DOOM PATROL, DEADMAN TO THE BIG SCREEN; HULK GETS DIRECTOR

**MattBrady** · 07-20-2006, 03:45 AM

You know it’s the beginning of Comic-Con when no less than three items in today’s Hollywood trades are devoted to comic book films. According to the Hollywood Reporter, DC’s Doom Patrol and Deadman are each in development for a big screen adaptation, and Marvel’s Hulk sequel has new director.

Doom Patrol is being set-up at Warner Bros., with Adam Turner set to write, and Akiva Goldsman attached as a producer.

Referred by the Hollywood Reporter as “idiosyncratic DC Comics superhero team” featuring a collection of “super-powered misfits brought together by a man in a wheelchair, much like another superhero team that debuted in the same year, ‘The Uncanny X-Men.’

“The similarities proved to be superficial, however, and the Doom Patrol developed a cult following, especially during the late 1980s, when writer Grant Morrison introduced elements of surrealism into the series, continued the Reporter. “The main characters include the Chief, a paraplegic genius; Elasti-Girl, who can shrink or grow her body; Negative Man, a man in bandages who could release a silhouette form of himself; and Robotman, a former athlete whose brain resides in a robotic body.”

On the Deadman front, Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy) is in negotiations to develop the comics-to-film adaptation, teaming up with Don Murphy's Angry Films.

“Deadman is the ghost of a circus acrobat named Boston Brand, who was murdered during a trapeze performance,” reports the trade. “His spirit was granted the power by a Hindu goddess to possess any living being in order to find his killer. In the ensuing search, Brand finds himself obliged to help others. The hero was created in 1967 by Arnold Drake and Carmine Infantino and is known for a run of issues by artist Neal Adams.”

A search for writers is under way.

About the superhero, del Toro said: "(Deadman) has great supernatural elements and is one of the more off-kilter superheroes. What I like is that it has some of the canon of horror films but it has a quest and the heroics in the more traditional superhero roots. It's a great combination that is not very common to superheroes."

Finally, action director Louis Leterrier (Transporter, Transporter 2) has signed on to direct The Incredible Hulk for Marvel Studios. which according to the trade, will return the character to his comic book roots.

HR reports producers Avi Arad and Marvel’s Kevin Feige first met with Leterrier two years ago and were struck by his passion for the Marvel Comics Universe. “It was that passion that shone through recently when -- after approached to gauge his interest in directing a new Hulk movie -- Paris-based Leterrier went back to his studio and, with the help of an artist, storyboarded two action sequences and developed a take on the monster.”

"His movies have humor and character depth set against fantastic action, and these aspects will be explored to the fullest extent in 'Hulk," said Feige.

The script is being written by Zak Penn (X2: X-Men United, X-Men: The Last Stand). Casting will begin shortly.

Leterrier will be formally introduced Saturday during a Marvel Studios panel at Comic-Con.

mrorangesoda · 07-20-2006, 04:11 AM

Doom Patrol?? Sweet. Hope it's more Morrison-esque than the team we saw on Teen Titans. For some reason I think the Deadman concept would make for a better TV show (in a my name is earl kinda way) than a movie.

Also, First Post!!!

paulski · 07-20-2006, 05:00 AM

A Deadman movie would be very cool.

stiltman6969 · 07-20-2006, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulski

A Deadman movie would be very cool.

ok i will without a doubt go see a hulk movie directed by the Transporter dude.

Batdevil · 07-20-2006, 05:15 AM

Hulk + Transporter = Exploding Cars Everywhere...

majinlex · 07-20-2006, 05:58 AM

There goes my hope that the new Hulk film will be treated some bit intelligently.

Seriously, Louis Leterrier ? They're going from having a character based film with little action to what will likely be a complete full-on action film like those of the early 90's.
That's not why I read Hulk I'll tell you that much.

Uncle Jawa · 07-20-2006, 06:41 AM

Ok, I'm sold on the new Hulk movie, now. Also sold on Deadman, with Del Toro directing. Not so sure how I feel about Doom Patrol, though. It might come off as an X-Men rip-off to audiences, in the way that Fantastic Four came off as an Incredibles rip-off.

nietoperz · 07-20-2006, 08:09 AM

Deadman with Del Toro sounds great. I'd be more excited about the Doom Patrol if the dreaded Akiva Godsman wasn't involved...

LunarDaydreamer · 07-20-2006, 08:27 AM

Akiva Goldsman?! The words no comic fan ever wants to hear.

