Imagine a Daredevil battling crime to the soundtrack of punk rock! That's the vision filmmaker Joe Carnahan had, and it's a superhero movie that almost was. But here's where it gets controversial... Carnahan also teased his take on a remake of The Raid, claiming it would be more emotional than the original. Is that even possible? Let's dive in.
Joe Carnahan, currently riding the wave of his new Netflix release The Rip (starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon – a pairing that always delivers!), recently opened up on The Playlist's Discourse podcast about some fascinating projects that never quite made it to the screen. And among the most intriguing is his pitch for a wildly different take on Marvel's Daredevil.
Before Daredevil found a home on Netflix with Charlie Cox's acclaimed portrayal, 20th Century Fox held the rights, and Carnahan had a bold plan. He envisioned a Daredevil trilogy set across distinct musical eras, a concept that would have infused the gritty world of Hell's Kitchen with a raw, rebellious energy. This wasn't your typical superhero origin story; it was a time capsule of sound and fury.
Carnahan's concept wasn't just about changing costumes; it was about reflecting the soul of each decade through Daredevil's battles. "It was going to be ‘Daredevil’ in 1973, which was classic rock, then ‘Daredevil’ in ’79, which was punk rock, and then ‘Daredevil’ in ’85, which was new wave," Carnahan explained. "It was very street-level, very Hell’s Kitchen. That’s the version that always spoke to me."
Think about it: Daredevil facing off against villains in smoky, dimly lit clubs while the Ramones blast in the background. Or navigating the neon-drenched streets of the '80s with a synth-heavy soundtrack. It's a far cry from the operatic scores often associated with superhero films, but that's precisely what made it so appealing. But here's the rub: the studio wasn't so sure.
Carnahan faced resistance to his vision. It's often an uphill battle to get a superhero project greenlit if it deviates too far from the established formula. Studios often prefer a safer bet, something that aligns with audience expectations. And this is the part most people miss... the shadow of Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy loomed large.
After the critical and commercial success of Nolan's Batman films, studios were (and often still are) chasing that same level of realism and gravitas. Carnahan suggests that the bar had been set so high, it became difficult to pitch a more grounded, street-level superhero story. "Listen, it’s like when you’ve done it as well as Chris Nolan did it in the ‘Batman’ films, and that’s just done as well as it can be done," he said. The pressure to replicate that success can stifle creativity and make it harder for unique visions to get a chance.
But Daredevil wasn't the only project Carnahan discussed. He also revealed details about his proposed remake of The Raid: Redemption, the action-packed Indonesian film that redefined the genre. And this is where things get interesting... Carnahan boldly claimed that his version would be better, specifically "more fundamentally emotional than the original." He even wrote a spec script with Frank Grillo, designed in a modular way so it could be reworked as its own original story if rights couldn't be secured.
Carnahan envisioned a story that delved deeper into the characters' motivations and relationships, adding layers of emotional complexity to the already intense action. While the project ultimately fell through due to disagreements with the producers, the concept raises a fascinating question: can you improve on a modern classic?
Carnahan's confidence is admirable, but is it misplaced? Can an American remake truly capture the raw energy and brutal beauty of The Raid while adding a significant emotional layer? Or would it simply be a watered-down imitation? What do you think? Would you have preferred Carnahan's punk rock Daredevil over what we got? And is it even possible to make The Raid better? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
