MARTIAN MANHUNTER: How I would approach the character in film.

First off I'm not here to bash David S. Goyer. I am a fan of his written work, Dark City is one of my favorite films, I love the first two Blade movies and I have often championed Man of Steel online . This isn't an attack on him as a person but I do have issues with his comments on Martian Manhunter, a hallowed character among comic book fans. Goyer's opinion on J'onn J'onzz's potential movie incarnation is completely off the mark and I offer this counter argument as to how we could see the famous character on screen. So here goes.

The first point I'll raise here is that outside of DC comics fandom J'onzz isn't well known so introducing him onscreen in his own film could seem problematic to Warner Bros. I'm sure people would put forth the Guardians of the Galaxy argument for introducing lesser know characters to the silver screen to successful results but let us put that argument in perspective. Marvel Studios is an already established brand with several high grossing, critically acclaimed and interconnected films in their output including two billion dollar earners. Marvel's risk was based on a steady foundation of previous success, DC/WB has at this time only MoS and the upcoming BvS in their cinematic Universe so I don't feel WB has the confidence to introduce Martian Manhunter as a standalone. For me the best way to introduce J'onzz in the Justice League movie. And here is how I would do it.

I will straightaway say that I would be taking some artistic licence with the origin of our beloved Martian hero, but not to the extent that Goyer proposed. I'm assuming that the main threat of the JL movie will be cosmic in origin, be it Darkseid or some other galactic menace and in that context I feel introducing J'onzz as a herald of the villain's impending attack. Goyer didn't think the Martian element of the character would translate to the screen and I have to disagree. The very nature of Mars, it's mystery, it's proximity to Earth, the theory that it was once a world like ours  lends very well to film. So taking that all in I would tie directly the destruction of Mars ancient civilization into the plot of  the JL movie and the villain that the team faces. Be it Darkseid, I would alter the history of J'onzz so as to give him a genuine hatred of the villain and want revenge for the destruction of his species by said galactic warlord. I would have J'onzz be the only survivor of the extinction  and have him flee to Earth and in the centuries in between have him utilizing his shape shifting abilities and hide among humanity up until his capture by a shadowy government organization where he will stay until the events of the Justice League movie play out. Upon being freed by the other members of the League he would become central in their struggle against Darkseid and cement his place within the DCCU, gain greater audience recognition and go on to star in his own solo movies to much financial success.

Now that is just one way to incorporate the character into the Cinematic Universe without completely disregarding his comic book history. While I concede some changed would have to be made, it is a necessary evil of most adaptations, the character himself can translate to the screen and still keep much of the elements that made the source material such a favorite in the first place. Martian Manhunter may seem hokey to the uninitiated, but if approached properly he can be as much a movie icon as the Trinity.

To me J'onzz is central to the mythology of the Justice League and if I were in charge of bringing him to the screen I would do me best to respect the source material despite Goyer's differing views.

SoA.