Pretty much every television show has done a Flowers For Algernon episode at some point, featuring miraculous technology that boosts your intelligence — and highlights the problems that go along with it. According to Wikipedia, this short story and novel have already been adapted eight times, into movies, stage musicals, plays, radio plays and more.

Movie news site Pajiba reports that Smith is set to play Charlie, the mentally disabled man who undergoes an experimental surgery that boosts his intelligence to genius level. (Algernon is the lab mouse who undergoes the procedure first.) Unfortunately, becoming a mega-genius doesn't do much for Charlie's relationships with everyone else. According to Pajiba's anonymous sources, Smith's frequent collaborator Gabriele Muccino (who directed Seven Pounds and Pursuit of Happyness) may be directing this one as well. Just as long as it doesn't end with Smith climbing into a bath with a jellyfish:

In any case, this is definitely an unsubstantiated rumor from a random website. So, you know, take it with several bucket fulls of salt, and a few jellyfish. [Pajiba]

Don't worry; MiB3 isn't necessarily going to replacement route just yet; according to The Hollywood Reporter's Risky Business blog, Smith is interested in signing up for a third go-around (Back in September, Jones was also reported to have been considering the idea). The movie will be written by Tropic Thunder co-writer Etan Cohen, according to the Risky Business blog, and Barry Sonnenfeld, who directed the first two movies in the series, is said to be close to signing on to return for the third installment, which may begin filming as early as Spring 2010.

‘Men in Black 3,' by way of ‘Tropic Thunder' [THR Risky Business]

Talking to Latino Review, the 2012 director said that he's ready to make a follow-up to the 1996 alien invasion epic as soon as Fox seals a deal with star Will Smith:

Dean Devlin and I are still set to make a sequel likely because we've found some sort of idea and we approached FOX and FOX has not quite figured out how to incorporate Dean's and my deal, and Will's (Smith) deal. Will wants to do it in some sort of a package they can live with. So it's just been in negations now since forever, and naturally FOX says "Why don't you do it without Will Smith?" I said Will is essential for us, for this movie and actually for the audience too. And, so, it's in limbo and lately the studios are fighting. Like gross players, and Will is a gross player and is probably the only gross player right now who's worth his gross. So we'll see what happens. I would love to do it.

Independence Day Sequel Stalled By Fox [Latino Review]

According to The Hollywood Reporter, The City That Sailed

follows a New York City street magician whose daughter, because of family circumstances, lives in England. In exploring a lighthouse one day, the girl discovers a room with magic candles and wishes to be reunited with her father, causing the island of Manhattan to break away and drift across the Pond.

It sounds much, much more interesting than finding out exactly how things got messed up in the run-up to I Am Legend. Of course, this being Hollywood, Lawrence can't simply film an Andrew Niccol script and have done with it — instead, says Variety, the script is being rewritten by Oceans Thirteen writers Brian Koppleman and David Levien. But even a dumbed down Niccol story sounds much, much better than I Was Legend Before I Was Legend. The film may not be their next project, since Lawrence is also talking about directing Water For Elephants, the adaptation of the Depression-era circus novel, with Reese Witherspoon starring.

Image by Notes Of Intelligence.

In January we warned you about the sexy sword-playing script that was getting tossed around for the 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea prequel. The script sounded epically hokey, at best. We even asked McG what was the deal with this over-the-top screenplay, and he assured us it was nothing like that.

In any case, The Hollywood Reporter says that the big script is now undergoing a hefty rewrite from Braveheart scribe Randall Wallace. Let's hope they get it right this time.

But with all the hub-bub around the disastrous Terminator 4, will Will Smith still be game to sign as baby Nemo? And isn't he getting a little old to play these youngsters? Although granted, Captain Nemo wasn't super young in Jules Verne's novels. Plus, isn't Captain Nemo usually depicted as either a Hindu or a Sikh?

Their first collaboration is a TV movie called Unfinished Business, and focuses in on a cop who can see the memories of the deceased. It will air as a two-hour movie, and it could lead to an ongoing series.

