I think Justice League may be coming unraveled...

[Excel]

Call me crazy, but we now have director attached to solo Green Lantern and Flash films. I know getting directors onto these properties is not anything new, however; I find it very odd that since George Miller was announced as director Justice League a few weeks ago we have heard the following:

-W.B. are looking into writers for the next solo-Superman film
-New Flash Director
-First Green Lantern director

That is also inaddition to no casting announcements; but atleast 1 major turn down (Biel)and 2 popular candidates eliminated (Routh and Welling).

To me; this points to one thing:

Justice League is STALLING at Warner Brothers. We knew there was a group of people who wanted and a group who didn't, and obviously the group who wanted it won out.

However, I personally find it odd Warner's are now officially activly pursuing solo efforts again; even though have already announced they are making the group project. It is obvious now with the 2 very recent directorial announcement that RIGHT NOW solo franchises are being worked on; so a Justice League film first would make things EXTREMELY complicated.

1. JL is rumored for 2009 or 2010 at latest; right? Well; these director signing on would not be doing so unless they were under the impression the film would be green lit at somepoint within th enext year or so; right? That would mean W.B. are preparing to release 2 different high profile films featuring the Flash and Green Lantern in the same year?

2. Casting. What if Dobkin; who W.B. hold highly; wants someone other than whoever Miller casts as Flash? Same goes for Green Lantern character. They already have an upset Nolan; I find it very hard to believe these directors would be signing on without control whoever is cast in the main lead. Batman is already cast in his solo film; but this is different.

It would make sense that this was happening about a year from now; maybe a little more. But having these announcement right now means these solo films are in development for the near future.

Fact is, this isnt even opinion;JL is clearly in some sort of trouble at WB otherwise WB would not be doing this right now. The plan was for solo films at the earliest a year after JL opened. I can tell you right now; Dobkin is red hot. He wouldnt be doing this if he thought it wouldnt be out until 2010 and niether would W.B. Somethings going down, and low and behold it probably has to do with casting; hence why we aint anything official and all the rumors are met with near universal hate.

Anybody else think Justice League may be in trouble?

 

[JP]

No.

 

[Excel]

WB wouldnt be signing directors-a big name 1 too-to films that wont happen unless they were getting cold feet over JL. They just wouldnt; not with the strike coming up.

 

[the a1ant]

You bring up some good points. Who knows? I wouldn't be surprised if JL fell through at the last minute. It's a huge project, and realistically WB seems to be rushing into this ambitious film (due to the possible pending strike) that could make or break future solo films featuring bankable characters; not to mention their existing franchises. Is it a risk they're willing to take, or our they considering focusing on solo films and then bringing the characters together for a big finale? It'll be interesting to see how this pans out.

 

[DarkSuperman]

No it's not. They're just expanding their investment. Why make just one movie when we can make many. A franchise with a all the heroes, plus them with Solo Franchises. You know what The WB sees? $$$$$$$$$$$$ ohhh and this $$$$$$.

Think of it like Harry Potter. Those movies come out back to back. Each one making more money than its predecessor. Combine that with DVD, Video game sales, and the plethora of merchandising and you've got a billion dollar biz.

It's just good business for them to make tons of superhero movies instead of just the Justice League. I don't know why you people think that if they make a movie with everyone in it they can't also have separate movies. As if the general public is so stupid that they can't take having characters in more than one film franchise. If anything they'll be overjoyed.

 

[I Am The Knight]

Anybody else think Justice League may be in trouble?

No. The point of JL (apart from making buckets of $$$) is to make more buckets of $$$ with solo franchises.

 

[Compi716]

You bring up some excellent points Excel. But the train is moving on this project. This isn't the Superman: FlyBy scenario; it's bigger, more real. We'll be hearing official casting announcements most likely THIS WEEK.

JL is very real, and very much being made.

 

[Gotham]

You're number one is extremely wrong.

A director can sign on to more than on film at a time. He doesn't have to give his full attention to a film that isn't being prepped and ready for a production start. (You see where I'm going with this? He can direct another film while waiting for Justice League to finish).

Oh and your two is pretty much going on assumption.

We've heard that the casting is complete and like said, they wouldn't sign on without knowing the lead. So, what if they love the lead that they have cast? Duh?

 

[millennium movies]

Im still waiting for the 18th of november to see if anything's up or not.

 

[I Am The Knight]

Well now the rumors say that the casting will be revelead as soon as this Monday, or Tuesday. Take that with a huge grain of salt, though.

 

[FlawlessVictory]

Excel, correct me if I am wrong, but weren't you the one that created a thread stating how sure you were that SR2 would be made before JL would be?

I do not think JL is in trouble, although I would rather have this movie later than sooner. The hiring of these directors seems to play into WB's plans to branch solo superhero movies off of JL. I have a feeling Singer's Superman will get scrapped and WB will branch Superman off of that JL movie as well. That would leave only Nolan's Batman as the only franchise operating outside of JL continuity. Which I guess with only one more Nolan/Bale movie after TDK, WB can deal with that.

