Frustration with WB.

[The Major]

Don't you guys want to save some comic book films for the future anyhow?

WB could be making a solo movie for just minor JLA characters every year and they still would barely tap into the franchises they have at DC.

Instead of cramming everything in a fifteen year gap?

They don't need to cram everything in but WB needs to at least start adapting other serial super-heroes well.

They haven't even even made a successful third serial super-hero franchise yet. All other attempts have failed, and they were all easily avoidable disasters.

I'd prefer DC moves only after Marvel is done with the main batch of characters with JLA trilogy and solo spinoffs.

There's no reason both companies have to switch cycles to make adaptions.

Sort of have the Marvel era and then the DC era in terms of films.

Both can exist at the same time.

 

[The Major]

because Harry Potter is basically a license to print money from a film standpoint.....hence its priority within Warner Bros.

Potter's money allows them to take more risks.

There's no reason WB couldn't find another successful franchise at DC. But they need to actually do it and make sure its adaption is executed well for that to happen.

 

[BlackLantern]

Potter's money allows them to take more risks.

There's no reason WB couldn't find another successful franchise at DC. But they need to actually do it and make sure its adaption is executed well for that to happen.

The only problem is getting someone in the studio arm of WB to actually care about DC Comics and adapting their properties....and no...online petitions will NOT help with that.....actually online petitions don't help with anything

 

[REDophile]

The only problem is getting someone in the studio arm of WB to actually care about DC Comics and adapting their properties....

You'd think there would be someone like that at the WB studios, considering how long they have owned DC. They just desperately need someone like Avi Arad or Kevin Feige to step up to the plate and make things easier for DC Comics movies.

 

[The Major]

The only problem is getting someone in the studio arm of WB to actually care about DC Comics and adapting their properties

Exactly.

Another problem is, as Evil Twin has said, is that their projects are director based.

It's not exactly a secret most of Hollywood aren't huge comic fans, let alone hardcore readers.

This isn't something WB can't fix, either. At least to make their own properties more known to the public. They can do this with other mediums like cartoons, direct to dvd releases or live action tv shows. The more the public notices certain franchises the more likely Hollywood will.

Of course, this would be a long term option, they'd have to actually do it competently which is a major factor (of course that's with every adaption not just films) and work with DC as peers.

This could give them one or more Superman level franchises done correctly. I'd think WB would want another franchise on that level.

We know WB can do this. They've done it before with Batman and Superman. The animated division has already made cartoons of minor franchises like Legion of Super-Heroes and Teen Titans, too.

Naturally this would require WB's various branches to work together.

....and no...online petitions will NOT help with that.....actually online petitions don't help with anything

Yes, I know they don't work. That's why I've never mentioned it.

 

[terry78]

They need to just meet with Paul Levitz, some of his lower reports, and basically get one of them to be the liasion between the two entities, like Avi Arad and Feige are for Marvel.

 

[The Major]

They need to just meet with Paul Levitz, some of his lower reports, and basically get one of them to be the liasion between the two entities, like Avi Arad and Feige are for Marvel.

I agree.

DC does need power in the film division for that to work, though. WB would just over-rule them on any discussions without it. Under those circumstances it's just a puppet show WB will use to make DC think it's important when they really don't and nothing will change.

 

[ant3ros]

DC acts like such a chump. I'm not even convinced the company wants to pursue a film crossover like Marvel. Marvel always seems to be one step ahead. Just compare their websites. I wish DC was more promotional, more expansive thinking, and more progressive. DC would offer a nice contrast in mood against Marvel in the cinema. Has DC made any press releases about their desire to form a film production company like Marvel studios? Maybe they're still hesitant.

 

[BlackLantern]

DC literally CANNOT form another studio...they are owned by Time Warner....any decisions DC makes have to be cleared by Time Warner....The PTB won't allow DC to form their own studio or production company because it would be seen as disrespecting Warner Bros. (also owned by Time Warner)

 

[terry78]

Basically it's WB not utilizing one of its own subsidiaries to the fullest. If they had a C-Level exec that handled all of DC's entertainment media aside from comics, that would be the route to go. And if they do have one, he/she is not doing ****.

 

[Evil Twin]

DC acts like such a chump. I'm not even convinced the company wants to pursue a film crossover like Marvel. Marvel always seems to be one step ahead. Just compare their websites. I wish DC was more promotional, more expansive thinking, and more progressive. DC would offer a nice contrast in mood against Marvel in the cinema. Has DC made any press releases about their desire to form a film production company like Marvel studios? Maybe they're still hesitant.

DC can't make any press releases about that without being insubordinant. Like it or not, the corporate structure has the film division above the comics division. And, considering revenue brought in, there's good reason for that.