Smith's company Overbrook Entertainment is producing the feature, and Mikael Salomon from the fantastic Band of Brothers will be directing.

Oh, and if you're wondering when the name change for Sci Fi will be official, it's July 7th.

[The Hollywood Reporter]

Collider is reporting that the at the Sony ShoWest Presentation, the President of Sony Worldwide Distribution, Rory Bruer, announced that not only would they be bringing back Ghostbusters, and Spider-Man, but Men In Black as well.

While talking about the project, Bruer tossed out the date 2011, but who can be certain? All three of those films should be serious undertakings for the studio.

But here's the big question: Can you get Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith to do it again? Well we know Tommy is down, but what about Big Willie? And would you watch it without them - heck, would you watch it at all? After the two movies, the cartoons and putting Frank the dog in a suit, haven't we run the gamut of alien humor? Is there really more out there after the last movie debuted the ballchinian?

This movie will have to be handled with great care and if it wants it to live up to the greatness of the original. Oh, and if they put Zac Efron in it, I'm out.

According Production Weekly everyone's favorite blockbuster actor will play the role of a monster-hunting child psychologist in the aptly named Monster Hunter.

I'm willing to bet that this movie includes great FX, and an anti-hero who learns a valuable lesson about life and love from the children. Either way, it sounds much more promising than Hancock 2 or I Am Still Legend.

[Production Weekly via Horror Movies]

The Captain Nemo origins movie, which McG has been very vocal about attaching Will Smith to, is up and rolling. Last week, we asked McG what the status of the script was. And although McG seemed very happy with that draft, now it turns out the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe writer has been assigned to tweak the details.

According to Variety, Marks is on board to rewrite the "fast tracked" script, and we applaud this decision. Please just cut out the many, many, many montage scenes from the current draft. [Variety]

On the face of it, Angelology sounds more than a little familiar; the story follows Sister Evangeline, a young nun who teams up with a shady "Angelologist" to search the world for ancient artifacts that will allow them to stop the world from being destroyed by the Nephilim, who happen to be monstrous hybrid offspring of angels and humans. But that didn't stop movie studios from starting a bidding war for the rights to Danielle Trussoni's (still unpublished) debut novel.

Sony have already lined up potential talent to shepherd the movie to a screen near you; the movie will be co-produced by Will Smith and Quantum of Solace director Marc Forster's production companies, suggesting a Forster-helmed Smith vehicle in our future. But can Smith really pull off playing a nun?

Sony nabs 'Angelology' rights [Hollywood Reporter]

After the NYC screening for Terminator Salvation, McG apparently got a bit chatty to a group of reporters about his next picture:

The character [Captain] Nemo in this film is more about obsession. He is obsessed, and people tend to forget that when you become so obsessed you end up being the villain. Man, I’m trying to get Will Smith to do it, been trying to get a hold of him. I've been wanting to work with him for a long time already. That guy's great.

Hmm, interesting idea if you want to make bundles of money. But honestly, I don't know if this is a good match for the legendary captain (and pretty complex character) from Jules Verne's books. Well at least we know he likes underwater creatures, after watching Seven Pounds.

[Latino Review]

The following is just one of the in-depth discussions over the list this past week (this one between your humble weekend editor and Meredith Woerner), in which we uncover the origins of Meredith's Terminator love and also perhaps some of our personal biases in the process. And for everyone who felt that Will Smith didn't deserve his placement? Meredith's got your back.

Meredith: I think [Christian] Bale is more powerful than Will Smith as of the end of 2008. Next year? Who knows.

Graeme: I completely disagree; Bale can't get something greenlit on his name alone yet, and Smith still can (sadly).

Meredith: If this was 2007, I'd agree. I think that after Hancock and I Am Legend, they switched roles.

Graeme: I haven't seen Bale get any pet projects greenlit, but Hancock and I Am Legend are both getting sequels despite disappointing box office...

Meredith:: But I think people are going to be giving Big Willy a break for a while as Dark Knight made the real numbers this year and Terminator is already going to double anything Will did. No one cares about them, but people care about Bale. People are slowly backing away from Will.

