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6 Franchises that Need a Reboot

Some Popular Franchises that could use a Reboot.

By Kent Ninomiya     July 21, 2009


6 Franchises that Need A Reboot
© Robert Trate

 

             It seems that there are no new ideas in Hollywood, only reboots of old movies and television series from the 70s and 80s. There are solid reasons for rebooting old franchises. There is a guaranteed audience of fans with fond memories of the original. There is also a pretty good chance that they will make a lot of money like reboots of Spiderman, Star Trek and Transformers. Here is a list of 6 franchises that need a reboot, but for some reason have not been tapped yet.
 
 
 

Escape starring Gerard Butler

 
1. Escape from New York
 
Why it needs a reboot: A futuristic anti-hero fighting the system and the bad guys to escape the hell of a decaying society. A lot of people can relate to that about now. Fans can easily image a world like that in just a few years. The 1981 movie and the 1996 sequel “Escape from LA” starred Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken. The franchise has a huge cult following. If it is modernized with the right star, it could be a big hit. Special effects could reboot the franchise the same way Terminator 2 reinvented that story line. The possibilities are endless: Escape from Detroit, Escape from Des Moines, Escape from Albuquerque, etc.
 
Why it might not get a reboot: The franchise is trying to escape from movie development limbo. Neal Moritz, the producer of the last Fast and the Furious movie, and Jonathan Mostow, director of Terminator 3, have been mentioned in talks about rebooting the franchise, but progress is stalled. It could eventually happen but it would be years away.
 
Ideal stars: Gerard Butler. He is slightly crazy with a brooding passionate thing going on.
 
 
 

Wonder Woman starring Angelina Jolie

 
2.Wonder Woman
 
Why it needs a reboot: Are you kidding? A smoking hot super heroine flying around in an invisible airplane kicking bad guy butt. What’s not to like? Lynda Carter starred in the Wonder Woman television series from 1975 - 1979. Her image is firmly entrenched in the fantasies of a generation of young men. It is a guaranteed hit. It would also have crossover appeal to women who see Wonder Woman as an empowering female. Let them think whatever they want. You can take a date to a Wonder Woman movie, stare shamelessly at her for two hours, then take credit for supporting films with strong female characters. Unless your girlfriend has a golden lasso, she can’t accuse you of lying.
 
Why it might not get a reboot: Warner Brothers says a Wonder Woman movie is in active development, but it has been for a long time. Josh Whedon, of Serenity and Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame, started writing a script in 2005 but later quit over creative differences with the studio. There are no solid plans to reboot Wonder Woman any time soon.
 
Ideal star: Angelina Jolie. Her in the Wonder Woman costume, ‘nuff said.
 
 
 

Space 1999 starring Gabriel Byrne

 
3.Space 1999
 
Why it needs a reboot: The plot was somewhat original as science fiction goes. The inhabitants of Moonbase Alpha are stranded on the Moon when a nuclear waste dump on the Moon explodes flinging it out of Earth’s orbit. Space 1999 featured some of the most original looking spaceships and handguns every created in science fiction. Martin Landau played Commander John Koenig, the leader of Moonbase Alpha. The television show premiered in 1975 and ran for just two seasons. In that short time it gained a loyal following similar to that of Battlestar Galactica. If handled correctly, it could see similar success.
 
Why it might not get a reboot: Most science fictions fans lived through the year 1999 and nothing like that happened. A movie entitled “Space 1999” would sound like a History Channel documentary. Unfortunately the title is closely linked to the franchise. Renaming it would cost a reboot much of its appeal.
 
Ideal star: Gabriel Byrne. He is smart and can keep together in a crisis.
 
 
 
 
 

Ultraman starring Jet Li

 
4.Ultraman
 
Why it needs a reboot: Before there were Transformers, Power Rangers, or Voltron there was Ultraman. The giant superhero dressed like a Mexican wrestler and battled space monsters. The flashing light on his chest warned that he could only stay in Ultraman form a limited time and had to return to his ordinary form as a captain in a futuristic security force. The Japanese television series was made in 1966 but thrived in reruns in the United States on independent stations throughout the 70s. It was a little strange watching the atrociously bad dubbing of dialog into English, but Ultraman was ultra cool for its time. Giving Ultraman an action movie edge like they did with Transformers could create a new generation of fans.
 
