Marvel’s Avengers may bring in billions at the box office but Indonesia is taking on the likes of Iron Man with its own superhero franchise, tapping into growing global demand for diverse characters.
The first movie of the series, Gundala, which was directed by one of Indonesia’s most prolific filmmakers Joko Anwar and released locally to critical and popular acclaim, is now set to play in cinemas across North America.
With a back catalogue of more than 500 Indonesian comics, the studio Screenplay Bumilangit is hoping to create its own Marvel-style “Cinematic Universe” with films featuring interconnected characters and settings.
Gundala, based on a 1969 comic, tells of an impoverished factory worker’s son who fights corruption and injustice after a lightning strike gives him superhuman powers.
“The story that people are going to see in our films is not about aliens attacking the earth because that’s not our problem. Hollywood is going to deal with that, ” said Anwar.“We’re dealing with our country’s oppressors and their superpowers will come from our mythology, ” adds the 44-year-old, explaining that his passions growing up were films and Indonesian comic heroes.
Indonesia’s once-booming comic book industry waned in the late ‘80s as fans flocked to Marvel and other foreign offerings.
But the country’s filmmakers are confident that the new series, which infuses classic mythology and modern life, will have unique appeal at home and abroad.
“We’re not only trying to provide some nostalgia, but also to expose youths to our own superhero stories, ” said Bumilangit’s creative general manager Iwan Nazif.
“I think the exposure is even greater with the Gundala movie as it raised the curiosity of both comic and film enthusiasts about local superheros, ” he added.
The second planned story follows female character Sri Asih, who has the strength of 250 men and leads a pack of other superheroes. — AFP
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