In February, Screen Rant reported that beloved director Brett Ratner would be helming the big-screen adaptation of Rob Liefeld’s 1990’s Avengers knock-off original comic book series, Youngblood. Today we’ve got more info on Youngblood for you, including who is writing the script, what the plot is likely to focus on, and the shocking news that a major character from the Youngblood comics WON’T be making the transition to the big-screen.
We’ve also got a bit of info on another upcoming Liefeld project called Capeshooters, which is sounding a bit more interesting (to me) than Youngblood.
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In a recent interview with MTV News, Youngblood creator Rob Liefeld explained that the screenwriting team of J.P. Lavin and Chad Damiani are currently half-way through a first draft of the Youngblood script. Lavin and Damiani are also currently working on adapting another Liefeld project for the big-screen: the upcoming graphic novel Capeshooters, which follows two slackers who make their living videotaping superhero exploits, only to discover that a major superhero is actually a nefarious villain (sounds much more interesting than Youngblood, right?).
Lavin and Damiani’s script for Youngblood will try to balance the comic book’s mix of violence, big action, and (ahem) deep meditation on politics and celebrity culture. As far as the story goes, Youngblood will focus on the relationship between team newcomer Hawkeye Shaft (a bow and arrow-wielding marksman) and veteran hard-ass special ops soldier, Chapel. According to Liefeld:
They don’t like each other…Shaft is the new kid on the block in the movie, and he and Chapel have to put aside their differences to save the Youngblood program.”
For those who never read Youngblood, it’s about a team of superheroes sanctioned by the government (for better AND worse), who are generally regarded by the public as rockstars. This conflict (between notions of celebrity, military duty and true heroism) was best personified in the comic books by the character of Badrock, who was basically Thing from Fantastic Four (a big rocky strong guy), only with the alter-ego of a teenage boy who idolized Youngblood and the whole idea of living a superhero’s life.
Badrock won’t be making the cut of the first Youngblood film.
Sorry Youngblood fans, but Badrock won’t be included in the film version’s cast of characters – at least not in the first movie – a decision made by Liefeld himself: “[Badrock] doesn’t fit in the first film.”
Ok… I would’ve thought old Badrock was the perfect character to build the film around. You have him be the newbie on the team, and use fanboy idealism and naivete as an access point for the audience into what Youngblood is all about. But hell, what do I know about making movies?
Rob Liefeld, on the other hand, has some… other ideas on how to draw the audience to the theater for Youngblood:
“There are characters that have micro-cameras installed on their bows, their arrows, their semiautomatic rifles, their bo staffs… You’re getting footage from a thousand angles, from the casing on their weapons to their armor.”
“When Youngblood goes live, the whole word watches,”
So… what? Youngblood is going to be a movie version of the first superhero reality show? Why do I want to see camera angle shots from the casing of a weapon or an arrow or a bullet flying at hight speed? Does the name Wanted ring a bell????
I’ll confess: I liked Image Comics’ initial run of Youngblood. The first 12 issues or so were a welcome (read: violent) departure from the candy-coated Avengers comics of the time, and introduced me to Shadowhawk, who is still one of my favorite Image heroes. But this Youngblood movie is already sounding doomed, IMO. Count me on board for Capeshooters, though: that film sounds like it could be interesting.
How do you feel about Rob Liefeld’s Youngblood movie? For fans of the comics: how do you feel about Badrock being nixed from the film? For those just hearing about this for the first time, what sounds more interesting to you: Youngblood or Capeshooters?
Source: MTV News
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12 Comments
I’m glad badrock isn’t it. Just another what’s his name from fantastic four.
Ratner is a hack and will ruin the comic adaptation.
Capeshooters does sound more interesting.
I am very disappointed to hear that Badrock will NOT be included in this film. I agree with you Kofi, he would have been the perfect rookie guy to bring in but I guess they have other plans for them film. Or it could be they just don’t have the budget for it since they are using all those extra cameras.
Alas, I fear fanboys are going to have to settle for mediocre or poor comic-to-film and video game-to-film adaptations.
@Kofi
Shadowhawk had nothing to do with Youngblood.
It was a separate comic book by Jim Valentino.
Both were published under the Image label but that is as far as any involvement between the two.
As far as Youngblood the movie goes … I feel another “black eye for comics in the making.
@INK
Always do your comic book homework, my man:
Shadowhawk was first introduced in a preview comic by Valentino that appeared at the end of Youngblood issue# 2. I own it.
I’ve met Rob in person before and he’s a really cool guy,but let’s face it,most of his ideas are totally unoriginal.The character Badrock was originally called “Bedrock”,but they changed the name because Rob was sued by Hanna Barbara(bedrock,as in the Flinstones).All of his characters are pretty much Marvel knock-offs and I just don’t even see Youngblood even making it to a wide release.
Now Capeshooters,that’s actually a very interesting concept and they should really be focused on that.I di think that it would benefit from having a different name though.
The fact that Brett Ratner is directing is enough to turn me away.
@Kofi
I own it too. And I stand by original post of Shadowhawk having nothing to do with Youngblood. That was a promotion of the comic nothing more, nothing less.
I truly think that this is an attempt by Brett Ratner to reignite his appeal to fanboys, after the whole X3 affair. To prove that it was the script and not the directing that was the problem.
Unfortunately, the fact that he inserted no creative input into the film is what led to him being called a hack; and I’m not sure has learned his lesson.
@INK
You have nothing to stand by! Go back and read my quote
“The first 12 issues or so were a welcome (read: violent) departure from the candy-coated Avengers comics of the time, and introduced me to Shadowhawk, who is still one of my favorite Image heroes.”
Never did I say Shadowhawk WAS a Youngblood or anything like that. What I said is factually accurate.
@Kofi
Ok, Ok, I give. A misinterpretation on my part. Sorry ’bout that.
BTW I think the saying is “You have nothing to stand on.”
@INK
…Correct you are sir.
I was about to say the same thing as INK. Your statement still implied that Shadowhawk might have had a possible appearance in the Youngblood movie, hence the confusion. Speaking of which: that’s a hero they should definitely explore as far as movies, especially with his battle with AIDs.
As far as Youngblood goes, I have a feeling this will do about as well as the first Spawn movie, ha.
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