Graeme: Terminator is not going to double everything Smith did. He's had massive successes in the past, and Terminator is going to be successful to the extent of something like Iron Man, not a Dark Knight. I think people care about Nolan and Batman, not Bale. Nerds like us care about Bale, because of Batman. That's all.

Meredith: i think that Terminator will double anything Will Smith made this year and I'm willing to put money on it.

Graeme: Yeah, but Smith had a shitty year, and that's not what you originally said. I'll put money on Terminator making less than Transformers, if you want.

Meredith: Nuh-uh. That's what I said. At this moment right now, Bale is bigger than Smith, but all Smith has to do is make another Men In Black and he's back on top.
At this minute, right now, Bale is bigger.

Graeme: He's not, though! Dark Knight the movie is bigger, sure. But Bale isn't as an actor.

Meredith: Seriously, I know what you're saying, and agree. Smith is one movie away from being back on top. But right now, Bale is more powerful.

Graeme: Bale hasn't had a smash outside of Batman, though.

Meredith: Right now.

Graeme: You can't say that just because DK was massive that he's suddenly on top.

Meredith: Riiiiight now. And yes, yes I can. That movies success will forever be tied to him no matter what you think (along with others). Plus Terminator is around the corner. He's on top. Will is sitting next to him, but with no respect.

Graeme: Anyway, DK was so big because of Ledger and Nolan, not Bale.

Meredith: Oh man, you're just saying anything now.

Graeme: You're in love with Christian, and it's clouding your judgement, young Woerner.

Meredith: Ha ha ha

Graeme: Bale wasn't the one everyone was talking about in DK, Ledger was. Plus, Bale wasn't even that GOOD in DK.

Meredith: I know, I'm just saying that right now, in my opinion, Hancock and Legend moved Will down a peg, and and DK and Terminator moved Bale up one. So maybe neck and neck?

Graeme: Maybe, but overall, I think Smith is still more powerful.

Meredith: I think that this time next year, Smith could be back easily. All it would take is one good movie, which isn't hard for him.

Graeme: Smith can get shit done because of his record; Bale can't, because he's only had the one massive movie, and even then, he wasn't really the lead.

Meredith: Right, but now, in my mind, they're practically even. With Bale a little higher.

Graeme: Because you love him. In real terms, Smith is more powerful.

Meredith: Right now, I don't think anyone wants to take a meeting with Smith. They need to let the stink wash off his last two movies. Hopefully, this 7 thing will help.

Graeme: Are you serious? Dude, anyone will take a meeting with him - He's still the most bankable star around. Even WITH Hancock and I Am Legend.

Meredith: No, I think right now people wouldn't want to put money in him at this exact moment. But in a month? Sure. Maybe Hasbro would want to meet with Smith, but I think people that are working on the next big thing want to work with Bale.

Graeme: Did Will kill your dog?

Meredith: No, he killed my fantasy of having an interesting superhero movie from Peter Berg.

Graeme: So it is personal.

Meredith: It's hard because, if this list was going up in August, it would definitely be Bale because of the amazing job he's going to do in Terminator. But it's not, and I don't think the Will Smith deserves the powerful title as he made terrible decisions in scifi this year. So maybe it's a little personal.

Graeme: Why do you think Bale is going to do an amazing job? Trailer or blind hope? The movie could suck, you know.

Meredith: I have a lot of faith in this movie because I think it's a new look on the Terminator that was thought out. The look, the talent McG brought in it's all setting up for a good movie. The only thing I'm worried about is the ending.

Graeme: Also, Smith is a producer, so surely that makes him more powerful than Bale alone? (Yes, I will keep arguing this.)

Meredith: Oh, WHATEVER TO THAT. I'm a producer of my apartment. And a producer to my cat. See, I can use the word producer too.

Graeme: Yeah, but he's a producer of movies. That get made.

