Top 10 Superheroes That Need A Reboot

Time to dust off the capes and jump back into the fray. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we are counting down our picks for the top ten superheroes that need a reboot.

For this list we’ll be looking at superheroes that are in dire need of a cinematic revival or the Netflix treatment given the current state of their properties.

#10: He-Man

The Prince of Eternia has become something of a culture icon, though not for the reasons the creators were hoping for. After being chosen to wield the Power Sword and defend his kingdom from the likes of the equally entertaining Skeletor, He-Man was meant to be presented as a strong yet just warrior who had muscles for days. Considering this was the 80s era of cartoons however, He-Man comes across less of a badass and more of a…well…let’s just say alot of unfortunate innuendos got past the censors back in those days. The live-action adaptation starring Dolph Ludgren also did nothing to help matters. By the power of Grayskull…give this guy a reboot.

#9: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

Adaptations of Alan Moore’s beloved graphic novels have been hit and miss over the years, but none have dropped the bar lower than the flick that caused Sean Connery to retire from acting. Taking vast liberties with the narrative in an attempt to turn it into a Hollywood Blockbuster, the League more than deserve another chance, though perhaps a trip to the smaller screen might fare a bit better this time around. Considering these characters are far removed from the hero archetype and have to contend with their own inner demons, a Netflix series dedicated to exploring their individual darkness would make for both disturbing AND thought-provoking as opposed to just, disturbing.

#8: The Phantom

We live in a time where even the most obscure of superheroes are getting their chance in the limelight. But seriously…purple? Billy Zane’s time as the Ghost Who Walks was pretty much ludicrous from beginning to end, mostly due to everyone taking it seriously in an attempt to invoke some kind of grittiness. Fighting pirates and warlords right alongside criminals, The Phantom was a hero not limited to patrolling the streets of a single city. If anything a remake that is self-aware and provides a swashbuckling adventure would make for a rip-roaring time. Maybe cut back on the purple, just a tad.

#7: Jonah Hex

Talk about a spectacular flop. This film had so much going for it and yet it still managed to shoot itself in the foot. Josh Brolin as a scarred gunslinger out for revenge, John Malkovich as his nemesis, even Michael Fassbender as a sadistic Irishmen who likes to blow stuff up! With such a good cast and so much lore behind the character, what could go wrong? Well the final product turned into an expensive disaster, leaving the meanest gun in the west without a worthy adaptation to his name. A cinematic reboot on a lower scale would still be a worthy option, though if there’s a character that needs the CW to commission a series, it would Mr Hex. CW may not hit home runs, but their adaptation couldn’t possible be WORSE.

#6: Flash Gordon

Now we’re not saying that there’s anything wrong with this classic space opera. In fact, despite its immense 80s cheesiness it still holds up well today! Regardless, it might be time that the original comic strip was given justice in a new film or series that embraces its campier sci-fi elements while also not afraid to explore its darker aspects; namely the wasteland that is Planet Mongo, Ming the Merciless and even Flash himself. But for the love of everything please bring back Brian Blessed! No says Gordon’s alive like him.

#5: Blade

There was a time where Wesley Snipes’ portrayal of the Daywalker was the darkest, most violent and most awesome thing that Marvel had put on the big screen. The first two films in the series brought about genuine fright and exquisite fight scenes as Blade carved his way through an endless horde of vampires, even managing to kill Hellboy and Daryl Dixon at one point! Then came Blade Trinity, and it was awful. Then came 2006’s live action series, which couldn’t get past its first season. It’s fair to say that Blade’s return is long overdue, and the Marvel Universe could definitely benefit should the creatures of the night decide to make a comeback.

#4: Swamp Thing

Surprisingly, this heroically grotesque being has had his fair share of screen time throughout the 80s and early 90s! The man behind Freddy Krueger himself, Wes Craven, first brought him out of the swamp and onto the big screen, only to then lose him to a low budget sequel that featured a love scene that may have mentally scarred anyone who watched it. Swamp Thing’s resume is more than a little dismal, especially when compared to Marvel’s other huge green giant, but it goes to show that the defender of nature is still ripe for adaptation.

#3: Fantastic Four

Four appears to be the new unlucky number, as the First Family of Marvel have had four cinematic appearances and none of them can really be called amazing, especially in regards to that horror-show that was Fant-Four-Stick. Should Marvel ever recover the rights we have no doubt that they will be able to work their magic and fix the majority of the issues and perhaps find a way to reintroduce us to these characters without tossing in the same old origin story. Until that glorious day comes all we can do is pray that Fox doesn’t decide to toss out another fantastic failure in order to retain control. Don’t do it Fox, otherwise it really will be clobbering time.

#2: Spawn

Picture a being with the darkness of Batman and the killing tendency of Deadpool and you will just be scratching the surface of what Spawn is. After being brought back from eternal damnation, this former assassin works from the gutters and shadows, killing the forces of heaven, hell and pretty much anyone who tries to start a fight. His battles are of biblical proportions, his superpowers are too numerous to list and his cinematic debut was…uh…yeah not quite what fans were hoping for. Spawn is a force of nature who managed to defeat both God and Satan and pretty much stopped the apocalypse.

Before we reveal our number one pick, here are a few honourable mentions.

Tank Girl

Green Hornet

Darkman

#1: Green Lantern

The DC Cinematic Universe has allegedly pushed forward with bringing the Green Lantern Corps back to the big screen, but with the way that series has been going we are more than a little sceptical. Ryan Reynolds’ time as the Lantern was not received well, though we can hardly blame him as he and the usually fantastic Mark Strong were clearly doing the best with what they had been given. The biggest shame is that the concept has such potential to be a hit, what with so many races, fellow Corps and intergalactic villains to face off against, it practically comes gift wrapped! At least give John Stuart or Kyle Raynar a chance to shine, Hal kind of blew it.