Future of DC Films

[chamber-music]

The thing is putting non-superhero films like Constantine or V for Vendetta most likely will not make people recognize they're DC films. Then, the separate films have no chance to integrate on one another like the way they are in comics.

Also Jonah Hex was there last attempt at doind a DC non-Superhero character movie and that didn't turn out to great either.

How much control and power does DCE really have when it comes to translating these characters to the big and small screen? Does Johns have any real clout when it comes to this, or is he subject to the same Executive and Producer stupidity that has anyways kept these characters on the shelf, and or having crappy movies made about them instead of the good ones we want to see?

To be honest I don't think Geoff Johns has as much clout as say Kevin Feige who is President of Marvel Production and has produced almost every Marvel film since the first X-Men.

 

[Keyser Soze]

The thing is putting non-superhero films like Constantine or V for Vendetta most likely will not make people recognize they're DC films. Then, the separate films have no chance to integrate on one another like the way they are in comics.

Constantine was actually a pretty good film, and I think it is one of Keanu Reeves' better performances. But it's just so divorced from the source material, and generated so much bad will from the fanbase from the moment of its inception, that it could never really take advantage of being a comic book adaptation.

 

[chamber-music]

I said about that in another thread Constantine is a ok entertaining movie but if you have read or are a fan of Hellblazer its a rather poor adaptaion of the comics.

Not too sure about it being one of Keanu Reeves better perfomances seemed like Keanu just being his usual self to me. I would actual like to see Keanu try something different like when he played a serial killer in The Watcher opposite James Spader.

 

[DaveMoral]

What is Hal's main personality traits then?

He's just a cliche, cardboard cut out of a character. He just has the benefit of being involved in a cool mythology.

He's more like a cypher for the reader than an actual character.

I don't have a problem with Hal being a cypher. He's an everyman. That's a typical mythic trope.

Luke Skywalker is just as much an everyman as Hal Jordan.

 

[Octoberist]

It just comes down to the writing because Hal just moped around. If he was doing more heroics, he would have been a better character.

 

[chiefchirpa]

I'm talking about exploring options outside of comics all together, comics aren't the be all and end all, hell WB could develop some original franchises. People keep looking at WB as if they're the same as Marvel, they're two different studios with different methods of film making and different goals, Marvel is only concentrated on superheros and comics, WB aren't.

Then why are WB are trying to copy Marvel way of jamming superheroes on the big screen if they are content with non-superhero comics or other original stories? They did A History of Violence and Road to Perdition but those movies don't leave a mark to audiences to generate interest for continuing stories or buying merchandises. These non-comic movies nary leave any money tails.

Original stories are dime a dozen. WB has it with the Matrix and apparently the franchise serves them well for sometime. Don't think Disney doesn't have original franchises with Tron and Pirates of the Caribbean. But comics movie franchises said to spawn legions of merchs and other business ventures. It has worked well with Marvel. Apparently since WB owned the first comics house DC, why not too?

Also don't forget the analog of WB is always Disney. Marvel if it ever loses its superhero mojo will get transfusion of stories from Disney.

 

[GhostPoet]

GhostPoet: DC Comics' heroes should be live action, just as Marvel's. Green Lantern doesn't look more old school than Spider-Man. Both are dressed in colorful flashy outfits.

It's not just the outfits, it's the content. And the availability of directors who can respect the source material...and since we don't have many of the latter...CG is the way to go or else we can continue to see crappy DC comic films.

 

[The Morningstar]

I don't have a problem with Hal being a cypher. He's an everyman. That's a typical mythic trope.

Luke Skywalker is just as much an everyman as Hal Jordan.

I wouldn't say that. Luke Skywalker had distinctive personality traits.

Sure, you need to be able to relate to the protagonist, but Hal is just so bland there is nothing to relate to. All you can do is picture yourself in his shoes.

 

[jmc]

Then why are WB are trying to copy Marvel way of jamming superheroes on the big screen if they are content with non-superhero comics or other original stories? They did A History of Violence and Road to Perdition but those movies don't leave a mark to audiences to generate interest for continuing stories or buying merchandises. These non-comic movies nary leave any money tails.

Original stories are dime a dozen. WB has it with the Matrix and apparently the franchise serves them well for sometime. Don't think Disney doesn't have original franchises with Tron and Pirates of the Caribbean. But comics movie franchises said to spawn legions of merchs and other business ventures. It has worked well with Marvel. Apparently since WB owned the first comics house DC, why not too?

Also don't forget the analog of WB is always Disney. Marvel if it ever loses its superhero mojo will get transfusion of stories from Disney.

How are they 'jamming superhero characters up screen' or 'copying Marvel' exactly?

 

[Keyser Soze]

I was reading that last year, the director of Splice was interested in making a Swamp Thing movie, drawing influence from Alan Moore's run. But he couldn't go ahead with it, because of complicated rights issues and the property being tied up with MGM. With the character's return to the DCU, maybe now would be the ideal time for WB to try getting Swamp Thing back.

 

[Primal Slayer]

WB just focus on getting me my WW movie and make sure its great.

 

[chiefchirpa]

How are they 'jamming superhero characters up screen' or 'copying Marvel' exactly?

"Not jamming" means Marvel don't release movie of their characters per year. which is not happening for the near future.

