In 2008, we were given two very different superhero films where the peak of the Superhero movie genre started. Iron man, the first entrance in an wider shared cinematic universe and The Dark Knight, an epic directed by Christopher Nolan which changed the superhero genre and blockbuster movies. It was the first superhero movie to be lobbied for the Oscars but missed out and even changed how the academy's rules. We now in 2013, superhero genre is now as normal as an Western was decades go. However is there ways to change it and keep it around for longer?
1. Diversity
If the Superhero movie genre needs to survive it needs to break out of its straight forward formulaic idea that all men, white and thirty years old or older or teenagers who also have a similar criteria, white and moody. Yes, there is occasional different ethnic characters or characters we associate with that race has changed but not often.
This is extremely odd because within the comic worlds of DC and Marvel, there is endless characters of different ethnic, cultural, social and political groups that inhabit their worlds and have sometimes great roles within their own universe. If the superhero genre it needs to survive, it needs to start representing different cultures of the world or America itself, they can't simply be white. Both of the big companies are in the right time to challenge the norm of what non-comic fans thinks superheroes. Why doesn't Sony and Marvel kill off Peter Parker and bring Miles Morales instead to throw off audiences and make them rethink who Spiderman is? Maybe DC could bring one of its newly emerging characters, The Blue Beetle aka Jamie Reyes who represents the emerging Hispanic community within America and place him on film or television (He's already had great portrays on Young Justice and Batman: The Brave and The Bold) to point out that there is an hero for them. And if DC/WB are serious about bringing the Justice League to life on screens, then placing members such Cyborg, Vixen or John Stewart will help them traction in the African-American community and give them voice among the superheroes, this is something that Marvel needs to make sure to do when re-entering Nick Fury and introducing the Falcon.
And maybe shouldn't the genre just be like what they are adapting and comment on the social changes that is taking place in the world today. Why shouldn't a character like Kathy Kane or Northstar show up in the film to represent the gay and lesbian community and speak for them. There has been an narrative within the X-men films that has done this partly due to Bryan Singer's own experiences of being gay but why hasn't he added a gay character into the X-men film universe in the first place. The world is changing, so the superhero movie genre must represent that.
2. Women
Just as previous mention, comic books are filled with various types of people and women make up a vast majority. Within these pages they are just as powerful as men or have more power than men (look at Wonder Woman and Jean Grey). However the superhero movie genre still hasn't attempted to make a proper female superhero lead film. Yes, there was Elektra and Catwoman but those didn't actually do an good job for those characters in particularly, wrong version of Catwoman and maybe Elektra needed a stronger director or writer.
There seems to be an taboo when it comes female superhero characters leading a film as the majority of women characters are either love interests or occasional allies. Yes, I wouldn't say there isn't anything wrong with the Marvel women, they do things and get them done but they are never on the same level of the male lead of the film. I will give props to Nolan's Catwoman to being close to Batman in The Dark Knight Rises but she still wasn't totally save Gotham without Batman's push in the first place. Both of DC and Marvel have each claims why they can't do a female superhero lead film, DC/WB has gone a the record stating that Wonder Woman is "tricky," to do. Whilst Kevin Feige has already claimed that Marvel studios won't do a female superhero film until around 2017-2019 area, a good few years after the Avengers had hit. However with rumours, that Diana Prince could appear in the new Superman/Batman movie, then there is a flicker of hope.
3. Formula: Break it!
One thing is that the Superhero film genre is that there is a formula when it comes to superhero films, they follow almost the same thing: the first one is often about discovery or their powers or their responsibility with their powers then face off with an enemy with similar but different responsibilities. It then gets bigger in the sequel and even bigger in the final and normally third film. However this could get tiring, all films could merge within each other. This is still happening even with both Marvel and DC establishing cinematic universes.
DC did break this slightly with the help of Nolan and his non-linear story lines of Batman and Superman. But the very nature of comic books is that they allow for formula to be broken. One shots exist so artists and writers can alter characters or reinvent them in another world. I would love to see an film adaptation of Mike Migola's Gotham by Gaslight or Neil Gaiman's Marvel 1601 or why doesn't DC tackle Superman: Red Son or Marvel with The House of M. Superhero film genre should be treated like the comics themselves, a place where artistic freedom can push the characters to new heights and change the genre. Find interesting directors or script writers, what the hell make character the superhero/heroine already and have their story told backwards as they struggle with an ongoing battle, both physical and existential. There is so much that can be done with this genre that it hasn't been done yet and should start happening now or we'll find something else. As Alan Moore said, the superhero genre isn't simply good versus evil, black and white its much more than that.
4. Television
With the superhero movie genre, we are slowly seeing them slip into the realms of television. This is actually a better place to create an connected universe. Here you can have longer periods and better character development like Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad. Marvel and DC have already been spreading their wings here. Marvel is doing an connected universe on Netflix and DC is placing one on the CW.
This is the good thing but there is one catch, would be the budget. DC could most certainly place their creations on HBO instead CW to give them an cinematic edge and a far more better connection to their cinematic universe while Marvel is doing this Netflix. If this does work out then superheroes film genre may find its saviour in television. On the plus side, superheroes will always be safe in the realm of animation.
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