Marvel film announcements in Stan's Soapbox over the years

Kevin Roegele

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During the good old days of Marvel Comics, Stan Lee used to write a column that was published in all the comics, usually about upcoming Marvel film/Tv projects. Many of which never materialised. But it's intriguing to think about what was being worked on. Going thru my back issues, I'll post anything of interest that Stan reported.

Web of Spider-Man Annual 5 (May 1989)

"Captain America; Even as you read this, filming is about to start in Europe, and naturally Cap's villain with be the ever-loathsome Red Skull! (Note: This movie was eventually released on VHS in 1991)

"Spider-Man: Your battlin' Hollywood bullpen finally convinced the Hollywood wizards to stop writing screenplay after screenplay that didn't correctly portray the ol' wallcrawler. (Note: Stan is perhaps referring to a Cannon films draft in which Peter actually transforms into a giant spider). Now WE'RE gonna work on the movie story for Spidey - so just wait! It'll be coming your way before you can wiggle a web!

"Also in preparation (which means the scripts are being written right now!) are movies for Iron Man, Submariner and - buckle your seatbelt, brother - Wolverine! We're even playing with an idea for Ant Man, but hey, I've gotta save some surprises for another time!

"As for TV, it won't be long before we'll be announcing Daredevil in his own series! (Note: pilot for this show was never televised, but it does exist). And for the biggest, wildest surprise of all, who do you think will be co-starring with the Incredible Hulk in his next made-for-television spectacular? If you guessed She-Hulk, you wouldn't be too far wrong!" (Note: This indicates She-Hulk was originally intended to appear in the 1990 TV movie The Death of the Incredible Hulk).
 
Just shows how long they fought the uphill battle to get their properties on film.
 
Kevin Roegele said:
"As for TV, it won't be long before we'll be announcing Daredevil in his own series! (Note: pilot for this show was never televised, but it does exist).

Do you know this for sure? I know Rex Smith did a turn as DD in The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (I liked him better than Affleck - if not the costume!) and that that was supposed to be a springboard for a pilot but I never heard they actually shot it. If so I would love to get my hands on a bootleg copy!

I posted this a while back (I don't even remember where I got it) but it is an article in response to Stan's Soapbox comments about the "New, Big-budget, big-screen feature of Captain America!" - the 1991 film. The guy's comments are hilarious, especially if you've seen the film and just how "big-budget" it really is, and highlight just what a shameless huckster Stan the Man is - and I LOVE him for it! Check it out:

Found this in the archives; thought I'd share it. The stuff with
arrows is reprinted from a "Stan's Soapbox" in which he hyped the
(then-new) 1991 Captain America movie, starring Matt Salinger. (If
you've never seen it, well, don't bother.) The stuff without arrows
is my own caustic in-line commentary to Stan. Egotistically, I
thought it was funny. If you don't, oh well. But I thought I'd share
it again here.

***********************
>Greetings, True Believers!
>These weighty words are being pounded out on an old fashioned
>typewriter in Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia!

Just the place *I* would've wanted to be. What could be better
than a vacation in the land of Tito -- the "moderate" Communist
paradise, soon to become the land of race war and genocide.

> I'm here in a beautiful hotel on the Adriatic Sea because it
finally >happened! No, I don't mean Marvel finally sent me into exile!

Suuure they didn't, "Comrade" Lee.
You'd just better hope Tito doesn't remember what
finally happened to the Unicorn......

> This is even better - production has just started on our big, new >
>Captain America feature film!


This is even better -- a hernia AND a ruptured disk,
AT THE SAME TIME!



> some of the most exciting action sequences you've ever seen!

Car chases in Yugos! Fruit-cart vendors being knocked over!


> Then, after these scenes are completed, the entire production staff
>will move to other locations throughout the world

some garage in Southern California.

> The film is being produced by 21st Century Film Corporation

an offshoot of Century 21 Realtors -- with ALL their
vast experience in film production.


>and directed by Albert Pyun, one of the most talented young
directors to come down the pike. Hawaiian-born Albert has been a
Captain America fan for as long as he can remember and he's
determined that this production will do our red, white and blue hero
proud.
>

And our set designer is Bob Grindfilth -- he's never heard
of Cap, but is determined to get his paycheck and eat well for
another week or two!



> Starring as Cap is handsome, young and rugged Matt Salinger, who
has starred in many stage productions.

Remember him as "3rd sailor" in Mechanic Arts High School's
production of "H.M.S. Pinafore" ? (We would've gotten
Reb Brown, but our budget wasn't big enough to hire a star
of his magnitude.)


> Not only is he a two-fisted hero type,

both fists desperately clenching this role like it was
a lifejacket thrown to a Titanic passenger


>but the guy can also act!

What does it say that Stan felt he had to add this comment?


> You'll also find such popular favorites as Ned Beatty,

fresh from his triumph as "Otis" in Superman:the Movie

>Ronnie Cox, Darren McGavin and Scott Paulin in the cast.

The commercial they were shooting had just wrapped, see, and
Darren needed some beer money to get him through the weekend...