Meredith: Yeah, Hitch definitely needed to be made. Same with ATL and those few episodes of the Fresh Prince he produced. But yes, I will give you that over Bale, though I'm not sure if that's a good thing. I honestly think Bale is someone that people have invested in over the years. And now they are finally getting the payback they want. We'll have to see how his gangster movie with Depp does to really tell but I think people are ready to cash in on Bale and move away from Smith.

Graeme: WHO?!? Apart from you, with your personal Bale shrine.

Meredith: Speaking of that shrine, I need more nag champa for it, ya jerk.

Graeme: I think that, if Terminator isn't massively massive, Bale's star will fade very fast. He's not a natural blockbuster star, he's more indie/character actor, I think. And if McG is in... well, McG mode, then Terminator may stiiiiink.

Meredith: But I think McG is actually trying. Honestly, you say Bale isn't as good as Smith right now just because he's sitting on top of the Dark Knight mountain. I say, so what? That Dark Knight mountain at present is more interesting than Smith at the moment. Therefor I'm more interested in what Bale will do and would happily invest in him over Smith (in my world where I'm a producer).

Graeme: I say he's not as POWERFUL. There's a difference, it's not about talent or "good". Smith still has the draw and the clout and the history. Plus, producer power.

Meredith: I guess I just prefer talent.

Graeme: He can get movies greenlit based on his name alone. Bale can't.

Meredith: I think that right now Bale can, honestly.

Graeme: I would seriously, seriously, doubt that.

Meredith: He just needs to see if that interests him. Right now he's too concerned with being the best actor in the world.

Graeme: Oh my God. Did you really just say that?

Meredith: Ha ha ha

Graeme: Next week: "Christian Bale is so dreamy and talented, by Meredith Woerner, AKA The Future Mrs. Bale."

Meredith: Well, when was the last time that Smith got offered a super meaty kick ass role?

Graeme: Seven Pounds?

Meredith: Excuse me what?

Graeme: The Pursuit of Happyness? Ali?

Meredith: Excuse me what?

Graeme: Oh, come on. Now you're just being an ass.

Meredith: Ali was 7 years ago.

Graeme: Pursuit of Happyness was two. Seven Pounds is not even out yet, is it?

Meredith: POH was so awful

Graeme: He was Oscar nommed for it, wasn't he? He was decent, despite the sappiness.

Meredith: It was just like TDTESS in my eyes. "And now we'll place the little kid over the grave of his father and have him cry. Because this is a sad moment, people."

Graeme: For comparison, what's your definition of Bale getting a meaty role?

Meredith: Batman, John Connor, a role next to Johnny Depp.

Graeme: Wait, so it's not about a role that requires acting chops, just a high profile one?

Meredith: Well, both really. No I think a meaty role is something that sticks with you after you view it, for a very long time.

Graeme: Because, seriously, John Connor?!?

Meredith: Actually playing John Connor in a realistic end of the world future takes chops, especially when they rip off his skin.

Graeme: Also, he fucking sleepwalked through Dark Knight!

Meredith: LIAR. What about that moment when he was sitting on the couch and crying, that was deep.

Graeme: You're saying this about Terminator sight unseen - YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE MOVIE YET! He could be terrible as John Connor!

Meredith: But he won't be.

Graeme: Your argument is "He's great because he'll be great." Using that logic, Will Smith is awesome because of this film he'll star in that he's not even seen the script for yet. But he WILL BE! (I don't even like Will Smith that much, how did I end up in this role?)

Meredith: No, he really won me over in The Machinist, American Psycho, roles which Smith could never dream to pull off. Roles that have been building his power surge over hollywood canned laughter.

Graeme: American Psycho is how old, Ms. "Ali was seven years ago"?

Meredith: Bale is a crazy person when it comes to acting. The guy gives his all. It's never weird to see him break down, I loved him in 3:10 to Yuma as well. As cheesy as that movie was, he was great in it. I'm never put off to see Bale cry, I guess, but Smith is too cheesebally no matter how realistic it is. It's always like, "Ugh, move forward and get to the punchline already. You're making me uncomfortable."

Graeme: So, it's not about who's more powerful, you're just arguing on personal taste.

