Four new heroes, zero old capes
There’s more to comics and graphic novels than supersuits and spandex, as these superhero-less smashes coming soon to a screen near you prove
Y: THE LAST MAN
if you like
Gender politics, the Apocalypse and faeces-flinging monkeys.
What’s it about?
A mysterious plague wipes out the males of every species on the planet — except, that is, wisecracking amateur magician Yorick Brown and his pet Capuchin monkey, Ampersand.
What’s it getting turned into?
An action-packed series set to air on US channel FX sometime in 2020, helmed by American playwright and Animal Kingdom producer Eliza Clark. It’s gone through development hell to get here: at one point, way back in 2008, Shia Labeouf was attached to star in a movie version by
Disturbia director D.J. Caruso. But the decade of delays that Y has endured might end up playing in its favour: author Brian K. Vaughan’s postapocalyptic gendercide tale has the potential to pack an even more explosive punch in our post #Metoo era and conversations about toxic masculinity.
COWBOY NINJA VIKING
if you like
Chris Pratt holding an axe and a samurai sword, while wearing a cowboy hat.
What’s it about?
The US government experiments on sufferers of Multiple Personality Disorder, turning them into weapons in the war on terror. When those test subjects go violently rogue, only one man — with the skills of a cowboy, a ninja and
a viking — can track them down.
What’s it getting turned into?
Priyanka Chopra is due to star opposite the once and future Star-lord in this zany blockbuster, described by the latter as a “passion project unlike anything you’ve ever seen” on social media last year. There have been a few bumps in the road — the film was originally due for release this summer, but continually delayed over script concerns — but sources at Universal suggest it is still in active development. The director, Michelle Maclaren, is responsible for memorable episodes of
Game Of Thrones, The Walking Dead and Westworld, adding to the anticipation.
TANK GIRL
if you like
Mutant kangaroo boyfriends, feminist punk anarchy.
What’s it about?
The clue’s in the title. Tank Girl, a character created by artist Jamie Hewlett and writer Alan Martin in 1988, is a girl who lives in (you guessed it) a tank and enjoys sexual and substance-related misadventures in a futuristic, post-apocalyptic Australia.
What’s it getting turned into?
For Margot Robbie, being associated with one colourful, acerbic, take-no-prisoners comic-book queen is evidently not enough. The Harley Quinn actress’ company, Luckychap Entertainment, reportedly optioned the rights to make a new Tank Girl movie earlier this year, following a 1995 film that retains a cult following but flopped commercially (you might even say it tanked). No word yet on whether Robbie will play the titular punk in this remake/reboot, but the film is already several months into development, according to Martin.
LOCKE & KEY
if you like
Mystery, murder and things that go bump in the night.
What’s it about?
After their father is brutally murdered, three siblings return to their family home in Massachusetts. One minor complication, though: the keys to this house, it transpires, grant special powers to those who possess them, which a demon is hell-bent on fighting them for. Bet they didn’t advertise that on Rightmove.
What’s it getting turned into?
The Stephen King connection is strong with this hotly anticipated horror adaptation. For a start, it’s a tale of trauma, adolescence, grief and ghouls, classic Kingian tropes, the lot of them. It also happens to pack a star of the recent It
movies, in the shape of child actor Jackson Robert Scott (Bode Locke). Oh, and did we mention Joe Hill, the author of the graphic novel, is the iconic spook-master’s son? With Carlton Cuse (Lost) in the showrunner seat, Locke & Key could follow Stranger Things as Netflix’s next child cast-driven, horrortinged smash.