How Can the DCCU Add to the CBM Genre?

[Victarion]

DCCU. It's late to the party, but that's not a bad thing.

While Marvel's CU is very well established and entrenched in the minds of millions of fans worldwide, the journey has been one of discovery for Marvel. They've managed to pull some great solo hero/solo team pieces in Iron Man, Captain America The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, and a very well-recieved crossover in The Avengers. Marvel has also had a few hiccups along the way, such as Iron-Man 2, Thor: The Dark World, and some that're more divisive like Iron-Man 3 and The Avengers: Age of Ultron.

The MCU has been meticulously constructed to incorporate a number of side projects such as Daredevil, AoS, Agent Carter, and their other in-development television and Netflix shows. By presenting a number of different titles, the MCU has a solid comic book serial kind of vibe.

What can the DCCU learn from Marvel's journey, and how can it use that knowledge to distinguish itself structurally and tonally from the MCCU?

 

[TeeKay]

Not try to Batmanize most of their characters. Their films are gonna be a whole different tone. More serious and grounded than the MCU. Have no idea how they're gonna approach Flash though. He's the most fun and quirky character of them all.

 

[SuperFerret]

Best thing they can do is differentiate the tone of their movies. Marvel's style works, but it's basically the same across all the films. WB should have gone with differing tones for their movies, but it's not looking that way. They're just trying to distance themselves from Marvel by trying to be "more serious and grounded", which frankly is the wrong direction for most their characters. (And it's gotten damn boring with Batman, too.)

 

[The Batman]

Honestly, the only things the MCU has really added to the genre so far are Phase 1, and that's more about the concept than the films, with the exception of IM1 and Avengers, and Guardians of the Galaxy.

Making a good Wonder Woman film could be one of the more meaningful contributions to the genre. DC/WB would get a lot of credit for having the first credible blockbuster featuring a female Superhero.

 

[Flint Marko]

Honestly, the only things the MCU has really added to the genre so far are Phase 1, and that's more about the concept than the films, with the exception of IM1 and Avengers, and Guardians of the Galaxy.

Making a good Wonder Woman film could be one of the more meaningful contributions to the genre. DC/WB would get a lot of credit for having the first credible blockbuster featuring a female Superhero.

You wouldn't put TWS in that list?

 

[FeedOnATreeFrog]

By offering something fresh with each movie, be it tone, setting, genre, etc. Focus on what makes each property unique and appealing, and play that up.

 

[Flint Marko]

If they make each of their villains memorable, that alone will put them in the running with Marvel. It's arguably the MCU's biggest flaw, and if WB hits that sweet spot then I think a good deal of people will take notice of the difference and appreciate it.

 

[Parker Wayne]

Best thing they can do is differentiate the tone of their movies. Marvel's style works, but it's basically the same across all the films. WB should have gone with differing tones for their movies, but it's not looking that way. They're just trying to distance themselves from Marvel by trying to be "more serious and grounded", which frankly is the wrong direction for most their characters. (And it's gotten damn boring with Batman, too.)

I agree. Tone wise, they do feel similar and that's been Marvel's problem. I didn't mind the humor of phase 1 unlike many people, but the humor of most phase 2 movies (except Winter Soldier and Guardians, where the former has less distracting humor and the latter's tone worked in its favor) had a bad tendency to undermine the tone of story it's telling.

DC needs to diversify it's tone and find visions for their universe that is less homogenous than Marvel Studios.

 

[FeedOnATreeFrog]

DC needs to diversify it's tone and find visions for their universe that is less homogenous than Marvel Studios.

Luckily, WB seem to be doing just that. We have the epic and weighty BvS, Ayer's grimy out-there Suicide Squad, a kid-friendly Shazam movie (according to the producers and The Rock), Lord & Miller developing The Flash, etc.

Though to be fair, I think for the most part, Marvel Studios' movies have varying tones as well, from Winter Soldier to Guardians to Daredevil. Maybe some of the phase 2 movies just didn't branch out enough story-wise and had overly familiar structures/resolutions. (IM3, Thor TDW, AoU).

 

[Flint Marko]

Is Shazam going to be connected to the DCCU?

 

[MadVillainy]

I think more serious toned movies like Batman Begins or Singer's early X-Men films would be good for DC

However, I think it'll be kinda jarring if every movie has a different tone and then they meet up in a team up movie. It'll be weird to see Flash, let's say if he's a very funny, lighter character onscreen with more grim and serious characters.
They did do that in the DCAU but I don't think it'll work as well in live action.

Batman Begins how to worlds should be tonally with differences that fit each character without being completely different from each other.