I'd also dispute that Marvel is way ahead of DC. Between television (i.e. Smallville), animation, Batman movies, Superman movies, and a good number of non-superhero/Vertigo movies, the DC/WB relationship has been good. Sure, tv money and DVD sets might not be as sexy as movie box office $$, but it counts the same for the bottom line. When V For Vendetta makes $132 million worldwide vs. a $54 million budget, don't think WB and DC aren't happy about it. Especially since V For Vendetta went on to be the #1 selling graphic novel for the year with about $5 million in sales in the bookstore market. Same with Constantine raking in $231 million worldwide vs. a $100 million budget, which BTW was more than Daredevil and Ghost Rider returned. It's no secret that Paul Levitz is very fond of Karen Berger.

 

[Evil Twin]

DC acts like such a chump. I'm not even convinced the company wants to pursue a film crossover like Marvel. Marvel always seems to be one step ahead. Just compare their websites. I wish DC was more promotional, more expansive thinking, and more progressive. DC would offer a nice contrast in mood against Marvel in the cinema. Has DC made any press releases about their desire to form a film production company like Marvel studios? Maybe they're still hesitant.

DC can't make any press releases about that without being insubordinant. Like it or not, the corporate structure has the film division above the comics division. And, considering revenue brought in, there's good reason for that.

I'd also dispute that Marvel is way ahead of DC. Between television (i.e. Smallville), animation, Batman movies, Superman movies, and a good number of non-superhero/Vertigo movies, the DC/WB relationship has been good. Sure, tv money and DVD sets might not be as sexy as movie box office $$, but it counts the same for the bottom line. When V For Vendetta makes $132 million worldwide vs. a $54 million budget, don't think WB and DC aren't happy about it. Especially since V For Vendetta went on to be the #1 selling graphic novel for the year with about $5 million in sales in the bookstore market. Same with Constantine raking in $231 million worldwide vs. a $100 million budget, which BTW was more than Daredevil and Ghost Rider returned. It's no secret that Paul Levitz is very fond of Karen Berger.

 

[Evil Twin]

DC acts like such a chump. I'm not even convinced the company wants to pursue a film crossover like Marvel. Marvel always seems to be one step ahead. Just compare their websites. I wish DC was more promotional, more expansive thinking, and more progressive. DC would offer a nice contrast in mood against Marvel in the cinema. Has DC made any press releases about their desire to form a film production company like Marvel studios? Maybe they're still hesitant.

DC can't make any press releases about that without being insubordinant. Like it or not, the corporate structure has the film division above the comics division. And, considering revenue brought in, there's good reason for that.

I'd also dispute that Marvel is way ahead of DC. Between television (i.e. Smallville), animation, Batman movies, Superman movies, and a good number of non-superhero/Vertigo movies, the DC/WB relationship has been good. Sure, tv money and DVD sets might not be as sexy as movie box office $$, but it counts the same for the bottom line. When V For Vendetta makes $132 million worldwide vs. a $54 million budget, don't think WB and DC aren't happy about it. Especially since V For Vendetta went on to be the #1 selling graphic novel for the year with about $5 million in sales in the bookstore market. Same with Constantine raking in $231 million worldwide vs. a $100 million budget, which BTW was more than Daredevil and Ghost Rider returned. A History of Violence also had a nice return on investment. It's no secret that Paul Levitz is very fond of Karen Berger.

 

[ant3ros]

Ah, thanks for the clear up, but I think DC should go ahead and disrespect Warner Bros. DC needs to make the case that a more specialized studio is necessary to handle their material. They need the kind of bubble to make their own decisions. I hope there are lot of talks going over at WB. Maybe if Hulk is successful, there will be pressure to include DC.

 

[Evil Twin]

Ah, thanks for the clear up, but I think DC should go ahead and disrespect Warner Bros. DC needs to make the case that a more specialized studio is necessary to handle their material. They need the kind of bubble to make their own decisions. I hope there are lot of talks going over at WB. Maybe if Hulk is successful, there will be pressure to include DC.

Disrespecting WB is more likely to end up with Paul Levitz being fired than any change.

Really, since WB is a director driven company, Levitz should be lobbying directors to pursue DC projects than anything else. Send copies of Scalped to Scorsese, Eastwood, and Milch. Talk to Paul Greengrass and pitch something like DMZ to him. Talk to Yates, Vaughn, Del Toro, and Cuaron about Sandman or Fables. See if the Wachowskis are interested in something more mainstream. DC has a diversity of material and that's a plus for them. Picking fights with the suits OTOH is counterproductive.