Meredith: No, I'm answering your question about how do you know he will be good as JC. Because the man can pull it of because he can make a world of evil robots come to life and believable.

Graeme: But that's not a real answer. My point was, you can't say "He's great in this" when you haven't seen it, and replying that he will be because he always is and I love him and and and doesn't really prove anything.

Meredith: No, you're trying to tell me Bale won't be a great John Connor which I think is silly to say he won't. You're arguing just to argue. Plus I told you why I thought he was more powerful earlier.

Graeme: No, I'm saying, you don't know one way or another.

Meredith: But I do know, G. I do.

Graeme: Oh, I give up. Dreaminess wins over logic. Which is almost comforting.

Meredith: No, you're trying to argue logic to optimism, and I'm not going to give up my hope for Terminator.

Graeme: You're like a child waiting for Christmas!

Meredith: Terminator is my baby blanket. You guys all have your comics and books. I had big silver robots as a kid. That was my door in.

Graeme: That explains your inflatable Arnold doll.

Meredith: Seriously, I lurved Terminator and I was really scared when I saw McG was on Salvation. But after the panel at Comic-Con, it was clear that they weren't just trying to make a good movie. They were passionate about not fucking it up. Literally they said that a million times. This gritty future is incredibly exciting and I for one am staying optimistic, heck I don't even mind that it's not in a blue tint, like all the past Terminator futures. They're trying to add something of value to the franchise not just, hey let's see what a lady terminator looks like. Anyway, this was a good argument but we can't post it on the site.

Graeme: Why not?

Meredith: Because clearly WS is more powerful than Bale.

Graeme: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA I WIN!

Meredith: I concede.

Graeme: And that's how I'm totally going to end the post.

Meredith: Damn it, you made me spit vitamin water all over.

Graeme: No, wait, that's a better last line.

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With the continued, somewhat inexplicable, success of Hancock, it seems that the only constant in Hollywood math is "(Will Smith) + (4th of July Weekend) x (Genre Movie) = $$$." Bearing that in mind, we thought that it's be kind of us to demonstrate to some stalled SF movie projects just to how to use the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (and, let's face it, wherever else he wants to be the Prince of, these days) to get their movies up and running again.

Halo
Will Smith is...: The Mysterious Master Chief.
Why This Works: Sure, in the games (and the novels, and the comic books), you never see Master Chief's face, but just as that didn't work for the Judge Dredd movie, it's not going to work here, either. Pull up that visor and let's see the sensitive man underneath who knows that war is hell and space war even moreso. Smith got an Oscar nomination for The Pursuit of Happyness, so let's see him bring the pain here. Literally.

The Six Million Dollar Man
Will Smith is...: Well, Steve Austen, obviously.
Why This Works: Isn't it time to ruin another '70s TV show with the same kind of comedy treatment that worked so well for Starsky And Hutch? Put Smith in the familiar role and let him play it for laughs - Austen's cybernetic upgrade not only gives him more strength, super-powered eyesight and the ability to run surprisingly quickly, but also the power to loosen up his uptight white boss, played by Billy Bob Thornton, continuing his streak of slumming it in broad comedies. Throw in a Will Farrell cameo and it's box office gold, baby.

Ghostbusters 3
Will Smith is...: Nerdy accountant Louis Tully.
Why This Works: So Rick Moranis doesn't want to come back to the role that made him famous? That's no problem - Replace him with an even bigger star. Here's your explanation as to how it happened: Between movies, Tully had a terrible accident that forced him to have an incredible amount of reconstructive surgery. When he recovered from the surgery, he was a changed man: Tall, attractive, charismatic... and no longer afraid of no ghosts.

Green Lantern
Will Smith is...: Hal Jordan. Admit it; you thought I was going to say John Stewart, didn't you?
Why This Works: Smith takes on the role of ladykiller test pilot Jordan, the one man who can save the world through the power of his mind. It's the next step of Smith's Independence Day role, but with the added benefit of a lack of Jeff Goldblum's scientist hacker. Plus, who wouldn't want to see Smith in this role, besides the legion of fanboys who'd get upset that they didn't pick a white actor?

