X-Band: Phantom Podcast #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 Mikael Lyck, Ankit Mitra and Duncan Munro joining the team to pitch ideas. For the record, none of us have been contacted yet. That was episode 256.

This year there has been some more news that Netflix is ‘likely’ going to be the platform to distribute the show. However, as we briefly touched upon in episode 320, the Phantom has had some false dawns prior with new TV shows and or films ever since Tom Tyler donned the uniform in 1943. This podcast is going to be a collection of all the rumours, could-have-beens, and failed attempts in the last 70+ year period.

If we have missed any films, TV shows, rumours or near misses, please contact us. Thanks must also go to Seuj Abir and Andreas for research help.

The list of feature films, serials, fan-made films, TV shows, the rumours and everything else we discuss are below in chronlogical 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 featuring The Beatles.

• 1970’s. 3x Turkey films with the Phantom was 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 that didn't get past the writing script stage.

• 1986-1987. Defenders of the Earth animated cartoon TV series featuring Flash Gordon, Mandrake and their kids with Peter Mark Richman voice of the Phantom.

• 1988. Recently found letter from the producer of the (to become) 1996 film Peter Sjoqist to Svenska Film.

• 1994. Phantom 2040 animated cartoon TV series with Scott Valentine voice of the Phantom.

• 1996 Hollywood film with actor Billy Zane as the Phantom.

• 1997-1998. Betaal Pachisi an Indian TV series based on the Phantom with actor Shahbaz Khan as Betaal.

• Mid to late 1990s. Brisbane animated TV series with Glenn Ford working on the storyboards.

• 2002-2003. Hyde Park & Crusader Hollywood film with the script written by Steven De Souza and past actor Heath Ledger as someone who was eyed off to play the Phantom.

• 2008 sequel to the 1996 Hollywood film with actors Billy Zane, Kristy Swanson and Catherine Zeta Jones all to return.

• 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 twice. The movie was cancelled due to the USA invading Libya.

• 2014. Hollywood producer Mark Gordon took over the rights for a Phantom 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 actors Kartik Aaryan cast to play Phantom

• 2025. Brazil fan-made film

• 2023. TV show rumoured with a 2025 announcement with Netflix as the streaming service.

You can email us at chroniclechamber@gmail.com or chat with us via our social media profiles on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram. We love comments and feedback from the Phantom phans from around the world. Make sure you stay with us, and do not forget to subscribe and leave a review on our podcast on our YouTube channel.