3. Flash or Impulse
While mostly forgotten these days, there actually was a Flash TV show back in the early 90s. True, it only ran for one season, but it did have nearly twice as many episodes as Birds of Prey (and was also easily twice as cheesy). After Kyle Gallner’s appearance as the character on Smallville, many thought that a Flash spin-off would be in the cards. But when Mercy Reef was scrapped, so too were any plans for a Flash show.
But now, years later, a show about a super-powered forensic scientist actually sounds like such a good idea, I’m actually surprised no one’s jumped on it yet. Imagine, a police procedural set in Central City, where Barry Allen is the lead lab rat. At night, he dons a costume to become the Flash and catches the criminals himself, having to keep his secret from the people he works with. The show would have an obvious appeal to people who enjoy cop shows like CSI or NCIS, as well as fanboys, of course.
Alternatively, instead of Barry Allen’s Flash, the show could skew younger and feature Bart Allen’s Impulse. Like Smallville, it could follow the character through high school, but keep Barry Allen and Wally West around, and whatever other Justice League characters they can get the rights to, and make Impulse’s goal to one day fight alongside them. So instead of Clark’s journey of learning that he should be a superhero one day, we instead get a hero who dreams of being a hero, but keeps being told “not yet.”
2. Gambit
Perhaps the most popular X-Men character whose early life wasn’t at the Xavier Institute, there is huge potential for a show about the formative years in Gambit’s life. Growing up in the Louisiana Bayou, Remy LeBeau was a member of the Thieves’ Guild, trained in the arts of deception. With the popularity of True Blood, it would be easy to sell another show set in New Orleans, although obviously they wouldn’t want to draw too many comparisons.
My idea for a Gambit show would center around how growing up, Remy never quite fit in with the rest of his family or the Guild. While a gifted thief, he’s never really sure whether this is the life for him. His mutant gifts only complicate matters, and his family take advantage of his unique ability in their various heists as well as in their feud with the Assassins’ Guild.
There would also be a lot of potential for cameos from other X-Men characters, especially if they decide to play up whole anti-mutant movement. Senator Kelly would certainly make an interesting background villain, not to mention what it would be like if Xavier or Magneto tried to recruit Gambit onto their side. The charming Remy would, of course, also require plenty of love interests, which would definitely help to keep things interesting.
1. Daredevil
Of all the heroes on this list, I actually think a Daredevil show would actually make the most sense. His powers are fairly simple and don’t require any heavy CGI. In addition, Matt Murdock’s law school years would be a very interesting period to explore, as he comes to see the limitations of the law and ultimately decides to take action. The Ultimate Daredevil and Elektra miniseries could provide a nice backbone for it (minus the heavy focus on rape), but I would actually like to see a bit of Frank Miller’s version of the Daredevil origin as well. In this version, Elektra and her father are held hostage and Matt, wearing a scarf over his head as a disguise, rescues them.
My vision of the show sees Matt Murdock, Foggy Nelson, and Elektra Nachios as students at Columbia University (or a facsimile thereof). Matt and Foggy, of course, are in the law program. We follow Matt as he sets out to be a lawyer, but ends up getting justice as Daredevil. The kicker? Set the show in a gritty 1975 where Daredevil belongs.
Imagine the Kingpin as a 70’s crime boss, ruling New York’s underground with an iron fist. You could easily bring Bullseye in as well, even as Kingpin’s main enforcer.
Clearly the producers would want to play with the costume, but I think there’s the potential for a really cool, urban look for Daredevil that would feel realistic. He could have a red leather jacket, which seems to be the look many TV vigilante’s are using these days, but he can have a tighter hood that falls lower over his face, since he doesn’t need to see. Imagine how menacing a smooth red face with a devilish grin at the bottom would be.
What do you think? Would you tune in for the southern-fried adventures of Gambit? Do you think a Nightwing series could manage what Birds of Prey missed? Sound off in the comments section.
