October has suddenly been designated The Month That Superheroes Return To Telly Land. Or maybe it’s just a coincidence that, mere days after it was announced that DC is looking to lasso a new TV version of Wonder Woman, news comes that the Incredible Hulk, and his slightly less angry alter ego, Bruce Banner, are in development by Marvel’s TV arm for US network ABC.
Since Disney (which already owns ABC) bought Marvel, it was only a matter of time before the Mouse House started thinking about exploiting the comic company’s massive back catalogue for source material. But given how much play Marvel has given its green giant recently (with not one but two attempts at a standalone film and **The Avengers **on the way), we’re surprised that his was the project picked for TV treatment. There’s no word on whether the show (which is still in a gestational stage and doesn’t even have a show-runner attached yet) will reference the events of the Marvel movie universe.
According to the Heat Vision blog, Marvel struck first, taking a bevy of possible show ideas to Disney that included Luke Cage as a vigilante, The Eternals being the inspiration for legends around the world and Ka-Zar. Oh, and Thor’s Super Happy Fun Hammer Time For Kids. Okay, one of those isn’t real. But which one? That’ll keep you up at night.
The Hulk apparently surged to the front thanks to his recognisable brand and his past success with the 1970s TV version that starred Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno. And ABC is likely looking to build on the modest success of its new superhero show, No Ordinary Family, which stars The Shield’s Michael Chiklis as the head of an Incredibles-style family who suddenly gain powers.
Also slowly edging towards our (small) screens are Cloak & Dagger (a pair of mutant heroes who wage the war on drugs with their powers of light and darkness) and Frank Castle, AKA The Punisher, who has met with limited success in each of his film incarnations. Will he have more luck on telly? We may find out…