We are at a point in superhero cinema where people are starting to get antsy. There are nearly 20 Marvel movies in the works, not counting shows and unannounced specials, and the DCU is making us all wait for something special. Earlier this year, 20th Century Studios announced they would be rebooting The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen for Hulu, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

With this announcement, it is time to bring in someone whose work fans seem to enjoy but who can be put in a position where they are uniquely suited to the project. That is why Zack Snyder should be brought in to develop The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen reboot.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

Why Zack Snyder Should Helm The Reboot

     Deadline

Let’s face it, the guy can go dark. He’s already hit the gritty mark when he directed Watchmen, a film some people did not enjoy but one that was 90% faithful to the comic (even anatomically). He was also the architect of the original DC movies, an honor that made him the hero and villain of nerddom everywhere.

Regardless of what you think of these movies or his other big-budget features, he’s a director who doesn’t mind making sure that adult content stays adult. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen reboot needs that in its corner. He’s also shown he has no problem sticking to the source material. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen needs that as well. Alan Moore put everything on the table and Zack Snyder does not need to do much card shuffling to make it work.

The Original Film Adaptation Wasn’t Well Received

     20th Century Studios

Most people have a very clear view of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Their view is that it is a project that was so terrible it must never be revisited. It is also famously the movie that sent Sean Connery into retirement.

The movie focused on Mina Murray, Allan Quartermain, Captain Nemo, The Invisible Man, Dr. Jekyll, and Tom Sawyer. The gimmick was that they were all literary characters who existed in the world and were brought together to fight someone that was presented as a Russian terrorist version of the Phantom of the Opera. The film was vaguely set in Victorian England and was a globe-trotting story that was anything but epic.

The movie currently has a 17% on Rotten Tomatoes, which seems generous. It was a much-hyped film made for 78 million that grossed 179 million in the box office. Though these are not terrible numbers, audiences went to theaters based on hype. No sequel was ever announced, and the studio quietly shelved the project.

The Source Material Offers Plenty to Work With

     DC Comics

The main issue that the fandom had with the movie was that it veered so far away from the source material it was almost a completely different movie. The source material is a comic book series co-created by writer Alan Moore and artist Kevin O’Neill that spans four volumes and was lauded for its genius and originality.

The name Alan Moore may be familiar to some people. He is a famous comic book writer who created such masterworks as The Watchmen, From Hell, and V for Vendetta. Each was made into a movie, jettisoned much of his material, and gained more and more of his ire.

The books took place in a steampunk Victorian-era England. Strange technology, obvious parallels, and a level of magic and mystery all coalesced to create a rainy but engaging atmosphere. No character was without their story arc, and they were all very true to their particular origins.

The original lineup of characters was Mina Murray, Alan Quartermaine, Captain Nemo, The Invisible Man, and Dr. Jekyll. These five were brought together to stop the character Fu Manchu from using certain technology. Along the way, they realize they are actually also fighting Professor James Moriarty. The group went on to take on other adventures, one of which involved them fighting against War of the Worlds aliens.

Why It Should Be a Series

     HBO Max

One of the best pieces of news is that The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen will be streaming on Hulu as a movie. However, the studios are missing a great opportunity. It should be a streaming series.

This series would allow the grandness of the comics to evolve. Snyder would be able to properly introduce characters, explore the world, and bring the adult mentality to the small screen. A sci-fi/fantasy show is nothing new, and Hulu has been a great repository for fun and interesting properties including Legion, Preacher, and M.O.D.O.K. Hulu would also allow Snyder room to develop. Give him the team he needs to really pace the series, Moore gave him the beats, and give it the atmosphere it deserves.

The other part, of course, is casting. Snyder doesn’t need big names. However, it would help to pepper in one or two. Therefore, an ideal fan-cast includes Abigail Spencer (Timeless) as Mina Murray, Sean Bean (Game of Thrones) as Allan Quartermain, Dileep Rao (Inception) as Captain Nemo, Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal) as the Invisible Man, and Sam Claflin (Enola Holmes) as Dr. Henry Jekyll. Due to this being a signature DC imprint series, there may be some pull to get these actors into these roles. Many have done television and streaming shows, therefore it would not be new territory.

This project could not only be done but should be done. A brilliant property with a built-in fan base is something that studios only dream about. 20th Century Studios has been sitting on a goldmine for twenty years. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen will give Zack Snyder a chance to prove that he’s ready to reenter the hearts and minds of nerd-kind.