In a recent update, Marvel superhero movie ‘El Muerto’ has tapped Alfonso Cuaron’s son Jonas Cuaron as its director. The upcoming Sony pic will feature popular Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny aka Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio and it will be the first live-action Marvel superhero movie whose lead hero is a Latino actor. ‘El Muerto’ is set to release on 12th January 2024.
The above-mentioned update brings us to an age-old question: When will Marvel make its first live-action Indian superhero movie with an Indian actor in the lead and an Indian director holding the reins? Imagine a filmmaker like S.S. Rajamouli going behind the camera for an Indian superhero movie made in Hollywood based on an existing superhero character.
And in case you’re wondering about the existence of such character, then it’s relevant to point out that an interesting character called ‘Chakra’ was created by the legendary comic book writer Stan Lee along with Sharad Devarajan (CEO of Liquid Comics) and Gotham Chopra (son of famous author Deepak Chopra).
‘Chakra’ was originally portrayed as a Mumbai-based young boy named Raju Rai, who is given an advanced technological suit by his mentor scientist. A suit that is able to weaponize all mystical chakras in the human body. The boy uses his newly found superpowers to defend his city from super-villains.
Back in 2016, Stan Lee had expressed an interest to make a live-action superhero film on ‘Chakra’. The film was supposed to be helmed by ‘Lootera’ director Vikramaditya Motwane. However, the project apparently got shelved.
And now, with the announcement of a Latino-led superhero movie like ‘El Muerto’, it seems clear that Marvel is now looking beyond its American superhero characters’ portfolio. We believe now is the best time to revive the Indian-origin superhero movie project ‘Chakra’ as it has immense potential to be another Asian superhero blockbuster. Especially considering the worldwide acceptance and the phenomenal success of last year’s Asian-origin superhero flick ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’.
And keeping in mind S.S. Rajamouli’s newfound fan following in the US courtesy his latest film ‘RRR’, currently he looks to be the ideal choice to direct a big-budget, live-action Indian superhero movie based on Stan Lee’s ‘Chakra’. It’s high time that Marvel top brass revives the ambitious project. All Indian cinephiles are eagerly waiting.