You might think that after spending 32 years as the self-described "brand ambassador" of one of the most critically panned films of all time Lea Thompson would prefer to distance herself from that identity. But instead, as the actress-director told Mary Elizabeth Williams on "Salon Talks," she's ready for the return of "Howard the Duck."

The 1986 big budget flop has over time become a cult classic, in part because as Thompson observes, "That was the first Marvel movie." Today, she says, "There's a whole Marvel universe." And within it, "Now Howard is the normal one in the Marvel Universe. There are all these crazy people in spider suits and iron men, and so Howard the Duck is the normal guy." For evidence, note Howard's brief appearance in "Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2," where the natty waterfowl seems like the laidback elder statesman in the boisterous crowd.

But Thompson isn't looking to just go back to the future. "I don't want to remake the movie by any stretch of the imagination," she says. "I want to make a new movie with Howard the Duck." Thompson says that "I gave them a great pitch at Marvel. They said they really liked it and maybe they'd call me back." Meanwhile, she says, "The fans love it; they love the idea.I have them tweeting [at] Marvel. I'm trying."