While comic book movies are the biggest thing at the theater today, there was a time when they were...bad. And none were quite as bad as Howard the Duck. However, the film's overall terribleness has actually built something of a cult following for the movie in recent years and with the character having made a pair of cameos in Marvel movies, there are those that wonder if another Howard the Duck film might be in our future. Lea Thompson, who co-starred in the original film, isn't just wondering, however, she's actually working to make it happen, as she recently revealed she's actually going to pitch Marvel on a new movie herself. When asked if she might become part of the MCU one day, Thompson said...
Oh my god, from your lips to God's ears. I don't know. To tell you the actual truth, I am going to Marvel to pitch Howard the Duck, a new movie.
Howard the Duck was released in 1986 and was actually the first feature film ever released based on a Marvel Comics character. The film saw Howard transported away from his home planet of duck-based life forms to Earth following the use of new Earth technology. While on Earth he befriends the lead singer of the band Cherry Bomb, Beverly, played by Lea Thompson. The movie was a massive failure. While it's got funny moments the humor is far more miss than hit and Howard just doesn't work as a character, mostly because special effects at the time just weren't what they are today.
However, after James Gunn included a Howard the Duck cameo in the post-credits sequence of Guardians of the Galaxy, people began to take note of Howard again and fans of the original comic, which has been capable of absolute brilliance from time to time, would love to see a more comic-friendly adaptation of the character at some point.
If for some reason you think Lea Thompson was just making a joke, she later specifically tells Inquisitr when her appointment with Marvel is, as well as revealing that her purpose in the pitch is her desire to direct the film.
In like three weeks. I want to direct the Howard the Duck remake [laughs]. Why not dream big, right?
Dare I say it? This sounds inspired, and if there was ever a chance for something like this to happen, then now might be the best possible time. Howard the Duck is an established character in the MCU thanks to his two Guardians of the Galaxy appearances. We know that Phase Four of the MCU plans to be more cosmic focused, so a feature starring Howard could very well fit within Marvel's larger plans. Marvel needs to start hiring some women behind the camera. Lea Thompson is up for the job and her previous connection to the character would bring out the cult fans of the original movie as well as people who just want to see what the heck a second Howard the Duck movie would look like. Now, we just need to talk James Gunn into working on the screenplay, and we could have a winner.
