Captain Planet making timely jump to big screen – who’s next?

Movie websites have been abuzz with news that ‘90s cartoon favourite Captain Planet is set to be adapted into a live action movie. Considering how green issues have been big news in recent years, frankly we’re surprised he hasn’t made the leap onto the big screen sooner – surely he’d have been the man to sort out the BP oil spill last year?

Apparently the film is in the very early stages, with US channel Cartoon Network having recently signed a deal with Transformers producer Don Murphy to helm the project. It’s got us wondering which superheroes/cartoon stars could get their own live action movie soon – and whether there will soon come a day where there’s none left at all. Here are some we’d like to see.

Bananaman
We haven’t seen the figures so we’re purely speculating, but we reckon banana sales must have gone through the roof when this cartoon comic book adaptation hit British TV screens in the 1980s. In many ways, Bananaman – otherwise known as ordinary schoolboy Eric Wimp – is indistinguishable from Superman, bar the love of fruit and small-town concerns of his work.

Plastic Man
A cult favourite from the DC Comics universe, Plastic Man enjoyed a short-lived cartoon adaptation in the early ‘80s, but has otherwise had to console himself with bit-parts in Batman shows and computer games. A big screen adaptation of Plastic Man would also offer the chance to explore some of his enemies in more depth – the likes of Brickface, Cheeseface and Carrot-Man.

Captain Marvel

Most of the latest film trailers that have tantalised cinema fans and comic book geeks have been from Marvel studios, but this slightly lesser-known DC Comics character could make a great classic superhero movie subject. Teenage reporter Billy Batson has only to utter the name of the wizard that chose him to fight evil and “Shazam!” he is the mighty Captain Marvel. Think Superman crossed with Thor and you might be close.

Flaming Carrot

Perhaps the most unlikely superhero, Flaming Carrot was something of an existential character that was more of a parody than a genuine role model for kids. Decked out in green flippers and a fire-topped carrot mask, this crime-fighter uses a utility belt with everything from sneezing powder to rubber bands. Don’t expect rumours about this flammable side dish to hit film news sites soon.

With all that said, there are no end of comic book characters that we will inevitably see turn up over the next few years – and not all of them will come from Marvel and DC Comics. And with so many stories to draw on, it seems the superhero flick will be around for some time yet – whether we like it or not!