And how are Daredevil and Galactus involved?
Today, word hit that Fox and Marvel where doing a little bartering for the apparent rights to use the Sliver Surfer and Galactus in their upcoming film slate which is set to go into space. In return, Fox gets more time to develop Daredevil. Things as exciting as this would have been the first real crossover by two characters that were owned by another studio.
Why all the hubbub over Daredevil? David Slade, who was set to direct the reboot, dropped out last month to direct the Hannibal TV pilot. Fox was in a pickle as the rights were going to lapse and Marvel gets DD. Then word came that Joe Carnahan (The Grey, A-Team) was in negotiations to direct with a pitch to make a gritty revenge story with ol’ horn head.
Seems the reports were a bit exaggerated. It appears that Fox thinks that Fantastic Four is far more important, and don’t want to give up the devourer of worlds or the Silver Surfer. With Josh Trank, director of Chronicle set to helm the reboot, they see more potential in Marvel’s first family than the gritty exploits of a man with no fear. As it’s looking, Fox might let the rights lapse back to Marvel, or at the very least, co-produce with Marvel.
The question I have is that if the Daredevil changes hands, will Carnahan still make it? Marvel would be foolish to let Carnahan get away, as he’s garnered massive praise with The Grey that he’s on the cusp of becoming a major player in Hollywood. Plus, his take sounds perfect to launch a R rated Marvel franchise, as Daredevil is possibly the closest thing the studio will have that’s akin to Batman.
If anything, I would hope that this situation gets other studios to open up talks about sharing their movie properties with the house that created them. Because deep down, we all want to see Spider-Man and Wolverine next to that Avengers.
