What works in a comic book doesn't necessarily work in a film. Case in point, all the recent DC films. You can't cram as much into a movie, or even two or three movies, to accomplish what you're suggesting. Just to properly adapt the Secret Wars would need a Fantastic Four film-- probably a trilogy-- to really establish who they are, who Dr. Doom is, who Molecule Man is, etc. Same with the X-Men. You'd need a Spider-Man trilogy, too, and enough films to introduce all the various heroes and villains, unless you want to go the DC route of starting the film with half an hour of exposition. "This is Dr. Doom. He's from Latveria. He has a pink helicopter with a shark painted on it," and so on.
Once you've spent a decade establishing everyone, then you need to film the Secret War itself. That's at least two movies, if done properly. After that, Spider-Man 4 features him in the black suit, only to end with the revelation that it's evil. You'd probably want to give Spider-Man another film before bringing in Venom so it doesn't feel forced and shoe-horned, so voila, Spider-Man 6-- introducing Venom.
In other words, you have to spend a decade building to Secret Wars the way Marvel did Infinity War, then bring in Venom in post-Secret Wars phase 2, i.e. phase 5.
Or, you can create a compelling story and create a film that introduces Venom and take it from there.
If I'm not mistaken, the Spider-Man cartoon handled it that way. The Symbiote came to earth on its own steam and Venom was there almost from the get-go.
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Underdog_73 (768)
7 years ago
I don't think a fraction of that is necessary. Movies have been made about most of the popular Marvel characters whether part of the MCU or not. Just like they combined West Coast and East Coast Avengers to make one team, leaving several characters out, they can do the same thing with Secret Wars. Not all the characters need to be included and the movie could introduce The Beyonder, Molecule Man, the secondary heroes and villains etc.
MCU versions of the X-Men and FF can be introduced here as well and have standalone movies later. Provided they get the rights. Spider-Man can get the suit in the movie and have one stand alone movie where he uses it and loses it and it finds Eddie Brock. The Venom movie can come right after. I don't need everything, but to me, this is a cop out. And you said "so it doesn't feel forced", but what they're doing is rushed and forced.
I'd be fine with this compromise, but they know Venom is so anticipated they don't want to spend the time or money to tell the story even partially right, because they don't want a delay. I'd be perfectly fine with a scaled down Secret Wars with less characters, as well as an abbreviated symbiote story based on the true origin. They cut corners like this in Hollywood all the time. There's no reason they couldn't do it now.
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FilmBuff (7237)
7 years ago
I get where you're coming from. For me, it's either/or, and I know they have to pick their spots. Comic books come out every month, some more often, and you can tie them together, a la Secret Wars II, and tell a 50 issue story in 6 months time.
For the film, I'm fine with major story revisions as long as the end result is solid. The Venom film doesn't feel rushed to me, but once I see it I may think differently. I saw Suicide Squad last night, and that felt rushed. The first 20 minutes was literally a woman reciting the bio and backstory of each character. As long as Venom has a start, solid middle, and engaging ending, I'll be 100% satisfied.
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Underdog_73 (768)
7 years ago
I guess only time will tell. I think at this point, the only possible saving grace would be if Spider-Man obtains the symbiote in Infinity War. Without the symbiote first merging with Peter Parker, there is no Venom. At least not the Venom in his current form. The one that looks like Spider-Man, has a spider symbol, and mimicks webshooting Even the eyes on the poster. They wouldn't look like that without Peter's influence.
I hope I'm surprised and it turns out good. Sadly, for me, that rarely happens. I can accept changes from comic to screen. This though looks like a complete overhaul that doesn't seem to add up to the Venom everyone knows. Again, time will tell.
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FilmBuff (7237)
7 years ago
Curious-- what did you think of Spider-Man:Homecoming?
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Underdog_73 (768)
7 years ago
I can't really answer that one without coming across as a persistent complainer....but with the exception of how they finally captured Spidey's true movements, I was far from impressed.
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FilmBuff (7237)
7 years ago
No, that's fair. We like what we like. I only asked because that seemed like a film that really got the comic book down exactly right. I loved it-- that and Winter Soldier are my two favorite comic book films of all time-- and thought you might, too. Which comic films are your favorites?
In any event, I'm going to hide from the internet until tonight to avoid possible Infinity War spoilers...
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Underdog_73 (768)
7 years ago
Actually, I think Winter Soldier was the best MCU movie to date. So we definitely agree on that. Though I haven't seen Black Panther yet.
And I thought the exact same thing about Spider-Man: Homecoming. It's the first time they got Spidey right. Sadly, I didn't think they got much else right. That suit was terrible, and the cast was just bad. Not to mention the complete Reformation of MJ. It's disappointing too. Spider-Man is still my favorite Marvel character.
As for previews, I avoid commercials and online articles for all movies I want to see. Nowadays they show the entire movie in the preview, so I don't blame you.
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SoCrates (874)
7 years ago
I don't think Secret Wars is possible, but they could rework the origin a little bit to make it work.
Can you imagine how crazy the fans would go if Thanos, or The Black Order, somehow destroy the iron spider suit, forcing Peter to find an alternative in the form of some machine made by the Kree or Nova Corps?
Spider-man Homecoming sequel: Introduces Eddie Brock, who is doing a story which ultimately blows up in his face thanks to Spider-Man, Peter finds out what the costume can do, and uses it to fight the main villain, he also finds out that the costume is trying to permanently bond with him. The film ends with the scene at the church with Eddie and the symbiote finding each other.
Now, Sony is able to do a proper Venom film with Spider-Man as the nemesis, or they can have Venom vs Spider-Man be the end of a Homecoming trilogy.
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Underdog_73 (768)
7 years ago
That's not too different than one of my concessions and I'd be fine with it. It at least addresses who Venom is, unlike this complete rewrite that's coming out.
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