Rumor has it that Warner Bros. is developing aPlastic Manmovie. That’s a good idea,one I wrote about at lengthback in 2015. The Quality Comics character turned DC Comics funnyman could be just what the studio needs to add a little humor to their superhero flicks without forcing the issue or turning a serious character into a jokester. What’s interesting here is thatPlastic Manwould presumably be toplining his own film, even as his similar stretchy counterpart Elongated Man has a recurring role on The CW’sThe Flash.
THR reports thatAmanda Idoko(Breaking News In Yuba County) is writing the script for the planned comedic action-adventure flick that will be executive produced by WB’sBob Shaye, with DC’s Walter Hamada and Chantal Nong overseeing. No details are available beyond that, including what Idoko’s take might be, and with no other produced content from Idoko to draw from, your guess is as good as mine. However, DC has done well for itself in both the TV world and the movie world, but there’s another, lighter side of the DC universe to explore, andPlastic Manis at the center of it.
Originally published by Quality Comics (and later acquired by DC), writer-artistJack Cole’screation,Plastic Man,first appeared in Police Comics #1. His powers include the ability to stretch his body and form it into nearly any shape he can imagine, incredible resiliency, apparent immortality, superhuman strength and invulnerability (including plastic organs), and a curious immunity to telepathy. For fans of Plastic Man, a.k.a. Patrick “Eel” O’Brian, it’s not just the powers that make the character so memorable, but rather his quirky, off-beat brand of humor and his slapstick adventures.
The character maintains a cult fandom that includes such comics heavyweights asGrant Morrison, Alex RossandFrank Miller. He’s appeared in a number of short-run DC series, had his own short-lived 70s/80s animated series (The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show), and frequently appeared onBatman: The Brave and the Bold. Hopefully the movie’s story will be pulled fromKyle Baker’sEisner-award winning run. That particularly self-aware and self-referential story arc, coupled with Plas’ own ability to become a walking sight-gag, makes this property a perfect answer to the darker DC adaptations. As for casting, I only wishBruce Campbellwere 30 years younger.