"Copying Marvel" means attempting to put interconnected movies of characters, starting with Green Lantern. I thought WB's move it's pretty obvious.

 

[MadVillainy]

I dont know anything about Swamp THing, but I dont think that's the movie DC needs/should put out.

 

[chiefchirpa]

^ with a $150 million budget, or 1/3 of it?

 

[MadVillainy]

???

 

[chiefchirpa]

$50 Million budget Swamp Thing could work, $150 Million Swamp Thing has little chance.

I still think Will Smith as Mr Terrific could work. Grounded tech based superhero, Will Smith being a little serious, may look a little like Hancock though. And then they could sell T-Spheres replica toys.

 

[MadVillainy]

I was talking about Swamp Thing, period. No matter the budget or whatever. I think DC needs to work on putting more tradition heroes like Green Arrow, Flash, Wonder Woman, etc. on the screen rather than projects like Swamp Thing, Jonah Hex, etc.

Not saying Swamp Thing would be bad but the demand for the other heroes is much greater and I think would be more successful if they are made well

AS for Mister Terrific... it could work down the line but he shouldnt be a priority. He is far from the "savior" of DC movies. He doesnt have any memorable villains, he's not that prominent among the GA or even the fanboy community, Will Smith would be nice but isnt a guarantee. No to Terrific

 

[The Morningstar]

I think the opposite. WB needs to realize that not every comic book movie needs to be a massive budget block buster.

So do Marvel actually.

There should be more intimate, modest budget, mature comic book movies. Not every adaptation needs to be a 200 million dollar superhero movie that panders to the widest demographic possible.

Alan Moore's Swamp Thing or Neil Gaiman's Sandman, for examples, would be awesome.

 

[MadVillainy]

I think when they should be making both, but still should be looking at making bigger ones right now. The audience tends to go for and wants them more. The problem is that DC takes the wrong properties and gives them probably too much money

Marvel can focus on smaller ones if they want because theyve already made like 5 huge movies already.

 

[Willi Berg]

Whatever they do, DC need to make more inspired choices for directors and writers of these properties (outside of Batman and Superman.) And these movies so far seem to suffer from "too many cooks spoil the broth" syndrome. With Jonah Hex, they hired Neveldine/Taylor, but then replaced them with a very commercial director (Jimmy Hayward- Horton Hears A Who). Green Lantern had Martin Campbell, who doesn't really have an affinity for the material. Then they made so many alterations to the original script, with four writers, and Johns coming in and making his changes. It doesn't feel very personal, or focused, so far.

I think Marvel has made smarter decisions with its choices. I mean, at least Favreau had some enthusiasm for the material in Iron Man, and it shows. Branagh was an interesting choice for Thor. And they hire writers who have had experience with sci-fi and fantasy features and TV. And other Marvel properties, like Vaughn with X-Men, and Webb for Spider-Man, these are more inspired choices.

The worry is that DCE is so commercial now, with all its tie-ins, that all WB is thinking now is making everything as commercial as possible. It showed in Green Lantern (ie. Hot Wheels).

 

[DieSmiling]

My guess is that our best hope to get something other than Batman or Superman in the next five years is Justice League, with WB trying to launch other heroes (Flash, WW, maybe GL reboot) off of that.

 

[DieSmiling]

I think the opposite. WB needs to realize that not every comic book movie needs to be a massive budget block buster.

So do Marvel actually.

There should be more intimate, modest budget, mature comic book movies. Not every adaptation needs to be a 200 million dollar superhero movie that panders to the widest demographic possible.

Alan Moore's Swamp Thing or Neil Gaiman's Sandman, for examples, would be awesome.

Which heroes/adaptations are you referring to here? Because most of the big name DC heroes need a big superhero "tentpole" budget to be done faithfully.

DC obviously overshot their load in respect to GL's budget, but doing a low budget GL film is almost impossible.

Same goes for Flash or Wonder Woman.

 

[The Morningstar]

I think you could do Flash or WW for a relatively modest budget. No more than 150 million.

I was reading the LOTR wiki the other day. Apparently the entire trilogy, including marketing and distribution, cost like, 480 million dollars.

That's peanuts. I know Jackson runs WETA so it's gonna be cheaper. But the point is, you can still get great SFX without paying an arm and a leg. Just manage the budget better and hire better SFX houses.

 

[Airwings]

I rather have solo films first. I can even do without JL as long as I only get my solo films. It's more important to have each hero all by himself than to cram them together like a bunch of characters who can't manage things on their own.

I may agree that Flash doesn't need to be that expensive. But Wonder Woman is one of the characters that are in need of a higher budget to be done justice. The others are Hawkman and Aquaman.

 

[DieSmiling]

I think you could do Flash or WW for a relatively modest budget. No more than 150 million.

I was reading the LOTR wiki the other day. Apparently the entire trilogy, including marketing and distribution, cost like, 480 million dollars.

That's peanuts. I know Jackson runs WETA so it's gonna be cheaper. But the point is, you can still get great SFX without paying an arm and a leg. Just manage the budget better and hire better SFX houses.

True, but LOTR were all made together, which obviously cut down on costs.

And I agree on Flash or WW for 150 mil. I thought you were implying they should make them for like 50-75 million or something.