It looks like Plastic Man could be the next superhero to hit the big screen. Or maybe not.
DC Comics confirmed on its Dec. 12 DC Daily webcast that a Plastic Man movie is in development at Warner Bros., DC's parent company. Screenwriter Amanda Idoko is writing a “comedic, action-driven script,” according to the broadcast.
As a longtime comics fan, I'm excited…but we've been down this road before with Plastic Man. Less than two years ago, nerd movie legend Kevin Smith (“Clerks,” “Mallrats,” etc.) was linked to a Plastic Man project. Didn't happen. The same thing took place about 10 years ago when the Wachowski Brothers — who wrote “The Matrix” — also were said to be working on a similar script. Again, didn't happen.
Plastic Man has a lower profile than many other superheroes, but as website Batman-News pointed out this week, “it's not like there were a ton of people begging Marvel for “Guardians of the Galaxy” when it was announced in 2012.” That obscure series became a surprise hit that spawned a sequel and landed its characters in an Avengers movie that starred many Marvel characters.
A quick refresher: Plastic Man was created by Jack Cole in 1941 and has been in and out of the pop culture spotlight for more than 70 years. His biggest exposure likely was in a late 1970s Saturday morning cartoon. DC has owned the rights to the character since the 1950s.
Plastic Man began life as criminal Eel O'Brian, then gained stretching and shape-shifting powers after falling into a vat of chemicals during a robbery attempt. He turned away from his previous life and used these powers to fight crime.
More recently, DC just wrapped up a six-issue miniseries starring Plastic Man. He's also a member of the Teriffics, a new DC superhero team.
As a comics fan, I've thought that the CGI special effects needed to make a fantastic Plastic Man movie have been around since 2002 when Tobey Maguire first swung across skyscrapers as Spider-Man. The Plastic Man character seems like a natural for a CGI extravaganza.
Luckily for DC, I've had a title for a Plastic Man movie ready to go for a while now —Plastic Man : Polywood Nights. It's got hit written all over it!
