The Top 10 Marvel Characters Who Deserve Their Own Film

Comics are king. Or at least that's what the box office shows. The two biggest films of the year? The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises, both based on comics. Only The Hunger Games has kept The Amazing Spider-Man from rounding out the yearly box-office podium and that financial success will likely continue with this week's release of The Avengers on Blu-Ray. Naturally, with this box office success comes more movies of the same genre. Marvel has been cranking out two films a year for the last few years, with talks of possibly upping to 3 a year, and has experienced massive success with almost all of them. They also recently announced their plans through the end of 2014 which include a Guardians of the Galaxy movie and an Ant-Man movie. Fans will certainly be happy to see both of those comic adaptations hit the big screen, but what comes after that? Many quality characters are still without their own live-action film, or without any representation in film at all. In order to ease Marvel's decision making process I've compiled a list of 10 Marvel characters who deserve their own film. Click below to continue reading. Captain Marvel Sent to Earth to spy on the human race and report back to his home planet, Captain Marvel began to understand and empathize with us. Because of this, he was branded a traitor and banned by those who sent him. Fans love an outcast and a rebel, and Captain Marvel could be both. Picture Dr. Manhattan in reverse. Instead of slowly losing touch with humanity, Captain Marvel starts off with no way to relate to humanity, and then slowly gains it, but still maintaining the distant sense of wonder that Watchmen portrayed (and with less blue nudity of course). The movie could consist of some awesome flights through space, unstoppable energy blasts, and some series interstellar politics arguments. Of course, the best villain would be Nitro. The fact that Nitro can explode his own body, and then put himself back together, makes him an extremely tough foe and leaves the potential for some really cool effects. He also ultimately kills Captain Marvel, so he would have to be in the films at some point if Marvel were to truly tell the full story of Captain Marvel. The fear here is of course the failure that has been seen by the last Superman film. Seeing how Captain Marvel has an even less realistic vibe than the Man of Steel, it could turn fans off of the film. However, I think being able to see all of Captain Marvel's awesome powers in action would be a huge draw, especially if they tied him in with a few cameos from other Marvel characters, say members of the Avengers or Defenders, both of whom he briefly teamed up with. Kingpin The most prominent crime lord in the Marvel universe, Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. the Kingpin, is an extraordinary villain and very deserving of his own film. This movie would be a great chance to showcase the scores of heroes and villains that Kingpin ties in with. They could use it to fix Daredevil, give us more of the Punisher, show the Spider-Man villains he worked with, or bring in just about any other part of the Marvel Universe. Even with all that going on, I want the focus of the film to still be on Fisk. How did he become the Kingpin? What motivated him to get there? And how does a respectable crime-lord feel about all these superheroes appearing to foil his plans? Kingpin may appear to be a large, overweight man, but he is in fact incredibly strong, having held his own against Spider-Man in multiple fights, and supposedly having less than 3% body fat. For a 400 pound man that means a whole lot of muscle. If the film didn't solely focus on his origin, his son Richard could play a major role. Richard eventually finds out where his father's money has really come from and is devastated. He fakes his own death and starts another crime family in New York under the identity of the Schemer. A major battle between the two crime families ensued, and the Kingpin falls into shock upon learning that his son is actually the Schemer. Using the story of Richard would be a great way to create some empathy for the Kingpin, making him an even more memorable villain for later movies with the rest of the Marvel universe. Though he isn't a hero that a lot of people love, a Kingpin film would be a great decision for Marvel. Click below to continue reading. Cyclops Wolverine may be the most popular of the X-Men, but if there was any other character who deserves their own origin film it's Cyclops. Cyclops was not given nearly enough credit in the X-Men films as he took a wimpy backseat to Wolverine. And that's a shame because he's an interesting character as he's the polar opposite of all of Wolverine's negative traits. He's the epitome of a self-less, controlled leader. Growing up he was easily my favorite of the mutants. I mean, Scott Summers is the commander of the X-Men and has probably the coolest mutation of them all, so to say the movies left me disappointed would be a severe understatement. There was an origins film rumored, which I suppose would really be the only way to have it be his own film and not just another X-Men film. As interesting as it would be to see Summers become Cyclops, I think the movie would be much better if it took place after he has already mastered his mutation. It would be very difficult to do this film without it being about the X-Men, but if they could find a way to make Cyclops