Why it might not get a reboot: Ultraman inspired many imitators. There were at least 10 spinoff series featuring an assortment of various ultra-type characters. This deluded the franchise making it seem more like a kids show than a classic sci-fi franchise. There actually was a 2004 Japanese movie called Ultraman, but it was rather campy and never made it to American theaters. It seems that few American movie studios want to take a chance on a franchise that is only remembered by people over 40.
 
Ideal star: Jet Li. He is actually a pretty good actor and can do all his own stunts.
 
 
 
 

Will Smith starring Will Smith

 
5.Westworld
 
Why it needs a reboot: Imagine going on vacation to an amusement park with convincing humanoid robots that make all your fantasies come true. This includes sexy girls you can bed and gunslinging cowboys you can shoot. That was the premise of the 1973 movie Westworld and its 1976 sequel Futureworld. Science fiction fans love the idea of going to one of these places, and are equally intrigued by the robots running amok killing the guests. It is horror movie meets western meets sci-fi meets soft porn.
 
 
Why it might not get a reboot: There has been talk about a Westworld remake over the past decade. Michael Crichton was mentioned as the screenwriter and Arnold Schwarzenegger as the star. Schwarzenegger is now the governor of California and the movie is still just talk. It seems to be one of those projects that floats around Hollywood with no place to land.
 
 
Ideal stars: Will Smith. He can pull of scared, confused and pissed off.
 
 
 

Fantastic Four not starring Jessica Alba

 
6.The Fantastic Four
 
Why it needs a reboot: The previous two attempts to reboot Fantastic Four as movies got a lukewarm reception from lifelong fans. They remain loyal to the franchise, but are still offended that Galactus was turned into a cloud. The fans are owed a Fantastic Four movie that is truer to the original. Forget trying to make it friendly to a new generation of kids who never creased a comic book in their lives. If you make an over-the-top adventure like the Fantastic Four deserve, the audience will follow.
 
Why it might not get a reboot: 2oth Century Fox owns the rights to the Fantastic Four. There is talk that it might get a reboot but it is not clear the direction it will take. The box office return on the previous two movies was modest by superhero standards. 20th Century Fox wants Ironman-like results, so might give it a harder edge. This might further alienate die-hard fans who want their Fantastic Four to be more fantasy than political statement.
 
Ideal stars: The current cast is pretty good as long as Jessica Alba isn't in it.
 

COMMENTS AND RESPONSES

Showing items 1 - 10 of 39
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Darkknight2280 7/21/2009 4:25:08 AM

Would really love a west world reboot. I loved that movie as a kid!!! I wouldnt mind seeing Will Smith take over the bad guy robot role. Would be a switch up for him.

dragon261 7/21/2009 5:26:12 AM

Of the above mentioned properties to get a reboot I think the most likely is Escape from New York.

jedibanner 7/21/2009 5:49:17 AM

Would loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove a Westworld reboot. As a kid, that movie scared the crap out of me, I hated cowboys after that.

Fantasfic 4 movies were crap and yes, Jessica Alba is no Sue Richard, THERE, I SAID IT. She was the weak link in those movies, the movies sucked and what didn't helped is the way they did Doom. He should've been more menacing, not of that skin crap and just be burn and being obscessed with mask or something but he should'v had a better armor and a better character.

wessmith1966 7/21/2009 6:07:39 AM

Space:1999 was one of my favorite shows when I was young. When the DVD collection of the show was released I bought it. There have been many shows since Space:1999, so I don't think a reboot would work. At the time it was somewhat unique; today it would be just another show.

Done well, a Wonder Woman movie would be great, but it doesn't seem that anyone can get a handle on it. Personally, I think everyone's overthinking the character; stick to the origin story and the costume. Put Rhona Mitra in the costume, have her kick the crap out of bad guys, and I'll go see it.

While I don't think it needs a reboot (the original movie is still good), an Escape from New York rebooted with Gerald Butler would get my movie money.

I'd love to see an Ultraman big-screen adventure. Ultraman and Star Blazers were two of my favorite after school shows when I was young. I was really surprised no one brought it back when the power rangers were really popular.

Westworld is definitely ripe for a remake, but not with Will Smith. The hero of the story should be someone who doesn't look or act heroic. Will Smith doesn't fit the bill for the lead.