<sage> · 07-20-2006, 08:32 AM

Zak Penn on Hulk? Count me out

CitC · 07-20-2006, 08:49 AM

I think if they do a full blown Morrison version of DP (not necessarilly with those characters, but with the Morrison feel) it would blow non-comic readers away like Sin City did. Tt might flop and might only become a big cult hit, but it would still blow them away.

Amoebas · 07-20-2006, 08:52 AM

So much for Bruce Jones re-imaging.

If there's a film coming - it's gotta mean Boston Brand will be Deadman again on the printed page!!! I just hope Vertigo doesn't ask for Jonah Hex back when they have to fork him over.

Timberoo · 07-20-2006, 09:08 AM

Phillip Seymour Hoffman as The Chief!

genetic freak · 07-20-2006, 09:08 AM

Wow! This thread just went a complete 180 degrees after a few post.

genetic freak · 07-20-2006, 09:13 AM

Deadman seems to be in good hands. I love the Doom Patrol and I'm worried for it.

kingofcities · 07-20-2006, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timberoo

Phillip Seymour Hoffman as The Chief!

Wow, I second that one!

Can't wait for Deadman and Doom Patrol. It's nice to see some comics properties spotlighted that move beyond just the normal capes and tights set. And I'd watch anything del Toro directed. Anyone here see The Devils Backbone? This guy KNOWS dead people.

DarkFenixRzn · 07-20-2006, 09:33 AM

I'm probably one of the few people who really liked Ang Lee's Hulk, so I'm curious if the new film will be a sequel to it or a reboot.

The Deadman project is in great hands. I can't think of a better director for it than del Toro.

I'm most concerned by the Doom Patrol project, especially since Akiva Goldsman is involved.

WildKard · 07-20-2006, 09:43 AM

I also really liked the first Hulk so the new one sounds scary to me. I mean the Transporters are fun but it's not like they are complicated movies. It's more of an old school VanDamme action flick vibe than anything. I weep for the future of the Hulk franchise.

FireLight · 07-20-2006, 09:52 AM

Doom Patrol worries me - could be another LXG?

Deadman - I hope they do the 'origin' bit quickly and get to the meat of the story - Batman Begins was a good film - but was a 2 hour origin tale. I think enough people know who Batman is. Deadman might need explaining - but not a whole two hours to do so.

Hulk - like the increase in action potential - not sure I want to see slow-motion (bullet-time) fists breaking buildings for the sake of breaking things. Hope the reference to comic book roots might mean a Rick Jones appeance?

Spaz_Monkey · 07-20-2006, 10:06 AM

del Toro doing Deadman? I don't need to know anything else about the movie. I'm going to go see it!

BanMan · 07-20-2006, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by majinlex

There goes my hope that the new Hulk film will be treated some bit intelligently.

Seriously, Louis Leterrier ? They're going from having a character based film with little action to what will likely be a complete full-on action film like those of the early 90's.
That's not why I read Hulk I'll tell you that much.

Well the audience at large didn't appreciate Ang Lee was telling and decided that there wasn't enough smashing and bashing. So we're getting an action sequel for the greater audience.

khuxford · 07-20-2006, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LunarDaydreamer

Akiva Goldsman?! The words no comic fan ever wants to hear.

Producing, not writing...and he only really help screw the Batman Forever/Batman & Robin movies...but I firmly believe that it was really Schumacher that screwed that completely...

Michael P · 07-20-2006, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khuxford

Producing, not writing...and he only really help screw the Batman Forever/Batman & Robin movies...but I firmly believe that it was really Schumacher that screwed that completely...

I don't trust any script of Goldman's. His writing method completely annihilates anything worthwhile about a property or story in favor of hackneyed formula. The Oscars officially lost what little meaning they still had when he got one.

So, I'd give him equal blame for the Batman travesties, and hope he'll restrict himself to signing the checks for this one.

Harbinger · 07-20-2006, 10:38 AM

Doom Patrol could really kick ass with the right director. Adapt elements of Morrisson's "Brotherhood of DaDa" arc and get Spike "Surrealism Is My Middle Name" Jonze to direct. That would be bad ass. Worse case scenario we get another LXG as someone previously mentioned.

s*p rules · 07-20-2006, 10:39 AM

I, for one, am sick of all these touchy-feely, talk-talk-talk superhero movies (spidey2 and the complete suck that is Superman Returns, to name a couple). Throw the Abomination and the Rhino (too bad ang lee wasted the absorbing man) in a Hulk movie and bring on the destruction and fun.