From Zorro to Zero

When I was a kid, I watched a lot of the Disney Channel.  Not the Disney Channel as it exists today, but the one that was so awesome that you actually had to pay extra for it.  Every so often, you would get a free weekend and John Larroquette would explain just how awesome the channel was and then we'd even hear from "Alice", one of the many operators that were "standing by".

During these free tastes of greatness, the Disney Channel would roll out it's best programming, so even if you already paid for it, you would still look forward to it.  In between movies like , "The Boy Who Could Fly" and "Not Quite Human" (strangely staring the same guy), you would get Disney's version of the swashbuckling "Zorro". 

Starring the charming Guy Williams in the title role, "Zorro" was one of my favorite things about the Disney Channel.  It was a fun show with good action and likable characters and as a kid, I loved it.

I'm not the only one who holds a special place in my heart for the character as in Batman comics, the movie that Bruce Wayne and family were watching just before the tragic rendezvous with the mugger was, "The Gay Blade of Zorro" and was intricle in why Bruce does what he does.

Why am I waxing nostalgic about this iconic and recognizable character?

According to this story , Zorro is going to be rebooted.  This shouldn't be news to most people as everything is getting rebooted, but what Fox has planned is remarkable in how it aims to not only redefine how we view Zorro, but to redefine the character itself.

If you remember correctly Don Diego del LaVega was a wealthy aristocrat in Mexico controlled California and when he saw injustice done by the very Dons he socializes with, he goes into action as the mysterious Zorro- leaving his mark behind in the process.

In Fox's reimagining, Zorro is an angst-ridden man looking for vengeance in a post apocalyptic future.

So yeah, NOT Zorro.  The word is that he will trade in his sword for more contemporary weapons, which could translate into messier calling cards. 

At this point, they have deviated so much from the original character that there is no real reason to call it "Zorro".  Heck, they could change the character from a Latino and I'm sure Fox management wouldn't flinch.

I think Fox should look at the most successful comic book movies of all time.  Batman, Spider-man, Superman, etc. have the same thing in common- that they didn't stray too far from the source materials.  Sure there are some creative licenses being made, but it is always in service to the medium being presented.

So in conclusion I want to appeal to those in Fox...you know?  The people not reading this.  I would like to say that if the screenplay is stron enough, please make this movie, but do NOT call it Zorro.  You will alienate anyone who has even heard of Zorro.  At this point, this includes nearly everyone.