> Scott plays the reprehensible Red Skull, and you should see the
make->up that was created for the role. It's really something else!


It actually looks like some guy wearing a Skull mask!


> As for the stunts, many of them will take your breath away!

You'll wish they had taken the producers' breath away.


>I don't want to describe any now cause it'll spoil the surprises,

and keep you away in droves

>but those of you who like your action fast and furious will be in
>superhero heaven!
>

Just like you felt watching the Batman TV show.


> But don't get the wrong idea. Our off-beat new Captain America
spectacular isn't merely a mindless rock 'em sock 'em oater.

"Oater"?!?? I wasn't planning to watch
"The Cap with No Name"....


>No way! This one's got a real story to it

A change from the Fantastic Four movie, then.


>with suspense,

You'll wonder when it's getting better!

> sensitivity

You'll itch all over after you see it

>and carefully crafted characterization.

Like the touching story of the kid who sees Cap on
the V-2, grows up to be President, yet never forgets Cap.
*Sniff* Yes, the Prez of the US yelling, "Sock 'em, Cap!"
as he pistol-whips some hapless Italian punk. *Sob*
Oh, the humanity!

>You'll see the startling origin of the Red Skull

The tragic story of young Guido,
youthful Italian piano virtuoso, kidnapped by Italian
Fascists and injected with the Super-Soldier serum!
Who then becomes a Nazi, for reasons none too clear!
Who survives the war as the world's biggest mafioso!
*I* was startled -- that's for sure!


>as well as the origin of Cap himself.

The slightly-limping but already muscular Steve Rogers!
His tearjerking farewell from his family and home
in suburban California!
The secret lab underneath the roadside diner! The hot babe
Italian scientist, inventor of the serum! Cap wearing a
costume...for no apparent reason! Cap failing his first
(and only) WWII mission! Cap chained to a V-2, launched
from Germany, landing in Alaska!

Yes, it's all here,
Cap-fans...just as you remembered it!



>Then, as the scene shifts from the past to the present, you'll be
swept away in a surge of dazzling drama as you follow the gut-
wrenching metamorphosis of America's great sentinel of liberty from
his dazed awakening in a world he never made to his single-handed
battle to save civilization from the terrifying scourge of the Red
Skull's deadliest threat!
>

Stop! STOP, Stan!

Pause. Breathe. That's better.

You're right about the "gut-wrenching" part, though...




> Well, that's about all I can tell you for now. The shooting's just
started and I'm off once again to put my own two-cents worth into
things. I'll bring you another progress report next month (as if
anyone could stop me!).

From using my column for a cheap sales pitch.

> So remember, wherever you go, whatever you do, think Marvel! Cap
would want it that way!

Wherever you go, whatever you do...believe my line of bull.

Marvel wants it that way.



>
> Excelsior!
>
> Or as we say in Yugoslavia...
>
> Ziveli!
>
> - Stan Lee


And as we say in fandom...


***BARF!!****
user_offline.gif
 
I never knew a pilot was shot. I remember VH1 a while back had something called "Best TV Shows Never Seen" (or something like that) & it included both DD & Thor. So while I knew they planned on giving both of them their own shows & were just using those cheesy Hulk movies to launch them, I thought that was as far as it went.
 
I would like to see the DD pilot. Rex Smith was a pretty decent Daredevil.
 
All things considered he was. But the costume sucked & the billy club had a suction cup for a grappler.:rolleyes:
 
And who decides to become a superhero because he hears a cop say someone should? That's not a very Marvel origin.
 
Chris Wallace said:
And who decides to become a superhero because he hears a cop say someone should? That's not a very Marvel origin.

No, but that was not thru any fault on Smith's part. Those movies were cheaply done. But IMO Smith did a much better job playing Matt and DD than Affleck. He was more convincing as a blind person that Affleck and he didn't even get to wear the vision-hindering contacts! And as DD, he acted more like a person who can't-see-but-has-highly-tuned-other-senses than Affleck did. You got the impression that Affleck's DD could really see (totally the rsult of Affleck's lack of acting talent) as when he's catching Bulleye's throwing stars and looks at the last one as it hits his billy club. And even in a cheaply done made for tv movie, Smith seemed to fight better than big-screen DD. What a shame for DD fans. Maybe one day, we'll actually get a bigscreen version of the Man Without Fear played by the right person for the role and directed by someone who will actually let you see what is happening in the action scenes.
 
I liked Affleck, but that's just me. I don't think the TV version of ANY Marvel character has been better than (or even on par with) the film version.
 
Kevin Roegele said:
"Spider-Man: Your battlin' Hollywood bullpen finally convinced the Hollywood wizards to stop writing screenplay after screenplay that didn't correctly portray the ol' wallcrawler. (Note: Stan is perhaps referring to a Cannon films draft in which Peter actually transforms into a giant spider). Now WE'RE gonna work on the movie story for Spidey - so just wait! It'll be coming your way before you can wiggle a web!


He was right! It was done before I could wiggle a web!
 
Stan had also talked about James Cameron directing Spider-Man and possibly X-Men.
 

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