Imagine If, Aquaman Release Date 1972

Imagine if Hollywood had released tent-pole comic-book movies starring their iconic characters around the time of the source material’s release date. For the purposes of this experiment, we will say that a movie would be released 5 years after the introduction of the character, and only movies that have been made would be made.

In the 8 years since their last film, Marvel had released 13 films, leaving DC scrambling to find a franchise. Who better than the King of 3/4s of the Earth’s surface? DC for some odd reason hoped to recapture a certain aesthetic, mainly that of the Beach Party films. It has become a cult classic.

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AQUAMAN- Fabian Forte

One of the stars of the Beach films, of course.

MERA- Deborah Whalley

Another vet of the Beach party scene.

OCEAN MASTER- Sean Connery

His run as 007 was nearing an end, and he wanted to broaden his appeal and range.

BLACK MANTA- Yaphet Kotto

6’3″ Kotto was an imposing presence.

The soundtrack was performed by Dick Dale, of course.

 

Imagine If: Avengers, Infinity War (A Fox Production)

Based on my observation/ belief that Dr. Strange’s incantations reminded me of Mac doing his martial arts, and that Dennis would be a good Tony Stark, I decided to just go for it, and cast the entire MCU using only actors from FX series. Because jerks, this would be the most epic crossover ever!

• Dr. Strange- Mac from Always Sunny
• Iron Man- Dennis from AS.
• Spider-Man- Charlie from AS.
• Star-Lord- Pete from The League.
• Gamora- Lana from Archer.
• Thor- Dr Russsell Deramo from The League.
• Banner/ Hulk- Kevin from The League.
• Captain America- Drew from Wilfred.
• Black Widow- Jenny from The League.
• War Machine- JB Smoove from The League.
• Black Panther- Earn from Atlanta.
• Scarlet Witch- Sweet Dee from AS.
• Winter Soldier- Ruxin from The League.
• Loki- Taco from The League.
• Heimdall- Frank Gibiatti from The League.
• Drax- Dirty Randy from The League.
• Nebula- Meegan Eckhardt from The League..
• Eitri- Frank from AS.
• Wong- Judge Lance Ito from American Crime Story.
• Mantis- Shiva from The League.
• Groot- Archer from Archer.
• Rocket-Wilfred.
• Pepper Potts- Cheryl from Archer.
• The Collector- Cyril Figgis from Archer.
• Vision- Andre from The League.
• Falcon- Paper Boi from Atlanta.
• Thanos- Rafi from The League.

 

 

Imagine If: Infinity War, Release Date 1995

Imagine if Hollywood had released tent-pole comic-book movies starring their iconic characters around the time of the source material’s release date. For the purposes of this experiment, we will say that a movie would be released 5 years after the introduction of the character, and only movies that have been made would be made.

Teased at the end of GotG 2 with images of the iconic Captain America shield, gamma-irradiated eyes, Mjolnir, etc…. Producers wanted a huge hit! The casts of the first two GotG movies returned, with Robert Duvall reprising his role as Thanos, and Eddie Murphy, now a gigantic star, showing up because, the rumor has it, he was taking home a huge amount in points. However, the rest of the huge cast needed to be filled out:

Iron Man- Tom Selleck. Yes, he was 50 years old at the time of release, but his stint on Friends showed he was still virile. Plus, not many in Hollywood rocked a mustache. Reynolds had campaigned hard for the part, and it is believed there was footage from early production with Burt.

Captain America- Robert Redford reprised his role alongside Rutger Hauer as Thor.

Hulk- Steve Buscemi. Producers loved his nervous energy and bottled-up rage.

Black Widow- Nicole Kidman was the choice for both her red hair and acting ability.

Hawkeye- Stephen Baldwin brought both a manic energy and bizarre intensity to his role in The Usual Suspects, and producers loved his take on Hawkeye.

Scarlet Witch- Daniela Peštová was not only the SI swimsuit cover model, she spoke 5 languages fluently.

Dr. Strange- Sean Penn would to many always be Spicolli, but was now getting a  reputation as a bad boy and intense method actor.

Vision- Keanu Reeves‘ wide-eyed audition charmed producers for the android.