the main focus, it would make for an awesome film. Another option would be the recent story where Cyclops kills Professor X. Granted, this again falls away from a solo Cyclops film and would be very much a film for the whole Marvel universe, but the potential of this story on the big screen is gigantic. James Marsden said a few years ago that he wants to do a solo film for Cyclops. In his limited screen time he did a fairly good job at portraying the character. I'm not going to say he was my ultimate choice for Cyclops, but if he can use his name to get this film into production, I'll be thrilled to see him reprise the role. Cable A mercenary who has fought alongside and against just about every Marvel group, Cable is a character who definitely needs a movie as soon as possible. Nathan Summers is the half-cyborg mutant son of, you guessed it, Scott Summers. If they did do a Cyclops solo film it would set up a Cable film perfectly. End Cyclops with his son being born, and a few years later give the fans the Cable film they want. Cable jumps between present day and Earth 4935, which is basically a dream come true for any sci-fi visionary. Few movies have gone that far into the future, and taking that Earth from comics to film is a task fitting for the finest of directors. Being from the future, Cable knows what is going to happen, but as in any time travel movie, he has the responsibility to not destroy the timeline. A lot of the tension from the film can come from that issue, but the focus of the film would have to be the showdown with Apocalypse, which results in a teenage Nate emerging victorious. Casting for this would be tough, especially considering there aren't many A-list actors who are 6'8" 350 lbs, but with a bit of CGI, and some slight shrinking of Cable it's very doable. Ryan Reynolds has been a proponent of a Cable film for some time, and he thinks Cable deserves not just one film, but a series involving a team-up/showdown with another Reynolds favorite (but more on that later). Click below to continue reading. Hawkeye Jeremy Renner has made it clear that he feels he was underutilized in The Avengers, yet Hawkeye was still a fan favorite, so why not give the character his own film? It seems that as much as people love watching characters with superpowers, people become incredibly invested to the relatability of heroes who create their own power, as Hawkeye does. It would be really cool to get to see the full arsenal of his trick arrows, and all the things that such an expert marksman is able to do with them. The beginning story arc where he assists the Black Widow in attempting to defeat Iron Man will probably be avoided due to where the Marvel films currently are on the Universe's timeline. However, that would make for a very good plot if they wanted to give his backstory, and it obviously ties very well into the characters that are already cast. Or they could just skip the backstory altogether and dive straight into his epic battle with Crossfire and his marriage to Mockingbird. Any chance to see another beautiful actress as a superhero would be celebrated by fans, and the partnership between Hawkeye and Mockingbird makes for one of the most badass couples in superhero lore. The film should be made in the near future as well, while Jeremy Renner is still tied in with the role. The actor really did do great work as Hawkeye, and he seems to be getting better with every film he's in. Let him be Hawkeye again, not hypnotized, on screen for a full 2 hours, and make an awesome movie out of it. Dr. Strange We already know that Guillermo del Toro expressed his fandom for Marvel's iconic sorcerer, and that Marvel wants this movie to get done, so why isn't it already in the works? Dr. Strange's backstory could be handled a bit like Batman Begins meets Kill Bill plus a dash of Harry Potter And The Sorcerers Stone. Stay with me now. For those who don't know, Stephen Strange was a neurosurgeon who was in a horrible car accident, which severely damaged the nerves in his hands, leaving him unable to continue as a doctor. In a desperate search for healing, he travels to Tibet where it is rumored that the mystical Ancient One resides. The Ancient One at first refuses to treat Strange, but agrees after Strange acts unselfishly when he attempts to stop Mordo, the Ancient One's pupil, from attacking the Ancient One. He then studies under the Ancient One, ultimately gaining the knowledge that he later uses to defend the defenseless as Dr. Strange. See, successful man goes away to Asia, learns how to fight from an eccentric master, and that fighting he is taught is mostly magic. Mordo would have to be the main villain for this film. Two sorcerers of equal power, with polar opposite motives would make for an incredible battle. But even better than that battle, the battle to end all, would be Dr. Strange vs Dormammu, the ruler of the Dark Dimension. I say take this film to another dimension, and let Strange battle the ruler of it, with the goal of not only saving a city, or America, or even our world, but our entire dimension! I mean, come on, if that's done well it could be one of the greatest superhero battles on film of all time. Strange could also be another chance for Marvel to capitalize on the Iron Man phenomenon of people loving charismatic, arrogant, middle-aged heroes. Strange is a bit wiser and more calculated in his moves too, so the perfect choice would be to let Liam Neeson play the role. Or, wait a few years for Orlando Bloom