.
His stories are rooted in the often cruel and senseless violence of the American Old West, which would provide plenty of fodder for a film adaptation. Just as Joker looked to Martin Scorsese’s work for inspiration, a Jonah Hex reboot could pull from Sergio Leone's spaghetti Westerns to bring the fan-favorite anti-hero to life. The reboot could almost be a horror-like Western. With the right director, script, and star, this is a reboot worth making.
5 A New Red Sonja Film Could Be Mightier Than The Original
Red Sonja deserves a far better film than the embarrassing entry from 1985. A reboot has been in the works for many years. Most recently, Joey Soloway was on board to direct and Hannah John-Kamen was set to play Sonja, but both of them recently left the project.
Regardless, the flame-haired, sword-wielding warrior must get her due on the silver screen as the complex character that she is, with plenty of violence in her wake as well.
4 The Shadow Knows That It's Time For A Comeback
Batman owes much of his inspiration to The Shadow. Much like Batman, The Shadow is a brilliant detective and is proficient in hand-to-hand combat, but he's also skilled with firearms and as a master of disguise. The Shadow has only received one film adaptation, 1994's The Shadow.
The Shadow starred Alec Baldwin and was considered a box office flop. 28 years is far too long without a new film starring The Shadow. There has to be a director out there (perhaps Sam Raimi, who had been attached to a reboot) who could revitalize the character to strike fear and awe into the hearts of modern filmgoers.
3 Conan The Barbarian Deserves The Lamentations Of Modern Audiences
If Red Sonja were to get another film, then it's only fair that Conan the Barbarian gets a reboot as well. It wouldn't be the first film reboot for the Cimmerian warrior, with that honor going to the unsuccessful 2011 film starring Jason Momoa - Conan The Barbarian.
The shadow of the iconic 1982 film (also titled Conan The Barbarian) would loom large over any new Conan entries, but its approach to the titular character should be taken into consideration. Perhaps another reboot should be more of a sweeping fantasy epic like The Lord Of The Rings that commits to bringing Howard's world to life onscreen.
2 A More Faithful Adaptation Of The Spirit Would Be Welcome
As created by the legendary Will Eisner, The Spirit served and still serves as an inspiration to future comic book artists and writers thanks to Eisner's dynamic artwork and ability to juggle several genres throughout each story. The Spirit would be perfectly tailored for a film adaptation, but Frank Miller's 2008 film removed much of The Spirit's charm, color, and nuance. As a result, The Spirit ended up being a total mess.
Someone who truly understands The Spirit should oversee a reboot. The Incredibles director Brad Bird was attached to an animated film adaptation back in the 1980s, and it would be wonderful to see him finally get to make this version soon.
1 Spawn Has Spent Too Long In Development Hell
Spawn creator Todd McFarlane has spent years talking up a new film version of his iconic character. In the past few years, Blumhouse Productions became involved in a reboot with McFarlane writing and directing and Jamie Foxx on board as Spawn. Lately, the film once again seems back in development hell.
As passionate as McFarlane is about being involved in a new film, it would be best if a director with a flair for horror could helm it instead. Regardless of the director though, a new Spawn film should be able to combine the horror, fantasy, and anti-heroic elements of the character to ensure a definitive transition from page to screen.