Henry Pym- Michael Douglas had the range to convey Pym’s intellect and adventurous nature.

Wasp- Sharon Stone was able to be sexy, fashionable, and authoritative.

Falcon- Morris Chestnut owned the role of Ricky in Boyz n The Hood.

War Machine- Wolfgang Bodison had impressed Rob Reiner enough to give him an important role in A Few Good Men.

Black Panther- Djimon Hounsou had started making ripples.

Loki- Mike Myers sold producers on his ability to morph into the role of the trickster Loki.

Spider-Man and Nick Fury also returned from prior films.

UNDER SIEGE 2: DARK TERRITORY, Morris Chestnut, 1995, (c)Warner Bros.

Max (MATT DAMON, center), Julio (DIEGO LUNA, left) and Spider (WAGNER MOURA) meet inside Spider’s armory in Columbia Pictures’ ELYSIUM.

 

 

 

 

Imagine If, Black Panther, Release Date 1971

Imagine if Hollywood had released tent-pole comic-book movies starring their iconic characters around the time of the source material’s release date. For the purposes of this experiment, we will say that a movie would be released 5 years after the introduction of the character, and only movies that have been made would be made.

Debuting the same year as Rise of the Silver Surfer, but coming out prior, Black Panther became a cult hit. Alan Alda had filmed a larger role, but when it appeared that Black Panther would premiere  before the rebooted F-4 film, it was trimmed to a cameo at the end.

Director Melvin Van Peebles was able to make the movie quickly, and cast himself as W’Kabi, T’Challa’s #2.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taking on the role of Man-Ape was former NFL player Rosey Grier, who was perfect for the role at 6’5″.

 

 

 

 

Who better to play the Murderous Master of Sound, Ulysses Klaw, than Frank Zappa?

 

 

 

 

As for the Black Panther, producers found a young actor whose voice projected all the authority they wanted from the figure, Morgan Freeman.

 

 

 

Imagine If: Cinematic Superhero Movies

Imagine if Hollywood had released tent-pole comic-book movies starring their iconic characters around the time of the source material’s release date. For the purposes of this experiment, we will say that a movie would be released 5 years after the introduction of the character, and only movies that have been made would be made.

How would Hollywood and fandom have looked if movies had been released on this schedule? Unlike Hollywood, we made an active effort to not re-use actors for different roles.

