6 Unlikely Franchises That Spawned Stage Show Adaptations

Recently, Marvel Studios released the trailer for Hawkeye, their next big series, currently scheduled to hit Disney Plus in November. Though seen only briefly, first on a billboard in New York, and then in a blink-and-you'll miss it clip, one of the most talked about elements of the trailer is the Easter Egg inclusion of 'Rogers: The Musical', which appears to be a stage show based on the story of Captain America.

While most likely included as a joke, Steve Rogers is probably not the most unusual character to have a musical made about him. Here are six unlikely franchises to have spawned stage-show adaptations.

1. Spider-Man

In 2002, Marvel gave the okay for a stage musical adaptation of their beloved Spider-Man comic books. Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark proved an ambitious project, with plans to include lots of stunt work and elaborate sets, with the musical's songs and score written by Bono and Edge of U2 fame. Adapting Spider-Man's origins, his romance with Mary-Jane Watson, and battles with the Green Goblin, Turn Off The Dark became the most expensive Broadway Production in history, coming in at a massive $75 million.

Unfortunately, the production was plagued with issues from the outset. The show went over it's original budget, and was rewritten multiple times during it's preview period, delaying the show's official opening. Perhaps the most infamous element of Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark was the numerous on-stage accidents. Many actors and stunt workers were injured during the production, some badly enough to require rehab, and the show was fined for workplace safety violations. The injury count grew so high that many believed the production was cursed. After a three year run between 2011 and 2014, Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark closed at a huge financial loss, costing investors nearly sixty million dollars.

2. Rugrats

In 1998, capitalising on the continuing success of the beloved Nicktoon series Rugrats, Nickelodeon planned the live show Rugrats: A Live Adventure, also known as Rugrats: Live and in Diapers. The show, performed by a mixture of puppeteers and actors in Rugrats suits, focused on Tommy, Phil, and Lil trying to help Chuckie overcome his fear of the rainstorm raging outside, while Angelica works to thwart their efforts. The voices of the characters were pre-recorded by the Rugrats voice actors, leaving the stage actors to perform the characters' movements. Each Rugrat was played by two actors alternating scenes, to prevent anyone from overheating in the heavy suits.

The show was well-received, and proved popular enough to go international, touring Mexico, Britain, Ireland, and Australia after it's U.S run. Unlike most children's live shows, which have relatively short seasons, Rugrats: A Live Adventure toured for two years, opening in February 1998, and closing in May of 2000.

3. Doctor Who

Few would guess that the classic sci-fi series Doctor Who has served as the inspiration for not just one stage show, but many. Of these, perhaps the most notable are Doctor Who and the Daleks in Seven Keys to Doomsday, and Doctor Who: The Ultimate Adventure. In Seven Keys to Doomsday, originally staged during the transition between the Third and Fourth Doctors, an alternate Doctor, played by Trevor Martin, must prevent the Daleks from obtaining the Seven Crystals of Karn, which would enable them to control all life in the universe. The Ultimate Adventure sees The Doctor taking on a deadly alliance of Daleks and Cybermen.

The Ultimate Adventure was especially notable for having two television Doctors play the role on stage. Third Doctor Jon Pertwee played The Doctor for the first part of Ultimate Adventure's run, before eventually handing over the role to the Sixth Doctor, Colin Baker. Both Seven Keys to Doomsday and The Ultimate Adventure were eventually adapted into audio dramas for Big Finish Productions.

4. How to Train Your Dragon

Upon it's release in 2010, How To Train Your Dragon became an instant classic. However, one would think the creatures and visuals of the film would be too difficult to adapt to the stage.. but they would be wrong. Soon after the film's release, Global Creatures, a company that specialises in shows featuring animatronic animals, approached Dreamworks with a pitch for How To Train Your Dragon: The Arena Spectacular.

Animatronics and Pyrotechnics brought the world of the dragons to life. Twenty-four animatronic dragons, representing ten different dragon species, were built for the show, which adapted the events of the first How To Train Your Dragon film. Hiccup, Astrid, and many of theother vikings from the film were portrayed by live actors. After a debut run in Melbourne, Australia, where the animatronic dragons were built, How To Train Your Dragon: The Arena Spectacular toured New Zealand, the United States, Canada, and China for nearly three years, an impressive run for a show of its kind.

5. Pokemon

In the early 2000s, at the height of Pokemania, 4Kids, the company responsible for dubbing the Pokemon anime into English, staged Pokemon Live!, a musical inspired by the anime. The story, written just for the musical, has Ash, Misty, and Brock embark on a journey to a mysterious new Gym, where Ash plans to win the one-of-a-kind Diamond Badge. Unbeknownst to Ash, the Gym is just a front for a plot by Team Rocket Leader Giovanni, luring trainers to battle so that his new creation, the mechanical Pokemon MechaMew2, can learn every attack and become unstoppable.

While the human characters in the show are performed entirely live, the Pokemon are actors in suits, featuring pre-recorded dialogue from the anime's voice actors, and many of the show's songs are taken from the previously released 'Pokemon 2BA Master' and 'Totally Pokemon' soundtrack albums. Pokemon Live! is somewhat infamous for the plot reveal that Ash's Mother, Delia Ketchum, had a past romantic dalliance with Giovanni. As such, the show is largely responsible for the widespread fan theory that Giovanni is Ash's Father.

6. Evil Dead

After securing the blessing of director Sam Raimi, and star Bruce Campbell, a Toronto based team began workshopping plans for a musical based on the popular horror franchise Evil Dead. Unlike most musical adaptations, Evil Dead: The Musical adapts not just one, but the first two films in the series. After a successful performance at the 2004 'Just For Laughs' comedy festival, the show mounted an off-Broadway production. Critics lauded Evil Dead: The Musical as the next Rocky Horror Picture Show.

After the Off-Broadway run closed, the musical moved back to Toronto's Diesel Playhouse, eventually becoming one of the city's longest running Canadian productions. Currently, an 'Ultimate 4D Experience' version of Evil Dead: The Musical runs in the Windows Showroom at Bally's in Las Vegas, including blood splatter, audience interaction, and a slew of other special effects.

It certainly makes you wonder.. what unlikely franchise will get the stage treatment next?