A Geeky Viewpoint

John Ridley at the 2014 Oscars

Novelist and Oscar Winning Writer, John Ridley has been tapped by Marvel to help reinvent a superhero for a potential ABC series.

John Ridley won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay with his script for 12 Years a Slave and is working with ABC on the Drama Series American Crime.

The rumor mill is working overdrive as Marvel has announced that John Ridley is working on reinventing, their word, a Superhero for the small screen however no additional details have been announced thus far.

This is not the TV show in development for ABC that has links to the marvel Cinematic Universe, about two weeks ago new broke that Jeffrey Bell (Angel, The X-Files) and writer Paul Zbyszewski (Lost, Hawaii Five-0) have been handed the assignment to create the spin-off of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Marvel has used an interesting choice of words to describe the project "reinventing an existing superhero" and his made me think about how to read this.    In drawing up a list of potential superheroes that could be reinvented I had to cross many off the list.   Miles Morales / Spider-Man wouldn't need reinventing but could be an interesting show.   The Punisher is too dark for broadcast TV.  Ghost Rider, well Marvel doesn't currently control his rights.  Cloak and Dagger has been rumored for several years.  The return of the Incredible Hulk.

The one Marvel hero that really sticks out for me, Blade.   In 1998 Blade sprang onto the big-screen and the success of Wesley Snipes starring as the Day Walker (a vampire who could stand sunlight) lead to two sequels and a short lived TV Series.