to be old enough. Either way, a Dr. Strange movie would be epic. Click below to continue reading. Black Panther There was an uproar from Black Panther fans when Marvel announced their 2014 films and T'Challa wasn't on the slate, so you know people want this movie to get made. Most well known for being the first black superhero to appear in comics, Panther would be a great choice for an upcoming Marvel film. The rulers of Wakanda, a small African country, are known as the Black Panthers, the defenders of their people. T'Challa takes the throne after spending years abroad studying in Europe and America. Wakanda is best known as the main source of the extremely rare vibranium. Yes, the same vibranium that makes up Captain America's shield and is discussed in Iron Man 2, so the story already has a firm foothold in the current Marvel films. Black Panther at one point joins the Avengers too, originally to spy on them from within, but eventually trusts in them and regards them as friends. This makes him a possibility for The Avengers 2, but I think he'd be better suited in his own film. The film could explore the legacy of the Black Panther, delving into the struggles of T'Challa as he tries to live up to the legacy of his family, and especially that of his deceased father. It's a recipe that has worked time and time again for movies and Panther would be no different. The most logical villain for the film would be Ulysses Klaw. Klaw fits perfectly in a story focused on the legacy of The Black Panther considering he was the one who killed T'Challa's father. When him and T'Challa first battle, T'Challa successfully cuts off Klaw's hand, yet instead of inhibiting Klaw, that allows him to be fitted with a dangerous vibranium prosthetic which fires sound waves. Using the main resource of Wakanda to defeat its ruler once again raises the theme of one man's defense is another's weapon, the same theme which fueled The Dark Knight Rises to be such a powerful film. Transfer a little of that to the Black Panther film and Marvel could have something really special. However, it has also been rumored that one of the scripts being worked on has Erik Killmonger as the villain. Killmonger is a major nemesis of Panther, having led uprisings against him and the Wakandan government, which would possibly lead to a more politically based film. Killmonger also had pet leopards who obeyed him. I can't think of many things more intimidating than that. One thing they have to be careful with here is the casting. A major actor wouldn't be as believable as an African ruler as someone more unknown would be. Anthony Mackie had said he'd be interested in the role prior to being cast as Falcon for Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and there has also been talks of Wesley Snipes in the role, but I almost think someone who is actually African may be a better fit. That being said, Marvel has done a pretty great job of casting their heroes recently, so I trust that they'd find a perfect fit for the Black Panther. Deadpool Fans love a good anti-hero, and there may be none better than Deadpool. There may not be a new comic book character more celebrated and more loved than the merc with a mouth. With some awesome regen-powers and quicker quips than Spidey himself, it's an absolute shame a Deadpool movie hasn't happened yet. Superhero films have become very serious, and Deadpool could provide an excellent change of pace. The guy knows he's a comic book character and that aspect, if done well, could play out very well on screen. That being said, the fact Deadpool breaks the fourth wall and cracks jokes doesn't mean this movie would be any less badass. Deadpool has Wolverine's regeneration powers, making him basically unstoppable. He is an expert with his swords, and isn't afraid to use guns along with his super reflexes when it comes to combat. Ryan Reynolds was awesome in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The scene where Wade Wilson is destroying bullets with his swords is probably the best scene of that whole movie, but the creative liberties Fox took on the character in the second half of the movie were outrageous. Forget the final scene and picture having a full two hours of scenes just like that first one. I see no reason to worry about casting. Reynolds has shown he's perfect for the role. In his minimal screen time he captured the annoying smart-ass that Deadpool is quite effectively. He's voiced his desire for a solo film, and a film with Cable, meaning if the script is right (and maybe even if it isn't), he's in. The Cable and Deadpool comics have a dedicated fan base, and a film showing them teamed up would be epic. If they used one of the story arcs from that comic and then had Deadpool and Cable battle, we'd have such a great film on our hands. The ongoing debate between fans over which of the two would ultimately win a final battle means that the result of the film would leave one camp infuriated, but that shouldn't make Marvel shy away from that phenomenal battle. Another interesting story could be the recent arc where Deadpool gets rid of his regen-powers. The mortality he's now faced with, after previously being able to take whatever came his way, ups the stakes significantly. Granted, to do this arc a film would have to first portray him before losing the power so that may be better suited for the middle film of a Deadpool trilogy. The Deadpool game is getting a ton of fans excited, and from what we've seen, it looks like it's going