Though there are still a number of beloved heroes and villains that fans would like to see adapted to the silver screen, Marvel’s done a pretty good job of bringing a great deal of their most famous characters to life in live-action over the years. However, that doesn’t mean each time has been a success. True, they usually hit a home run, but every so often there’s a character who simply isn’t done justice – be it the fault of the actor playing them or the film they’re stuck in.
One such example is Silver Surfer (real name Norrin Radd). Originally created by Jack Kirby, with Stan Lee helping to develop him, he has been seen on film before, but like so many others, he could really use a redo. As you’ll no doubt remember, Doug Jones played him in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, a wholly forgettable affair that didn’t do the character justice. As such, fans have been calling for a new interpretation of him for years now and Lee seems to agree.
Speaking to Syfy Wire, the comic book legend mentioned how he’d like to see Silver Surfer get another shot in a movie, saying:
“He’s the one I want to see more,” Lee said. “He’s the most philosophical of all the characters I’ve ever worked on. And I have an idea for my cameo in that one!”
While we certainly agree with Lee here, it’s unlikely that Norrin Radd will find his way into a film again. For one, the rights to him reside with Fox, and the Fantastic Four franchise, which would be the most ideal place for him to appear, is in limbo right now. He’s been involved with other Marvel characters in the comic books, of course (he had a large role in the “Infinity War” arc, for instance), but Fox is unlikely to lend him to their rival studio for use in the MCU anytime soon.
So, will Lee ever get his wish for a Silver Surfer film, then? Maybe. There’s been talk of doing something else with the Fantastic Four for a while and Fox knows that he’s a popular character, so it wouldn’t surprise us if they’re thinking of a way to get him back on the big screen again. That being said, we wouldn’t hold our breath. Instead, we’ll simply look forward to Lee’s cameo in Thor: Ragnarok, which is said to be one of his best yet!