• 1943– Superman, starring Gary Cooper
• 1943- Batman, starring Robert Mitchum
• 1945- Ingrid Bergman as Catwoman
• 1946- Burt Lancaster as Captain America
• 1946- Cary Grant is Steve Trevor and Esther Williams is Wonder Woman
• 1950– The Power of SHAZAM starring John Wayne
• 1953- Robert Mitchum is Batman Forever up against Donald O’Conner, Dorothy Dandridge, Karl Malden,and Marilyn Monroe
• 1963– Lolita star Sue Lyon as Supergirl
• 1964- Green Lantern starring Warren Beatty, Elizabeth Taylor, Anthony Quinn and Jimmy Stewart
• 1964- James Garner in Superman Returns
• 1964- Mitchum is back, this time with Davy Jones in Batman and Robin with Tuesday Weld as Batgirl
• 1966- The Fantastic Four starring Paul Newman
• 1967- Jack Lemmon is The Incredible Hulk
• 1967- Kurt Russell stars as Spider-Man
• 1967- Thor starring Jerry Lewis and Introducing Rutger Hauer
• 1967- Dean Jones is Ant-Man
• 1968- Yul Brynner leads the X-Men
• 1968- Rock Hudson is Tony Stark, The Invincible Iron Man
• 1969- The Avengers Assemble
• 1969- Introducing Chuck Norris as Daredevil
• 1970– Alan Arkin is Dr. Strange
• 1970- Inhumans
• 1971- Introducing Morgan Freeman as The Black Panther!
• 1971- Alan Alda is Mr. Fantastic joined by Farrah Fawcett as Invisible Girl, Parker Stevenson as Johnny Storm, and Nick Nolte as Ben Grimm in Rise of the Silver Surfer
• 1973- Robert Redford, Burt Reynolds, and Steve McQueen starring in Avengers: Age of Ultron with Charlton Heston
• 1976- Swamp Thing with music by and starring Johnny Cash
• 1976- Batman Begins with Ryan O’Neal
• 1976- Man-Thing with Richard Dreyfus, Susan Sarandon, Kris Krsitofferson, and Jeff Bridges
• 1977- James Caan is Jonah Hex
• 1977- Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda on-screen again in Ghost Rider, starring Tom Laughlin
• 1978- Bloodsuckers beware, because Jim Kelly is Blade!
• 1979- Christopher Walken stars as Jigsaw in The Punisher
• 1980– Robert DeNiro is Wolverine in All New X-Men
• 1981- Yes, that is Eddie Murphy in Guardians of the Galaxy with Mr. T, Joe Pesci and Robert Duvall
• 1982- Gene Simmons is Dr. Bong, Phoebe Cates is Beverly, and John Belushi is Howard the Duck
• Jessica Lange suits up as Captain Marvel.
• 1985- Rob Lowe, Kiefer Sutherland, Ally Sheedy, Emilio Estevez, Brigitte Nielsen, and Blair Underwood are the Justice League
• 1985- Tom Cruise, Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Ricky Schroeder, Diane Lane, and Mitch Gaylord are X-Men: First Class
• 1986- Elektra starring Demi Moore
• 1987= Robert Englund is The Black King in The New Mutants
• 1989- Sting is Constantine
• 1989- James Cameron presents The Amazing Spider-Man starring Robert Downey Jr., Nicole Kidman, and Jamie Lee Curtis.
• 1990– Of course William Shatner is starring in Guardians of the Galaxy 2, who else would play Eddie Murphy’s father?
• 1991- Bruce Willis is the Comedian, Val Kilmer is Nite Owl, and they are the Watchmen
• 1992- Robin Williams is the Joker in Suicide Squad, starring Oprah Winfrey, Winona Ryder, Kevin Bacon, Ice Cube, and Mel Gibson
• 1993- Brendan Fraser is the Man of Steel
• 1993- Alicia Silverstone, Robin Williams, Tom Hanks, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Johnny Depp and River Phoenix in The Killing Joke starring Nic Cage
• 1995- The Avengers try and save the universe in Infinity War
• 1996- Pauly Shore is Weasel in Deadpool. Jim Carey is Deadpool in Deadpool. And Brad Pitt has a part, so do Sylvester Stallone and Julia Roberts. And, there is Wolverine, buuuuuddddy!
• 1997- BvS with Monica Bellucci as Wonder Woman
• 1998- Will Smith is Steel
• 1998- The Dark Knight Rises against Edward Norton as Bane
• 2010– Armie Hammer faces off against Tom Hardy in Captain America: Winter Soldier
• 2011- Thor:Ragnorak with Christian Bale as Hulk, Michael Fassbender as Thor, and Alan Cumming as Loki
• 2016- Spider-Man: Homecoming brought Miles Morales to the screen

 

Imagine If, The Power of Shazam, Release Date 1950

Imagine if Hollywood had released tent-pole comic-book movies starring their iconic characters around the time of the source material’s release date. For the purposes of this experiment, we will say that a movie would be released 5 years after the introduction of the character, and only movies that have been made would be made.

Billy Batson- Ricky Nelson (R)

Star of the popular Ozzie and Harriet series. His real-life brother David (L) would play the part of Freddy Freeman.

 

 

 

Mary Marvel- Natalie Wood

Young star in the making.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tawky Tawny (Voice)- Sterling Holloway

Prominent voice actor, he would later become best known as the voice of Winnie the Pooh.

 

Black Adam- Jack Palance

Film debut for the stage actor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SHAZAM- John Wayne

Young Billy Batson transformed into the titular hero.

 

 

 

 

 

Imagine If, The New Mutants, Release Date 1987

Imagine if Hollywood had released tent-pole comic-book movies starring their iconic characters around the time of the source material’s release date. For the purposes of this experiment, we will say that a movie would be released 5 years after the introduction of the character, and only movies that have been made would be made.

X-Men: First Class rejuvenated the franchise, and as in comics, New Mutants brought something new to the table.