Wild Wild West 2
Will Smith is...: Captain James West.
Why This Works: ...Okay, maybe this is the exception that proves the rule. Never mind.

The script, written by newcomer Vy Vincent Ngo, has only the faintest resemblance to the Hancock we actually saw. Hancock is still a hard-bitten superhero, but instead of being the disgrace of L.A., he's just grouchy and worn out, muttering to himself about his duty to counteract "the ills of man." Instead of the upper-class Embry family, the Ngo script features the Longfellows: Horus, Mary and their son Aaron. Horus is a failed police officer working as a security guard, and Aaron is still a kid who gets bullied (and peed on) at school. (But it's because Horus is spineless, and so Aaron has failed to learn self-respect and self-defense.)

Mary is at the bank, doing her bank thing, when some wisecracking bank robbers show up and make her and a bunch of other hostages get in the lotus position. Hancock shows up, being way, way more competent than in the movie, and rescues everybody. Then he corners Tom, who shoots at him. The bullet bounces off, and tears Tom's ear off. That leads to this great bit of dialog:

TOM: Fuck. My shirt.
HANCOCK: Why don't we call it a day? (Steps forward)
TOM: Don't. I told you... I'm not going back. (Raises gun.)
HANCOCK: If you're going to tease, cock the damn gun. Otherwise, spare me the wounded animal act of desperation. I don't got time for rhetoric and sympathy so don't expect... dialogue and "come with me and you won't be hurt" bullshit. You walk out of here with me and your life is a violent storm. You will be hurt, you will be abused... whatever turns them on. Either way, your days are shit! Those are the realities, spelled out.
TOM: What's eating you, man?
HANCOCK: (upset) You got half the precinct out there, armed, trained to blow the tail off a sperm from a hundred yards... you're standing in here, cornered, three bullets left in that squirter of yours, if you're lucky, and you got one ear. I don't need the aggravation. I don't need this.
TOM: Man, you're jaded. I'm not asking for a rainbow... You don't got to shower me with respect. Just a little tenderness, is all. Have you no mercy, mister?
HANCOCK: (he's had enough) I'm all out. Let's go.

Sadly, Tom shoots at Hancock at point-blank range and is killed by the ricochet. Everyone's sad to lose Tom, because now who will point out how jaded Hancock is? Hancock leaves the bank, surrounded by reporters and women who would "die for a chance to suck on his cape." (No, really, the script says that.) Later, Hancock meets a friendly sex worker named Gina (rhymes with "vagina," as she tells Hancock, while propositioning him.)

Hancock meets Aaron, the bullied son of Mary and Horus, and teaches him to smoke cigarettes. (Really.) And explains puberty to him: "Today, you're a boy. Tomorrow, Mr. Penis comes knocking." Aaron tries to stand up for himself at school, but it doesn't work out that great.

Later, he goes to dinner at the Longfellows' house, and meets Mary on the street after getting hit by a UPS van. She offers to sew his clothes for him, and he makes a lot of speeches about his responsibilities and how important he is. And then Hancock comes over and Mary cuts his hair for him, in a scene with no dialog but the sound of their breathing. And Mary "blossoming in her sweater." The haircut looks terrible and goofy.

Then Hancock and Mary go to the boardwalk and have a nice time, but Hancock starts to unravel thinking about how he's neglecting his duty. "I can't blink away the hell I've seen. It's in me." Then he kisses Mary and asks her to leave her husband for him. Hancock will get a job flipping burgers so he can be with Mary and her kid. But Mary says no. Hancock gets drunk and tells Aaron he'll be a loser just like his dad. Aaron may as well grab his ankles and "hope the reaming's gentle." Then Hancock goes and has sex with Gina (rhymes with "Vagina.")

Horus is drunk too and has a crisis of masculinity. Meanwhile Hancock, still drunk, gets attacked by a hoodlum and accidentally kills him. Hancock feels bad. Mary sings Beatles classics to Aaron. Hancock shows up, floating in mid-air, his eyes red. Mary asks, "What are you doing?" Hancock yells, "It's the haircut, Mary. I'm pissed!" And he hits himself in the head.

