With limitless potential and the deepest pockets in show business working for it, one wonders
when certain beloved — and in some cases, obscure and downright bonkers — Marvel comics
storylines will work their way onto Disney+. Here are a few crazy Marvel stories we hope
will soon hit the small screen.
Iron Fist: Seven Capital Cities of Heaven
It's no secret that Netflix's Iron Fist had its problems. It lacked the grit of Daredevil,
the intrigue of Jessica Jones, or the charm of Luke Cage. However, those that stuck around
to the end of the second and final season will know his storyline was poised to get
into some pretty fun and super-mystical territory.
As the character never failed to mention, he was the immortal Iron Fist, tasked with
protecting the magical city of K'un-Lun, but it was hinted that K'un-Lun wasn't the only
magical city worth protecting.
"K'un-Lun is one of the Seven Capital Cities of Heaven, probably never should have left."
In the comics, Danny's status as the Iron Fist makes him the perfect champion to represent
K'un-Lun in the Tournament of the Seven Capital Cities of Heaven. See, Iron Fist's home is
just one of seven cities that converge every 88 years for a good, old-fashioned, Mortal
Kombat-style fighting tournament.
Although Iron Fist may not have been the best show in the ill-fated Marvel/Netflix partnership,
it was at its best when it was showing off cool fight scenes and even cooler characters.
Adapting the Seven Capital Cities of Heaven storyline would basically offer the character
we know a bevy of opportunities to fight high-concept martial arts masters with powers and gimmicks
of their own. Now, there's a lot of stuff about portals, world domination, and the politics
of heavenly cities. If the studio can see fit to bring any of the Defenders back, this
story might be the way to go.
Deadpool kills the Marvel Universe
Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe is pretty straightforward in that it's just what it
sounds like. The talkative Wade Wilson that we all know and love becomes just a little
more unhinged and makes it his mission to kill literally every superhero and supervillain
in the galaxy. And honestly, we think that would make for a pretty awesome Disney+ show.
After all, part of what makes Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool movies so appealing is their irreverence
in the face of a superhero genre that often takes itself too seriously. Now, thanks to
the Disney/Fox deal, the actor has already said he's working on a third Deadpool project
with the fellas over at the MCU. What better way to introduce the fourth wall-breaking
character to his new superhero family than with a canon-defying romp where he battles
every single one of them?
It may sound dark, but that darkness is what makes the comic storyline so fun. Deadpool
uses Pym Particles to blow up most of the Avengers, the truth about his reality causes
Professor X to go brain dead, and he even battles Wolverine while wearing Beast's hide
as a furry cape. It's over-the-top, sure, but it's the perfect way for Wade Wilson's
self-aware antihero to enter the MCU and have a little meta fun in the process.
Obviously, the plan wouldn't be to leave Spider-Man with a bullet in his head like the comic does,
but with the What If...? cartoon and the time travel element of Infinity War and Endgame
on the table, anything could happen — as long as it's fun.
"I think it's gratuitous but whatever."
World War Hulk
The Hulk has mainly served as a supporting character in other heroes' stories for the
past few years, but a reimagining of World War Hulk with Banner taking the spotlight
would fit the MCU perfectly. The story is sparked by Tony Stark, Reed Richards, Doctor
Strange and others deciding that the only safe thing to do for humanity is to banish
the Hulk from Earth. However, when someone Hulk cares about is killed in the process,
he manages to return to the planet, vowing revenge on the heroes who sent him away and
caused the whole mess.
The MCU has hinted several times in the past that the Hulk's power is limitless in the
event Bruce Banner loses control and gets really angry. Giving the character a chance
to finally take the lid off and go toe-to-toe with a hero who isn't Thor would satisfy a
question Marvel fans have wondered for years: Could the Hulk be stopped by our heroes and
villains if they needed to? Thor knocked him out once, and Tony Stark won on a technicality,
but that was before Bruce Banner embraced his big green alter-ego. A Hulk that's both
savage and smart, like the one we see in World War Hulk, could be a lot more than they bargained
for.
There is a small but vocal contingent of fans who believe the Hulk didn't get a fair shake
in the movies. Adapting the World War Hulk storyline could satisfy that group in a big,
violent hurry. Plus, what's better than a whole bunch of MCU Hulk fights? Nothing, that's
what.
Nova
After the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie dealt so heavily with the Nova Corps, many
believed that the introduction of Richard Rider, the classic Nova of the comics, wasn't
far behind. And in Avengers: Infinity War, it's revealed that the planet Xandar, which
housed the Nova Corps, was destroyed by Thanos. A similar event happens in the comic books,
setting the lone surviving member of the Nova Corps on a journey to introduce one of the
most powerful cosmic superheroes.
So why should Nova's epic story be adapted for Disney+? Simply put, Guardians of the
Galaxy whet fans' appetite for more stories set in the cosmic reaches of the Marvel Universe.
Some of the strangest and most important comics take place on the fringes of the Marvel galaxy,
and since the third Guardians film is set to bring Peter Quill's story to an end, we
need someone else out there exploring the vast reaches of the cosmos.