Ed Harris reprises his role as Professor X, and Alyssa Milano appears in a couple scenes to tie it together, but this film, as the comic, was about the New Mutants. But, moving away from the Brat Pack drama of the First Class, this film was more of a horror film, catering to the rejuvenated interest in that genre.

Cannonball- Woody Harrelson

A bit old as an actor, yes, but did the charm thing well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Karma-Tia Carrere

An established actress, producers wanted someone who woudl be believeable as the leader of the team.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Psyche- Bettina Bush

Primarily a voice actress, but had some on-screen experience.

 

 

 

 

 

Sunspot-Gerardo

Rico Suave indeed. Arrogant, handsome, and South American.

 

 

 

 

 

Wolfsbane- Dervla Kerwin

Irish stage actress would be making her film debut.

 

 

 

 

 

Cypher- Corey Haim

Already a big star, producers were reluctant, but he nailed his audition, showing some of the depth he portrayed in Lucas.

 

 

 

 

 

And for the rivals, the Hellions, mentioned by name, paving the way for a sequel. Instead, the enemy in this was Demon Bear, with the Black King and Queen as antagonists.

Black King- Robert Englund

Freddy Krueger himself in a horror film.

 

 

 

 

 

Black Queen- Kelly LeBrock

 

 

Imagine If: Captain America: Winter Solider, Release Date 2010

Imagine if Hollywood had released tent-pole comic-book movies starring their iconic characters around the time of the source material’s release date. For the purposes of this experiment, we will say that a movie would be released 5 years after the introduction of the character, and only movies that have been made would be made.

The Winter Solider story arc brought back the one character who had stayed dead the longest in comics. Interest in the story, revitalized producers who green-lit a reboot to their cinematic universe.

Steve Rogers/ Captain America- Armie Hammer

Released the same year as The Social Network, this was the film that made him a star!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bucky Barnes/ Winter Soldier- Tom Hardy

Hardy would also see a double release, with this and Inception bringing him more into the public eye.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nick Fury- John Goodman

CGI was used to show Goodman and Cap and Bucky in flashbacks in WWII.

 

 

 

Falcon- Terry Crews

Often known for comedic roles, his muscles were nothing to laugh at.

 

 

 

Black Widow- Elena Satine

An actual redheaded Russian.

 

 

 

 

Imagine If: Ghost Rider, Release Date 1977

Imagine if Hollywood had released tent-pole comic-book movies starring their iconic characters around the time of the source material’s release date. For the purposes of this experiment, we will say that a movie would be released 5 years after the introduction of the character, and only movies that have been made would be made.

In an era of cult characters, Ghost Rider rode to the top of popularity. Producers had never really considered a solo title until movie maverick Tom Laughlin approached them with his take on the character. Laughlin, of course, is Billy Jack, ass-kicking man of peace. Laughlin purchased the rights to the property, promised a share of profits, but demanded to answer to no one, and make the film his own way.

Johnny Blaze/ Ghost Rider- Tom Laughlin

Roxanne Simpson- Delores Taylor

Laughlin’s wife, and co-star.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phantom Rider/ Carter Slade- Peter Fonda

 

 

 

Mephisto- Dennis Hopper

 

 

Imagine If: Dr. Strange, Release Date 1970

Imagine if Hollywood had released tent-pole comic-book movies starring their iconic characters around the time of the source material’s release date. For the purposes of this experiment, we will say that a movie would be released 5 years after the introduction of the character, and only movies that have been made would be made.

1970 was an interesting time in Hollywood, and Dr. Strange was an interesting title. Altman and Kubrick were doing fascinating things as directors, and producers wanted to make a movie worthy of the subject matter.

Dr. Strange- Alan Arkin

Intense, quirky, counterculture, and a critically acclaimed.

 

 

 

Baron Mordo- Donald Sutherland

As intense and quirky and counterculture as any actor working at the time.

 

 

 

Wong- Burt Kwouk

He was not as well-known as he would be in some alternate universe where he portrayed Cato in the Pink Panther films, but had made one appearance, and Arkin of course had portrayed the bumbling Inspector in a different film.

 

 

 

The Ancient One- Keye Luke

Well known Chinese-American actor.