114-Year-Old Sci-Fi Hero Will Finally Get Justice After Disney’s 2012 Movie Flop

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Following the disappointing performance of Disney’s John Carter movie, the classic sci-fi character is getting a renewed look. The Barsoom series, originally known as John Carter of Mars, started with stories published in 1912 by Edgar Rice Burroughs. These tales center on John Carter, a Civil War veteran who finds himself transported to Mars. There, he encounters Princess Dejah Thoris and becomes a protector of the Martian world, known to its inhabitants as Barsoom.

Edgar Rice Burroughs’ books are a blast – full of adventure, fast-paced action, and imaginative alien worlds. His series about Barsoom is particularly impressive, with a richly detailed and well-built universe. In fact, many science fiction authors and filmmakers today credit Barsoom as a major inspiration, including those behind popular works like Avatar, Dune, and Star Wars.

The previous movie adaptation of this story was a major disappointment for both audiences and critics, becoming a significant box office failure. However, fans of the hero, John Carter, and his strong-willed love interest, Princess Dejah Thoris, can now look forward to a much better portrayal of their adventures on the big screen.

Edgar Rice Burroughs’ John Carter Of Mars Sci-Fi Novels Will Get An Animated TV Show

Custom Image by Yailin Chacon

During a panel dedicated to Edgar Rice Burroughs at San Diego Comic Con 2025, it was announced that a John Carter of Mars animated series is in development. Showrunner Michael Kogge is working with the Burroughs estate on the project, which is a strong sign of support. The decision to make it animated is seen as a smart move, taking advantage of recent advancements in fantasy action animation (according to MovieWeb).

What The John Carter TV Show Needs To Learn From The John Carter Movie Failure

I don’t want to criticize the John Carter movie too harshly, especially since it’s become a fan favorite despite not doing well in theaters. While the film wasn’t terrible, the upcoming TV show has a chance to improve on a few things. The series should focus on creating a strong visual look, developing the world in detail, and, crucially, having a better marketing strategy.

Given that Disney produced the film, it’s understandable that the visuals were made to fit their typical style, losing the rougher, more realistic feel of the original story. Looking at screenshots, the film doesn’t really stand out; it often feels like a standard action movie set in a desert. The series needs a unique visual identity so that viewers will immediately recognize it as John Carter of Mars.

The movie didn’t quite do justice to the rich world of Barsoom as described in the books – it felt simplified. The animated series has a chance to really bring Barsoom to life onscreen and make it as impressive as it is in the original stories.

To succeed, the John Carter of Mars TV series needs a strong marketing strategy. Unlike the movie, they must keep “Of Mars” in the title to emphasize its science fiction roots. A generic or poorly made trailer would be a mistake. Instead, the marketing team should highlight the show’s connection to a franchise that’s been around for over a century – and learn from the mistakes Disney made when marketing the John Carter film.

If the creators follow these steps, there’s a good possibility the John Carter of Mars TV show will finally be a worthy adaptation of the sci-fi hero.

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2025-12-14 17:48