Comic books have provided the source material for the superhero films that have dominated the box office in the 21st century. They are also relatively inexpensive to produce, allowing them to act as testing grounds for new ideas that the films may eventually use. It's a good way to keep fans engaged with the franchise without a huge big-budget commitment.
Because they're inexpensive, comic books also provide the opportunity for new stories in already-established worlds, either continuing from films or having new ones set in the same universe. While a lot of films have spun off into their own comic book franchises, many other movies could benefit from a similar treatment.
Austin Powers
As part of the promotion for The Spy Who Shagged Me in 1999, Wizard magazine released a single issue of several shorts that took place in the world of Austin Powers, but the issue is now long out of print and never had a follow-up.
Austin Powers hasn't released a new movie since 2002's Goldmember when Pierce Brosnan was still playing James Bond, the character spoofed by the series. A comic book sequel to Goldmember would allow for the character to return while not requiring the studio or star Mike Myers to commit to a film, while also being able to respond to the Craig-era Bond and beyond.
The Italian Job
The 2003 remake of the 1969 classic film featured a thrilling heist, a satisfying revenge story, and exciting car chases. But while there's been talk of a sequel, The Brazilian Job, ever since The Italian Job remake's successful release, the film has been stuck in development hell for nearly two decades.
While the star power of Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, and Jason Statham still carry a lot of weight, the likelihood of a sequel getting made is still slim. Why not turn The Brazilian Job into a limited series? If it's successful enough, perhaps it could even turn into an ongoing run.
Fast & Furious
A film franchise that began with street racers ended up as a heist and then a spy series, with Fast & Furious 9 featuring some unbelievable stunts, and seeing several of the characters launched into space! Even though it was a joke for years that Fast & Furious would do this, the franchise went there.
So, yeah, the Fast & Furious crew are superheroes already, which means that a comic book would play into it. A prequel comic that explores characters' past, which features the character of Brian O'Connor without having to worry about CGI or stepping on Paul Walker's legacy would be great. It could even take the route of introducing completely new characters, as well.
Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes
Only a year after his first appearance as Iron Man, Robert Downey, Jr. debuted as Sherlock Holmes in Guy Ritchie's action-adventure franchise. Although often compared to Benedict Cumberbatch's rendition, there are several notable differences between Sherlock and the films, including Ritchie's unique style.
While the third film was once slated to release in December 2021, there hasn't been much word on the franchise since October 2020. Between Ritchie's stylized action, the numerous stories it could adapt, and the excellent dynamic between Downey's Holmes and Jude Law's Watson, this version of Holmes would make for an excellent comic.
In Time
A critically mixed 2011 film starring Justin Timberlake, In Time takes the phrase "time is money" literally, with a future world where humans can live forever... as long as they have enough time on hand; if they run out of it, they die.
Although not a critical hit, In Time was a financial success, and contains within it a unique premise that lends itself to an age rocked by the recession. It may not be the happiest of premises, but it allows for a wide variety of storytelling possibilities. Since it was a 20th Century Fox film, Disney now owns the rights and could do the series in-house at Marvel, too.
National Treasure
Another franchise with a rumored sequel that's been in development for well over a decade, National Treasure 3 has been anticipated since the second film released in December 2007. However, there are now plans to make a National Treasure TV show on Disney+ instead, although the details about the storyline are scarce, and it's not clear if Nicolas Cage will return.
If Cage doesn't return, and the show goes in the reboot direction, Disney could still have the opportunity to follow up with the globetrotting adventures of Ben Gates in comic form, especially as a tie-in to the show. At the very least, though, reveal what was on page 47 of the Book of Secrets!
Red Notice
In 28 days, Red Notice is similar to National Treasure in that it features a quest for valuable historical relics, but unlike that franchise, all three main stars are thieves as opposed to historians (although Ben Gates isn't above law-breaking).
With two sequels in development, Red Notice is already a secure franchise, but at its start, these characters already have experience in the world of theft; a prequel comic following Hartley, Booth, and/or Black could create an intriguing backstory and build hype for the sequels.
Sam Raimi's Spider-Man
With his reappearance in No Way Home, Tobey Maguire got to put the suit back on after 14 years away from the character, and from hints of dialogue, it's clear that a lot has happened since fans last saw this version of the wall-crawler.
Regardless of whether or not Maguire makes another appearance, the fan adoration for his return shows how much interest there still is in this character, and a comic-book continuation at Marvel could take great advantage of this hype. Perhaps a Spider-Man 4 comic could include Dylan Baker transforming into the Lizard?
Inception
Inception rocked the entertainment world in 2010, becoming a cultural touchstone and even nabbing a nomination for Best Picture. It's a single-movie franchise, but with the budget of a blockbuster and the vision of an innovative director. (Christopher Nolan spoke in 2010 about making a video game out of the property, but nothing has ever come of it.)
Although Cobb's story is finished regardless of audience interpretation of the final scene, the ability to infiltrate dreams presents many narrative paths, and a comic would be able to capture a cinematic feel while standing on its own feet. Nolan adapted comic books for films; why not go the other way?
Harry Potter
Until the MCU and Star Wars dethroned it, Harry Potter was the highest-grossing film franchise of all time, and that was only one arm of the media empire that's now been named "the Wizarding World." How has there never been a comic-book series set in this world?
There was one official comic made in 2016 as part of Love Is Love, a comic anthology to benefit those affected by the Pulse nightclub shooting, but that's it. Perhaps the author has nixed any ideas for a comic series, but if one were made, it could add so much to the incredible, vast world of Harry Potter.