As for the Fantastic Four...Keep Thing and Johnny and recast all of the rest. Let's face it, as long as the property resides at Fox we're not going to get an FF movie we want. Fox looks at its properties as cash cows and nothing more. Both FF movies were summer popcorn movies that made a profit for the studio and that's all that matters to Fox.

Hobbs 7/21/2009 6:40:48 AM

Everytime they remake a John Carpenter movie they mess it up beyond belief.  If they remake Escape I would need a really good script and director to pull it off.   They couldn't go the McG route or I guarantee you it would be shit.  I'm okay with Butler being Snake but by the time they finally do this movie he'll be too old. I think the guy is early 40's now isn't he? 

Westworld is long overdue for a remake and please, no Will Smith in the bad guy role or you'll get another Hancock.

Haven't seen 1999 since I was a kid but I like the premise.

monkeyfoot 7/21/2009 7:17:24 AM

ESCAPE: Yeah, it could be re-done quite well with modern FX but I don't think it's necessary. For me,Kurt Russell iis Plissken. It would be like somebody else doing Indiana Jones. Also, I think of this as one of those 80's remake ideas where they just want to make money off of childhood memories.

WW: Hell yes! Somebody get off their posterior and get this franchise started. Jolie is perfect character-wise but she is always too skinny now.

SPACE 1999: Wow, Wessmith! I didn't know anybody knew or cared about this show nowadays but me. I loved it, especially the first season (Great theme song!). But like UFO,the other British SF show from the same producers, I think there is zero interest in this returning as a moneymaking project.

WESTWORLD: This could be an interesting remake. I'm for it. You need someone iconic to play the Gunslinger though. Don't know who.

FF: I liked the two movies. For me the cast was near perfect. Their chemistry was so good you could put any FF plot idea around them and I'd watch it. But the box office was never great. I know getting rid of rid of director Tim Story, who wasn't that great in telling a great story, would help. I'd like to see them battle the Inhumans next. One super-powered family against the other.

avidfan 7/21/2009 7:31:24 AM

I would rather see another Escape with Russell.  I remember some talk of "Escape from Earth," why not?

Fantastic Four- a reboot already? the first two were good.  I think the whole super power thing is a bit played right now.  A darker fantastic 4?  Why not a darker strawberry shortcake?

Westworld- this should be remade (or was it with Jurassic park?). special effects advances could help it, but the characters in Westworld were real people and this needs to be done again (and no a man getting a divorce or being divorced does not automatically bestow upon him "character" status.  The insecurities of the heroes is a key -that is going to a place where everything is how you want it and then having the things servicing your desires saying "no."  Yul Brenner was the original terminator!

I prefer a wonderwoman with a little meat on her bones.  Don't get me wrong, I am not a chubby chaser, but hot ass Angelina is looking a little frail.  Wonderwoman comes from a paradise, not a world of famine.

 

 

kwsupes 7/21/2009 7:33:57 AM

Space 1999 could easily be rebooted as Space 2099 you still keep the name just change the time period, plus you open up the reboot for people who have not seen the original which I'm 29 and I remember only seeing part of an episode on SciFi back in its early days as a network when they were showing all the old bizzare sci-fi shows from the 60s and 70s. I would be interested to see this as a miniseries on SyFy or another network and I think Byrne would be availiable. As for Westworld good luck, it would be cool with current technology, but I wonder if it will ever see the light of day. I would be down with Butler as Snake, but I doubt that movie will ever happen plus the first one was so good, it would be hard to top. The people invovled would really have to work hard to overcome it and not just throw it together like Carpenter did the sequel in 1996 which was wildly subpar.

dragon261 7/21/2009 7:35:06 AM

With the advances in animatronics and cgi fx a Westworld remake would be awesome. In the orignal story they never showed what caused the park's robots to go apeshit. I think a remake should include a disgruntled emplyoee or  maybe a cyberterrorist uploads a virus into the main computer causing the chaos.

I agree that I think that the main charcter should be someone who doesn't look the part of a hero. Maybe who won the trip as part of a lottery.

UberGeek 7/21/2009 7:59:07 AM

NO MORE REBOOTS!!!!

Seriously -- we're all rebooted out!

Escape from New York should NEVER be remade (Hello? Zombie's Halloween abortion, anyone?)

And Fantastic Four 1 and 2 were close to perfect for that franchise. They got the humor and tone down perfect. All that needs to be done with that franchise is cast a better actress as Sue.

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