5 Animated Superheroes With Live Action Revival Potential Like Spider-Noir

Amazon Prime Video’s Spider-Noir has revived interest and opened a new avenue for animated superheroes to transition to live action. The Nicolas Cage starrer had its origins in the Spider-verse movies, but the fans seem to have liked the live-action noir treatment of their favorite web-slinger. FandomWire also gave it a positive review.

The show’s critical and audience success has raised a question for studios: are they willing to give more animated superheroes their time in the sun? Which heroes deserve the live-action treatment and are already destined for success? Here are five animated heroes we think should make the cut.

1 Static Shock

A still from Static Shock | Credits: Warner Bros. Animation

The DC animated shows were on a different level when it came to quality. Of course, the legendary Batman: The Animated Series changed the way animation was treated in the mainstream. But other shows, like Static Shock, also got the balance between entertainment and serious issues right. Virgil Hawkins was a relatable superhero with a personality, a DC counterpart to Spider-Man, which even the creator admitted.

A live-action show based on the same issues that Static Shock dealt with would be amazing. Bringing the teen humor aspect to a serious discussion about racism and classism would still make it relevant and mainstream. If James Gunn is listening, this is the show that needs to be done ASAP. It fits perfectly in with his usual slate of underrated yet brilliant superheroes.

2. Batman Beyond

Terry McGinnis pulled off something that was deemed impossible: get fans to see beyond Bruce Wayne as Batman. The animated series Batman Beyond became a cyberpunk hit among fans, with many still clamoring for a live-action adaptation or a continuation of the show. A live-action film was almost a thing in the DCU, but the project seems to be dead now.

We have had plenty of Bruce Wayne adaptations in live-action now. There is already a Bruce Wayne in Matt Reeves’ BatVerse. James Gunn’s DCU can make a Batman Beyond adaptation and explore a different side of the Caped Crusader, straying away from its Gothic roots and going for a cyberpunk aesthetic.

3 The Maxx

A still from The Maxx | Credits: MTV

Among all the other animated series in the list, The Maxx is probably the most difficult project of all. The MTV show is extremely strange, with conflicting animated styles between episodes, and delving into the deep psychology of the characters. This might be a bit of a challenge to properly adapt to live-action, but if a team pulls it off, it could be one of the greats.

The animated show may have been ahead of its time, but the atmosphere now is high on themes about antiheroes, psychological explorations, and trauma. Take shows like The Bear or I May Destroy You, for instance. These are great references for how the characters can be dealt with. Now that The Boys has ended, there is a void for off-beat superhero shows. The Maxx can fill it.

4 Danny Phantom

A still from Danny Phantom | Credits: Nickelodeon

A live-action adaptation of Danny Phantom would be so much fun. The animated series sees Danny Fenton, who gets stuck between Earth and the afterlife and becomes a human-ghost hybrid. He later becomes a superhero, using his powers as a half-ghost to save his hometown from ghost attacks, along with his human friends.

The tone of Danny Phantom is what makes it an exciting adaptation. A mix of supernatural fantasy and small-town adventure on the lines of Stranger Things would be a great replacement for the Netflix show. It could also be a weird superhero show, a subgenre that is trending with series like The Boys, Spider-Noir, and Invincible becoming hits.

5 The Zeta Project

A still from The Zeta Project | Credits: Kids’ WB

If there was ever a show that was deeply topical about the state of the world and our relationship with tech, it is The Zeta Project. It follows a humanoid assassin robot who goes rogue after finding out its target is innocent and is then chased by an agent. It speaks about existentialism, robot civil rights, and many political and metaphysical themes.

In the era of shows like Westworld (which is getting a movie adaptation) and the rise of generative AI in our everyday lives, the extent to which a synthetic being can be considered a human or could have rights is an interesting theme to explore. Coupled with a caper-esque genre, The Zeta Project could be one of the greats.

Which animated superhero series do you think deserves the Spider-Noir treatment? Comment below.