3 Directors For A Live Actions Gargoyles Film

The way that Hollywood is full of reboots, recycled ideas and live action Disney adaptation there is one cartoon from my childhood that seems like a no brainer to receive a live action film adaptation. With dozens of Marvel superhero films, live action Ninja Turtles films and several Transformers ones, I think it's pretty unusual that Disney's Gargoyles has not had a big budget adaptation. Not only was it one of my favourite shows growing up but it was pretty well reviewed and had an enthusiastic fanbase. Consequently, I wanted to write about 3 directors I think would be a good choice to helm a live action Gargoyles film.

Jordan Peele

When reading about the Gargoyles show I was excited to see that Jordan Peele had proposed a take on a Gargoyles film and was very disappointed to read it (for now at least) will not be happening. However I can't help but think of how good a Jordan Peele Gatgoyle's film could be. Given Peele's previous work plus a large part of the show being about how the gargoyles are treated poorly because the are different it is easy to picture a Peele Gargoyles film that is an alagory for racism in U.S.A. Or one that seems that way on the surface and redirects into different themes. At the very least I'd like a Peele led (or any director led) Gargoyle film with strong BIPOC representation. I could especially see Peeles' former comedic partner Keegan Micheal Key providing his voice to a character like Lexington. And while I'd like Key involved, even without him Peele could draw on his comedic background and love of horror to make a stellar Gargoyles film. As much as I'd see it as mostly a gargoyle action movie suspense could be dialed up at points where human characters are truly terrified of Gargoyles and comedic moments would land when the gargoyles are realizing how out of place they are in modern New York.

Kenneth Branagh

Another director I think would fit Gargoyles well is Kenneth Branagh. Not only does he have ties to Disney as he directed the first Thor film and Artemis Fowl. Murder on the Orient Express is a better example of strong film by Branagh but Thor and Artemis Fowl show that Branagh won't shy away from fantasy based films. I thought one of Thor's strengths was playing up the "fish out of water" aspect of Thor's character and I'd like to see that aspect in a Gargoyles film or franchise. In the show Goliath is serious more often than other members of his clan but I'd like to see Branagh's take on Lexington, Brooklyn and Broadway naively exploring New York. Mostly for comedic effect but also to drive plot points like when Broadway accidentally shoots Elisa in one of the series' most memorable episodes. Branagh himself could even costar as Macbeth.

Guillermo Del Toro

I'd take a Guillermo Del Toro adaptation of most of my favourite things but that's especially true for Gargoyles. So much of his work is fixated on monsters, fairytales and horror that his ideas would really bring Gargoyles to life. The Shape of Water is literally about a woman named Elisa's love for a supernatural creature, so that and the love triangle elements in Hellboy would clearly lend themselves well to Goliath and Eliza's relationship. But above all Del Toro gives Gargoyles the best chance to use practical effects as much as possible. I would love to see actors like Doug Jones in full Gargoyles costumes, elaborate castle architecture and cybertronic elements all married together into an epic multi film Gargoyles series.