In Honor of Hong Kong Phooey, 5 Other Hanna-Barbera Characters Worthy of the Big Screen
Congrats to Eddie Murphy, who just picked up voicing duties in the live action/animated movie Hong Kong Phooey, the Hanna-Barbera cartoon that only produced 16 episodes but forever validated the legitimacy of dog custodians and their mastery of martial arts. Scatman Crothers provided the original voice of "the number one super guy," but the Shrek/Mulan firebrand will make a worthy substitute. Does this mean we should anticipate more Hanna-Barbera live-action/animation takes in the future? Here are the five best candidates for that treatment.
Shazzan
Can we talk about flying camels for just a moment? Because I don't remember the last time I saw one. This 1967 series about two adventurers, Chuck and Nancy, who stumble upon a red, ferociously hirsute genie and his magical flying camel Kaboobie, is the Death on the Nile of the Hanna-Barbera oeuvre: very scenic and very dated. (Sorry, Agatha Christie, but they can't all be Witness for the Prosecution.) Eddie Murphy could also play Kaboobie in the revamp, since his vocal talents are similar to the legendary Don Messick's.
Wacky Races
I miss anything even tangentially related to kooky old sports series like Wide World of Sports, and for me, Wacky Races qualifies. The insane road race combined the silly platform of sports commentary, Mario Kart-style hijinks, and up to 24 regular competitors. If Mike Myers jumped on board as the goofy announcer, it'd be the last time I was excited to hear his voiceover since he played that leering impresario in 54.
Jabberjaw
Underwater adventure, a shark that imitates Curly from The Three Stooges, and nefarious aquatic villains? Don't tell me Marmaduke was worth the live action/animated plunge and this isn't. While Jabberjaw reiterates Scooby Doo's format and characters, I'd be excited to see the haughty Shelly reimagined for a contemporary audience. Could Chelsea Handler provide a voice?
Speed Buggy
Vroom-a-zoom-zoom! Yep, Speed Buggy was a slightly hipper Herbie, but he was voiced by the single most esteemed voice actor in history, Mel Blanc. I don't know who could fill that man's shoes (or larynx), but dune-friendly vehicles with cute little eyes are what live action/animation is all about.
The 13 Ghosts of Scooby Doo
I'd be pleased to see live-action animation resurrect this forgotten '80s series and embrace a paranormal bent. We don't need more realistic plots with stupid animated animals (like all this cynical Alvin and the Chipmunks: I Munked Your Mom nonsense, or whatever). Unfortunately, we'd have to deal with the excruciatingly annoying Flim Flam, but it's worth to revisit Daphne, Scooby, and Shaggy once again. R.I.P. Vincent Prince, whose crystal ball appearances were hair-raising.
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How about the Wacky Races spin-off, "The Perils of Penelope Pitstop"?
Herculoids! There aren't enough triceratops shooting fireballs out of their horns on-screen these days, and think of the marketing opportunities for Gloop and Gleep toys! Puddles of protoplasm will fly off the shelves. Also, Ryan Reynolds could totally pull off a Zandor loincloth.
Well, considering they made a mint off of that "Wild Hogs" pile and "Ghost Rider", I'd say we need to see a "Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch" CGI redux get the greenlight.
Space Ghost.
I had a bad case of Herculoids once. They were much worse than regular hemorrhoids. Must've spent a fortune on Preparation H.
Well, I am delighted that they are making a Hong Kong Phooey movie, but I have always imagined that Jackie Chan was put on this earth to play Henry. Not sure why. Also I think if you are looking for movie ideas, you could do a lot worse than bringing back the classic Captain Caveman.
I won't be wasting any money on Eddy Murphy in Hong Kong Phooy but it is way past time for a Jonny freakin' Quest movie!
Didn't they recently make Wacky Races with Jason Statham, but called it Death Race?
Now that, I'd pay to see. I always wondered why out of every cartoon they could choose, they didn't pick JQ. Maybe with Tintin coming out, JQ might be more appealing.
Sorry, but anything other than a black man voicing Henry would be blasphemy.
Space Ghost!
By the way, isn't Hong Kong Phooey full of racist stereotypes?
Thundar the Barbarian!
They should Do Dynomutt and Blue Falcon Live Action Movie.
This is ridiculous! They should do a makeover of Clue Club and The Snorks. They're not putting H.K. Phooey on the big screen! We already used Scooby Doo and Josie and the Pussycats as the makeovers. Maybe when 2017 comes, they should have makeovers of Shirt Tales, The Buford Files and the Galloping Ghost and Butch Cassidy as the live action titles.