Hancock kidnaps Mary. Meanwhile, some thugs are attacking the department store where Horus works. The cops show up, but leave to deal with the Hancock-Mary hostage situation. Horus takes out the thugs single-handed, proving he's a real hero after all — but then he sees the Hancock-Mary thing on TV. Hancock, surrounded by cops, grabs Mary's ass and runs his hand over her buttocks. "He seeks a special kind of healing," the script says. Mary smacks Hancock in the face and shouts "No!", which causes Hancock to turn into a wounded child, saying "Help me" a lot. Mary talks him down a bit, but then the cops attack and Hancock demolishes them.

Horus finally shows up and attacks Hancock, even though it's pointless. Hancock nearly kills Horus, but then Mary gets buried under some rubble and we think she's dead. Hancock feels bad and tries to kill himself unsuccessfully. But Mary isn't dead after all. In the end, Hancock goes back to being a good guy, while Horus and Aaron become real men. The last shot of the movie is Aaron watching his parents have sex. "They are in some latter state of coital bliss," the script informs us. "Horus thrusts. Mary gasps." The end. [Obenson Report]

The Mark: Rob Liefeld's near-mythical movie for Will Smith (First announced in 1997) possibly disappeared due to worries over its similarity to Marvel's Star Brand series (which is, itself, a rip-off of DC's Green Lantern): Smith was to play an average joe who would end up with ultimate power that he didn't want, thanks to a mysterious brand that is magically "transferred" to his body from the corpse of a Confederate soldier. The pitch meeting probably went like this: "Picture this, Will. You have this mark on your hand, right? And you're looking at it, wondering what it is, and then it has this laser blast that comes out of it and blasts through a wall in your apartment." "Can I look at the hole in the wall and say 'Awww hell naw'?" "Sure." "I'll do it!"

Warcop: In 1993, Madonna wanted to star in another movie, and thought that she'd make a good superhero. She asked Spawn creator Todd McFarlane to come up with an idea for her, and Todd - wanting nothing to do with it - gave the idea to Grant Morrison, who came up with a pitch involving a Judge Dredd-esque futuristic space cop who traveled in time back to the present day to catch a particular perp. In one of her last good career moves, Madonna decided against the project, but Grant apparently didn't; the title, at least, is about to be used for one of his new comic books.

Iron Fist: Is this adaptation of Marvel Comics' kung-fu fighter anything more than a hopeful dream for The Phantom Menace's Darth Maul, Ray Park? The stuntman-turned-actor has been talking about the perpetually-upcoming movie version of Danny Rand for more than half a decade now, and the movie has had multiple co-stars, directors and screenwriters attached at various points in its history but seems to be getting no closer to actually being made. This can only be a good thing, because it just increases the likelihood of teaming the character up with (the similarly movie-cursed) Luke Cage to give us the Power Man And Iron Fist movie the world needs to see.

Green Lantern: One of the greatest near-misses in cinema history is the fact that fan outcry halting pre-production of Jack Black's comedy movie version of DC's space cop superhero a few years ago. Hearing Jack talk about what we could've seen in an alternate world is enough reason to be grateful:

I was going to be making all kinds of stuff... I was going to be capturing bad guys with green, giant prophylactics. Some funny stuff.

To everyone who complained loudly enough to stop this movie being made: Thank you.

Spider-Man: I know, I know; you're all thinking "Wait, didn't they make Spider-Man? I'm pretty sure I've seen a Spider-Man movie." But I'm not talking about the Sam Raimi version; I'm talking about Jim Cameron's mooted early '90s version that would had a villain that kissed his girlfriends to death, a personality-less Sandman as afterthought thug, and Peter revealing his secret identity at the end of the movie to a surprisingly unimpressed Mary Jane. There's no doubt that it would've made a cool-looking special-effects bonanza, but it had none of the heart or quirkiness of Raimi's version.