Renaming comic book characters in TV/film adaptations

[Doctorwhovian]

Any thoughts on this? In a few comic films and TV series, it seems to happen. Not really with the superhero names, but more to do with the secret identities/ "real" names or non-hero supporting cast members, although in some cases this might've been done to distance them from the comic character in some ways, or for other reasons. Some examples:


For example- In the TV series The Incredible Hulk, Bruce Banner's name was turned to "David" (Although Bruce is still his middle name). The Ang Lee film paid some homage to this by having Banner's father be called David (The character's name in the comics is Brian). On a side note, Bruce is temporarily known as " Bruce Krenzler" in the film, so that's kind of a name change too.

Batman 1989-Jack Palance's character Carl Grissom is pretty much Rupert Thorne from the comics (and apparentally the character was Thorne in an earlier draft).
Also the character of Eckhart is very similar to the comic's (and Gotham's) Harvey Bullock (Although far more corrupt).

Batman and Robin-Not a big one, as her first name remains except Batgirl is now related to Alfred instead of Gordon.


Batman (Nolan films)-The character of Anna Ramirez in Dark Knight is similar in someways to Renee Montoya, although Ramirez was corrupt.
In Dark Knight Rises, Juno Temple's character "Jen" practically is Holly Robinson, Catwoman's friend from the comics.
I don't put John Blake/Robin here because he's sort of a composite anyway and there are quite a few Robins around in the comics.

Spoiler: Ant-man

and then there's the upcoming Ant-man film, where Janet Van Dyne(The wasp in the comics) is an older woman, and a new character has been created, Hope Van Dyne, as her daughter (and also Hank's) Hope seems like she'll be similar to the Wasp in character, although it's unknown if she also develops superpowers.

 

[Admiral2]

Any thoughts on this? In a few comic films and TV series, it seems to happen. Not really with the superhero names, but more to do with the secret identities/ "real" names or non-hero supporting cast members, although in some cases this might've been done to distance them from the comic character in some ways, or for other reasons. Some examples:


For example- In the TV series The Incredible Hulk, Bruce Banner's name was turned to "David" (Although Bruce is still his middle name). The Ang Lee film paid some homage to this by having Banner's father be called David (The character's name in the comics is Brian). On a side note, Bruce is temporarily known as " Bruce Krenzler" in the film, so that's kind of a name change too.

Bruce was always Banner's middle name. Once in the comics his full name was given as Robert Bruce Banner.

Also, in the X-Men films Magneto's name is given as Eric Lensher, but in the comics he started out Will Magnus.

As for what I think: The producers thought the production names were better, and in most of those cases nobody really cared. I don't either...mostly.

 

[Silvercrest]

Also, in the X-Men films Magneto's name is given as Eric Lensher, but in the comics he started out Will Magnus.

Not quite-- he was just "Magnus", full name unclear. Will Magnus is someone else.

From Iron Man 2: Justin Hammer should have been renamed. His portrayal onscreen is more like Edwin Cord.

 

[Admiral2]

Also, in the X-Men films Magneto's name is given as Eric Lensher, but in the comics he started out Will Magnus.

Not quite-- he was just "Magnus", full name unclear. Will Magnus is someone else.

Hmmm...I could have sworn Will Magnus was the name used when they tried Magneto in the Hague.

But, I'm not married to the idea enough to dig out some real old X-Men comic, so okay, I stand corrected...

 

[Enterprise is Great]

Will Magnus is a DC character. He's a scientist who created the Metal Men.