 

[BlackLantern]

Ya in the pecking order of Time Warner....DC Comics is somewhere near the bottom of the totem pole....consider them the "Oliver Twist" of the Time Warner family

 

[ant3ros]

So the consensus is, DC is either happy with WB or DC is keeping mum about any discontent. And either way, they're stuck which makes us fans stuck.

 

[BlackLantern]

Probably keeping mum because they don't want Time Warner to cut the pursestrings....

 

[The Major]

Ya in the pecking order of Time Warner....DC Comics is somewhere near the bottom of the totem pole....consider them the "Oliver Twist" of the Time Warner family

Which is very ungrateful of WB.

Without DC they wouldn't have Superman, Batman, 300, V For Vendetta and the numerous other minor franchises WB profits from with merchandise every year.

 

[REDophile]

Really, since WB is a director driven company, Levitz should be lobbying directors to pursue DC projects than anything else.

Agreed, but for a lot of DC properties they already have directors. What Levitz does need to do is consult with Dobkin about the Flash, Segal about Shazam, Berlanti about GL. Believe it or not, WB HAS committed to those movies yet not enough progress is being made. When Superman Returns came out two years ago, Levitz did give us a few updates. Obviously a lot has happened since than, but as the release of TDK comes closer, he better talk more DC movies.

See if the Wachowskis are interested in something more mainstream.

Two words: Wonder Woman. Joel Silver needs to get them on it already.

 

[The Major]

Two words: Wonder Woman. Joel Silver needs to get them on it already.

I'd rather not. They're talented individuals I just don't think their style would fit WW at all.

Unfortunately their involvement is the only thing I can see to get Silver motivated to make a single WW movie at all.

 

[The Guard]

Honestly, what in your opinion should be their first step. They have a hurdle being owned by Time Warner, but what route would you suggest they take, as a fan?

Exactly what they're doing. Finish out the Batman franchise, jumpstart the Superman franchise, and entertain ideas for films involving other superheroes, developing them carefully, as they will likely be HUGE projects. If we haven't seen another hero's movie by 2012, then we can start panicking.

Their entire DC lineup, from the early 20th century until now, could sustain an empire with the amount of merchandising they could do, but they choose to only milk Batman and Superman. The amount of people out there that aren't aware of some of the more marketable characters is staggering, and WB chooses not to put them out there for some inane reason.

$$$ and risk. IRON MAN showed that you can make a decent, relatively faithful superhero movie and clean up at the box office. Don't think they didn't notice. That's probably why SUPERMAX is being talked up.

- If not now than WHEN?? There is no point in dreaming of WW, Flash or GL if we have no idea.

Sure there is. Because it's fun to talk about the concepts. I've been talking about a WATCHMEN movie with WATCHMEN fans for fifteen years. It's never once gotten old, and seeing the movie actually happen is almost a dream come true.

- The reality is that someone named David Dobkin is supposed to be directing the Flash, yet he has said or done NOTHING since being hired SIX MONTHS AGO.

You don't know that he's done nothing. You don't know what his contract involves. He may well have been hired to develop the project, and they may move on to another director at some point. That is the nature of the business.

Someone named Greg Berlanti is directing the Green Lantern, and neither of those films have release dates or casting set.

So? That just means the movie isn't happening RIGHT NOW.

WB is a mega-studio, shouldn't they have those answers?

No. It would be silly to expect them to have those answers. It's like asking Marvel to know exactly what form the AVENGERS movie will take at this point in the game, or asking why Marvel hasn't put SUB MARINER onscreen yet.

They have them for Harry Potter but not for DC, which has been their subsidiary since way before the first HP book was written.

HARRY POTTER was, is, and always will be a far more profitable franchise than any superhero one, simply because of the "kid/family" factor. HARRY POTTER is one of those ideas that comes along only every so often, and when it does, it makes a massive splash. It's POWER RANGERS without an expiration date. Now, projects like THE FLASH have a shot at that market, but will, in all likelihood just never touch HARRY POTTER. That's just the reality of the situation.

It just strikes me as completely illogical for fans to whine because "WB doesn't put out more than two or three massive fantasy/superhero projects a year".

 

[terry78]

I know stuff like Teen Titans and the Outsiders are somewhat carbon copies, as everybody switches teams and what not in DC so often it's like Wife Swap, but if a director can make each one his/her own, it could work.

 

[The Major]

Tey:

Teen Titans and Outsiders aren't carbon copies.

One's a team primarily for young heroes and sidekicks of heroes who are friends first team-mates second, the Outsiders are a super-powered black ops team who do stuff Batman doesn't want the League involved in, operate in the shadows and are under Batman's control most of the time.

 

[BlackLantern]

well some members of the Outsiders were Titans....