So perhaps it's time to open the space travel doors in a way that's both accessible to the
audience and that expands the universe even more. This doesn't even run the risk of brushing
up against the main storyline of the movies since it's a lot easier to miss something
going on in the far reaches of the galaxy than in, say, lower Manhattan. Overall, the
possibilities are endless.
Cyclops in Space
If we're being honest, no character fared worse in the transition from the pages of
Marvel comic books to the big screen than Scott Summers. When he wasn't playing second
fiddle to Wolverine and Jean Grey, he was being unceremoniously killed offscreen. Meanwhile,
his comic counterpart is not only a capable and principled leader, but he often operates
as the voice representing the mutant community in conversations with fellow team leaders
like Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic, Black Panther, and more. So, since the X-Men movies failed
Summers in every way possible, maybe it's time to seize the opportunity provided by
Disney+ to remove him from the X-Men and just do some cool stuff with a guy that can shoot
concussive force blasts out of his eyes!
For example, Disney+ could take the story from 2014 where a time-displaced Cyclops finds
his way to space and goes on adventures with his father, who he thought to be deceased.
Better still, he finds out that his dad is a freakin' space pirate. Putting Cyclops in
the cosmos would not only help remove him from the X-Men, but it would put him where
he belongs, on the playing field with other major, recognizable characters. Marvel can
take all the time it needs to figure out how to bring X-Men and mutants into the MCU. While
that happens, maybe it's a good look for the new owners to rectify the mistakes made to
one of its most beloved characters by the past movies and give Cyclops his own story.
Secret Wars
If we've learned anything from pro wrestling, video games, and even the MCU itself, it's
that there's nothing better than a battle royale with a ton of characters taking each
other on in no-holds barred combat. In 1984, the Marvel Universe staged its very own all
hands on deck rumble with the Secret Wars storyline. It saw a being known as the Beyonder
gather a collection of Earth's greatest heroes and villains on a planet not-so-subtly named
Battleworld.
It was also one of the most popular comics at the time, as it marked the first major
crossover event in Marvel history. While the Marvel Cinematic Universe eventually evolved
into series of incredibly well-executed crossover events, Secret Wars has still got a lot that
fans would love to see. With the X-Men and the Fantastic Four being incorporated into
the MCU, we could get the entire universe of Marvel Comics together onscreen for the
very first time.
The original Secret Wars spawned a couple of direct sequels — including one where,
no kidding, Spider-Man had to teach the Beyonder how to use the bathroom — but in 2015, they
put a new spin on the concept. Also called Secret Wars, that story saw Marvel characters
from different universes crossing over with one another. While the multiverse logistics
would need some polishing, a cosmic-level event or a being like the Beyonder might provide
a quick and easy way for mutants to suddenly be around or for Stark Tower to somehow become
the Baxter Building without a lot of origin story mess.
Disney+ gives the MCU a rare opportunity to play with its own mythos without the ultra-high
stakes of a major blockbuster release. The original Secret Wars caught some criticism
for its somewhat simplistic writing, but it helped usher in the world of major comic crossover
events that the MCU perfected.
Civil War II
In many ways, the world of the MCU can be split into pre- and post-Civil War eras.
"He's my friend" "So was I."
It not only divided our heroes until Thanos launched his attack and became an unavoidable
threat, but it forced all the Avengers to grapple with a serious moral question and
to take sides accordingly. In 2016, the comics tried to recapture that magic by starting
a similar conflict between Iron Man and Captain Marvel in Civil War II, and that story would
make for a pretty interesting Disney+ feature. However, with Iron Man not in the best of
health these days, the leader of the second faction could be anyone, and the point would
remain the same.
In short, the plot focuses on an Inhuman named Ulysses who has visions of the future. Captain
Marvel sees this as the ticket to stopping horrible events before they happen. Tony Stark,
meanwhile, doesn't believe in taking preemptive measures to bring about peace. That provides
the moral line in the sand that characters have to take sides on. Like the Sokovia Accords,
it provides every hero in the Marvel Universe with a reason to not only take sides but fight.
While there aren't many Tony Stark-level replacements in the MCU that could take on Captain Marvel,
there are several principled heroes like Spider-Man, Hawkeye, Bruce Banner, and Thor who could
believably stand up for the rights of people to not be punished for something they didn't
yet do. With so many new characters joining the fold, it's time to get to know them in
a trial-by-fire setting once again.
X-Tinction Agenda
In the 1990 crossover event X-Tinction Agenda, various mutants from different teams are forced
to come together when they face an extinction-level event. When the island of Genosha ramps up
its effectiveness as a mutant enslavement empire, even enemies of the X-Men are forced
to worry about its power growing. The story sees estranged heroes reunite for the first
time in years to form a new team and combat the growing threat. Although the comic story
gets really into the weeds with its complications, it has some great action moments and could
do a great job of introducing not just the mutants, but the world that hates and fears
them.
Despite its very '90s trappings, X-Tinction Agenda has pretty much everything you'd want
from an X-Men story, from dynamic action to the metaphor of the X-Men fighting society
for their right to exist. In short, adapting the storyline could give audiences a crash
course in the X-Men, how the world views them, and what they can offer to change it, all
together in one tight storyline.
Check out one of our newest videos right here! Plus, even more Looper videos about your favorite
stuff are coming soon. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the bell so you don't miss
a single one.