And yeah, the villain thing too. DC really needs to bring better villains. I feel like we haven't had a really good superhero villain since Loki in Thor 1

 

[lanesrader]

Is Shazam going to be connected to the DCCU?

Yup it is.

 

[The Batman]

You wouldn't put TWS in that list?

I like TWS, and its a top 10 CBM. But I would say it contributed more to the MCU than it did the CBM genre in general.

 

[dnno1]

DCCU. It's late to the party, but that's not a bad thing.

While Marvel's CU is very well established and entrenched in the minds of millions of fans worldwide, the journey has been one of discovery for Marvel. They've managed to pull some great solo hero/solo team pieces in Iron Man, Captain America The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, and a very well-recieved crossover in The Avengers. Marvel has also had a few hiccups along the way, such as Iron-Man 2, Thor: The Dark World, and some that're more divisive like Iron-Man 3 and The Avengers: Age of Ultron.

The MCU has been meticulously constructed to incorporate a number of side projects such as Daredevil, AoS, Agent Carter, and their other in-development television and Netflix shows. By presenting a number of different titles, the MCU has a solid comic book serial kind of vibe.

What can the DCCU learn from Marvel's journey, and how can it use that knowledge to distinguish itself structurally and tonally from the MCCU?

Well, if you are going to categorize it as a Cinematic Universe then yes, DC is late to the party, but the truth of the matter is that sub-categorizing comic-book genre into a shared universe model does not mean that DC is late to the party as far as making great comic-book movies. They have been making those successfully since 1978.

 

[Flint Marko]

One big thing that DC needs to do is use their big name characters that aren't Batman and Superman, and use them well. Those are the only characters WB has ever adapted properly, and you can only go back to that well so many times before it isn't as interesting any more.

Yup it is.

Thanks

I like TWS, and its a top 10 CBM. But I would say it contributed more to the MCU than it did the CBM genre in general.

Fair enough.

 

[dnno1]

So, which one is it: the DC Cinematic Universe (DCCU) or the DC Expanded Universe (DCEU)?

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

Well they will have contributed the first female led CBM film and the first film with villains as the focus. That's something already.

 

[zlucamanz]

more team up

 

[John Locke]

They can fix magic. Right now in the MCU and therefore the genre magic is just science we don't understand. The DCEU can make magic well magic.

 

[Boy Scout]

So, which one is it: the DC Cinematic Universe (DCCU) or the DC Expanded Universe (DCEU)?

Yes.

 

[Keehar]

Not try to Batmanize most of their characters. Their films are gonna be a whole different tone. More serious and grounded than the MCU. Have no idea how they're gonna approach Flash though. He's the most fun and quirky character of them all.

Yes to all this. No more trying Batmanize everything. MOS and TASM failed at that big style.

 

[Lantern Venom]

They shouldn't fear their own mythos. Man of Steel proved that Superman's story can veer away from the "All-American hero" formula and explore the idea of him being an outsider that much of the world will question. BVS seems to be continuing that path.

WB shouldn't worry too much about uninitiated fans. To properly do a big story, they can't cut corners. That means Amazonian culture, the Speed Force, The emotional spectrum, boom tubes, mother boxes, the Source Wall etc should all be within the realm of possibilities. New/marginal fans can always do a web search on the things that confuse them.

 

[metaphysician]

They can fix magic. Right now in the MCU and therefore the genre magic is just science we don't understand. The DCEU can make magic well magic.

This is true of all magic in any setting. Science is just the process of rigorously studying and understanding a phenomena: everything is within its purview, unless its impossible for a human to perceive.

 

[John Locke]

This is true of all magic in any setting. Science is just the process of rigorously studying and understanding a phenomena: everything is within its purview, unless its impossible for a human to perceive.

Saying magic is science means there is an explanation to what magic is, saying magic is magic like in LOTR or HP means there is no explanation.

 

[Mandon Knight]

DC/WB don't have to 'learn' anything from Marvel, they are more than capable of managing, organising, producing their own output. I think their will be less studio interference from WB towards Snyder, for he, it appears to be the Feige in the DCCU environment, he has a very strong relationship with the execs. there and they trust him.

DC have far stronger 'villians' to pick & choose from, a failing of the MCCU imo, in that it's Loki, right, who else ? DC also IMO have stronger directors connected to their films as well, bar Wheedon, who I'd love to 'move over' but realise there is previous with WB/DC, with his WW project not being carried through.

The biggest plus I see, are the actors involved in the DCCU universe, those cast appear to be completely immersed in their roles and have a genuine love for the universe and the films within it.