to be an awesome portrayal of the character, but a game isn't nearly enough to quell the fans' desire for Deadpool. Marvel needs to make this movie now, while Deadpool's fandom is at its pinnacle. Click below to continue reading. Venom Of all the characters on this list, a Venom film seems like it may be the most likely. The film has been rumored for a long time, and this past summer news leaked that Josh Trank is in talks to direct the film and that it should tie in with The Amazing Spider-Man universe. Venom is definitely a fan favorite. No Spider-Man villain is as loved among comic-book fans as the symbiote fueled Eddie Brock, so Marvel needs to go out and find an Eddie Brock with the physical stature to make him an intimidating foe (no offense Topher). In all honesty, I didn't think Spider-Man 3 did a completely horrible job of portraying Venom. The transfer from Peter Parker to Brock was pretty good, but the film really fell short when it came to the battle between the two. It didn't nearly live up to the huge potential this character has. The problem with a Venom movie lies in the fact he's a Spider-Man villain, and this couldn't just be a Spider-Man movie. That being said, they don't have to ignore Spider-Man. Obviously Venom isn't anything without the powers gained from the symbiote's time with Spidey, but they would have to work the plot away from what we've seen before. The best way to go about it would be to extract Spidey from the Venom/Carnage showdown and let that story stand on it's own. That showdown really has everything needed for a great movie, Brock is in love with his doctor, but he wants to escape prison, in his rebonding with the symbiote he enables himself to escape, yet puts her life in danger by letting the symbiote form into Carnage who then takes her hostage. Boom final battle. It could also focus on Brock away from Venom. Learn about his original time as Venom through his talks with the doctor he falls for, and let the audience (those who don't know the story of Venom that is) believe as she believes, that Venom is a figment of his imagination, making it all the better when Venom returns. With how many rumors have circulated about this film, you know people are thinking about it and want it to happen, now Marvel needs to make it happen. Click below to continue reading. Moon Knight Moon Knight comics have always left me feeling depressed. Even the "happy" endings aren't all that happy, but that realism and unending determination is part of what makes him such a great hero, and the perfect star of a movie for the "dark age" of comic films. Moon Knight isn't content with the two identities most superheroes get, he has four, all with a different purpose and all awesome. Sure, he's battling with the things he did as Marc Spector, but that identity is as valuable as the others since it provides much of the fuel for his crime-fighting escapades. And in every identity he's a genius! I mean the guy once wakes up from a distorted oblivion to quote Keats. I know plenty of English majors who can't do that. A Moon Knight movie doesn't even need a supervillian. Part of what I like so much about Moon Knight is the realism, he's always fighting gangs and normal criminals, and that should be captured in the film. Maybe later down the road they could incorporate the mysticism that is sometimes involved, but I say for this first film keep everything firmly grounded in today's New York City. If nothing else, Marvel should look at the success of the recent Batman films and realize their own vigilante detective with a cape could drawn much of the same crowd. Sadly, it's the similarities to the Dark Knight that will keep my favorite Moon Knight comic from being featured in the movie. The one I'm speaking of is the double issue where Moon Knight fights alongside The Fantastic Four and The X-Men. Now, I know that asking for all of those awesome characters in the Moon Knight film would probably be too much, and it has next to zero chance of happening, but the story is still one of the best ever written about the character. It starts with Moon Knight having his back broken by a villain, in this case The Fly. He then has to go through tons of rehab and find a way to get back in the game to defeat a villain that endangers many people. Sounds a bit familiar, I know. At the very least, the line for the moment when Moon Knight is finally realized has to come from that comic. When he is attempting to again don his cape and head out into the night he speaks one of the most phenomenally written monologues a superhero has ever uttered: "Because I have to be here. Because I'm needed. You know what's out there. It's a world in which the savages all too often rule our cities, our streets, our souls. The good citizens... They fight that tyranny as best they can. They aren't always enough. Moon Knight is more than a good man. He's a force that transcends the brutality and the fear that are the savages' main weapons -- because he can use those weapons himself. He's a savage on the side of the angels... a protector of innocents... a symbol of vengeance and hope. And God willing... if he does his job well enough... he'll be the last savage." Don't fight those goosebumps! Well, that's my list. Odds are Marvel won't be able to include most of these in their big screen plans, but if even a few of them get live action films I'll be one happy fan. What'd you think? Did I miss your favorite Marvel character? If so sound off in the comments section below.