#324: The Phantom's film & TV rumours, hits & near misses

When we first announced the proposed new Phantom TV show on our website in July 2023, we spent a whole episode with guests joining the team to pitch ideas in episode 256.

This year there has been some more news that Netflix is ‘likely’ going to be the platform to distribute the show. However, the Phantom has had some false dawns ever since Tom Tyler donned the uniform in 1943. This podcast is going to be a collection of all the hits, rumours, could-have-beens, and failed attempts in the last 70+ year period.

The list is below in chronological order:

• 1943. Serial featuring actor Tom Tyler as the Phantom.
• 1955. Captain Africa serial featuring actor John Hart as the Phantom / Captain Africa.
• 1961. Pilot for a serial featuring actor Roger Creed as the Phantom.
• 1966. Film released in the Philippines featuring actor Bob Soler as the Phantom.
• 1968. The Yellow Submarine movie.
• 1970’s. 3x Turkey films with the Phantom played by Ismet Erten and Irfan Atasoy.
• 1972. Popeye Meets the Man Who Hated Laughter, an animated film featuring King Features characters.
• 1973. Short fan-made film called Fanta.
• Late 1970’s. Ruby Spears animated TV series that didn't get past the writing script stage.
• 1982-1985. Filmation animated TV series.
• 1986-1987. Defenders of the Earth animated cartoon TV series featuring Flash Gordon and Mandrake with Peter Mark Richman voice as the Phantom.
• 1988. Letter from the producer of the (to become) 1996 film Peter Sjoqist to Svenska Films.
• 1994. Phantom 2040 animated cartoon TV series with Scott Valentine voice as the Phantom.
• 1996. Hollywood film with actor Billy Zane as the Phantom.
• 1997-1998. Betaal Pachisi an Indian TV series with actor Shahbaz Khan as Betaal.
• Mid to late 1990s. Brisbane proposed animated TV series with Glenn Ford working on the storyboards.
• 2002-2003. Hyde Park & Crusader Hollywood film with a script written.
• 2008. Sequel to the 1996 film with the main actors all returning.
• 2009. SyFy TV show pilot with actor Ryan Carnes as the Phantom.
• 2010. Legacy Hollywood movie with actor Chris Hemsworth auditioned for the role of the Phantom.
• 2014. Hollywood producer Mark Gordon took over the rights for a movie.
• 2018. Cholomon Oshoriri Indian fan-made movie.
• 2017 & 2019. Kid Phantom: Homework animated short film made by students at an animation school.
• 2019. Indian Bollywood movie with producers Ronnie Screwvala and Vasan Bala involved and actor Kartik Aaryan cast to play Phantom
• 2025. Brazil fan-made film 

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