I still find it surprising that a JL movie will actually be seeing the light of day. But like the Variety article pointed out a little while back, this project can definitely fall apart at any time.

 

[Excel]

Excel, correct me if I am wrong, but weren't you the one that created a thread stating how sure you were that SR2 would be made before JL would be?

Yessir.

The thing is; that was souly due to timing and nothing more (that I didnt feel they would honestly go through all the trouble of doing it over again) but this is dif.

 

[GNR]

Well now the rumors say that the casting will be revelead as soon as this Monday, or Tuesday. Take that with a huge grain of salt, though.

Yea,Monday or Tuesday is being thrown around alot over at IESB.

 

[cryptic name]

No it's not. They're just expanding their investment. Why make just one movie when we can make many. A franchise with a all the heroes, plus them with Solo Franchises. You know what The WB sees? $$$$$$$$$$$$ ohhh and this $$$$$$.

Think of it like Harry Potter. Those movies come out back to back. Each one making more money than its predecessor. Combine that with DVD, Video game sales, and the plethora of merchandising and you've got a billion dollar biz.

It's just good business for them to make tons of superhero movies instead of just the Justice League. I don't know why you people think that if they make a movie with everyone in it they can't also have separate movies. As if the general public is so stupid that they can't take having characters in more than one film franchise. If anything they'll be overjoyed.

racist

 

[odiin]

The whole reason they have directors for Flash and GL is so they can make movies that spin off from from Justice League. The Flash director even said so much himself. It's pretty obvious they're using that film a spring board for other character's solo films. Justice League is moving forward. They're got the director signed, a cast just waiting to be revealed, and it starts shooting in a matter of months.

 

[Steelsheen]

Yea,Monday or Tuesday is being thrown around alot over at IESB.

its confirmed to be Tuesday (pacific time) in IESB.

i also remember JC saying the same thing a few days back from his source that it will be Tuesday.

mark your calendars.

 

[Ben Breeck]

If all this is true, then the ultimate mastermind behind this project must either be a very close relation to the Warner family, or else he is a quicker fasttalker than John Moschita!

I mean, this timetable looks like a hideous gamble.

 

[kansas boy]

No it's not. They're just expanding their investment. Why make just one movie when we can make many. A franchise with a all the heroes, plus them with Solo Franchises. You know what The WB sees? $$$$$$$$$$$$ ohhh and this $$$$$$.

Think of it like Harry Potter. Those movies come out back to back. Each one making more money than its predecessor. Combine that with DVD, Video game sales, and the plethora of merchandising and you've got a billion dollar biz.

It's just good business for them to make tons of superhero movies instead of just the Justice League. I don't know why you people think that if they make a movie with everyone in it they can't also have separate movies. As if the general public is so stupid that they can't take having characters in more than one film franchise. If anything they'll be overjoyed.

But to make a gamble that the Justice League movie will smash the box office, so should the solo films is absurd. Why wouldn't you put the movie out first, to see how well it does, then make your changes if you have too. WB must be putting alot of faith in this film/director/actors. What if JL fails, will they still go into production on Green Lantern and The Flash? And, will they use the same actors for the solo films if Justice League fails?

Like I said, WB is taking a BIG chance with this film, to start working on the solo films. I guess they are looking at doing like Marvel's X-men Origins: Wolverine.

Justice League Origins: The Flash and Green Lantern

 

[GL's Light]

Call me crazy

You're crazy. t:

1. JL is rumored for 2009 or 2010 at latest; right? Well; these director signing on would not be doing so unless they were under the impression the film would be green lit at somepoint within th enext year or so; right? That would mean W.B. are preparing to release 2 different high profile films featuring the Flash and Green Lantern in the same year?

No, directors know that the development process can take a long time. They wouldn't necessarily expect a greenlight within a year, especially if the studio gave them an indication of what timeframe they were looking at. Directors will often sign up for multiple films, developing them simultaneously, and then actually directing them as it suits the scheduling needs of the studios involved. Dobkin might direct another film before moving on to The Flash. An announcement that a director has been signed doesn't mean that it's now or never.

2. Casting. What if Dobkin; who W.B. hold highly; wants someone other than whoever Miller casts as Flash? Same goes for Green Lantern character. They already have an upset Nolan; I find it very hard to believe these directors would be signing on without control whoever is cast in the main lead. Batman is already cast in his solo film; but this is different.

Justice League features John Stewart, whereas Green Lantern will be Hal Jordan's origin story. So there's no problem there. David Dobkin will likely use whoever George Miller casts as Wally West, but this isn't an unusual situation on franchise films nor the big deal you make it out to be.

It would make sense that this was happening about a year from now; maybe a little more. But having these announcement right now means these solo films are in development for the near future.

No, it doesn't mean they're planned for the near future. They could easily be released in 2010 or 2011 (after Justice League in 2009). That's how the development process and signing people to develop films works. It often takes quite some considerable amount of time.

Fact is, this isnt even opinion;JL is clearly in some sort of trouble at WB otherwise WB would not be doing this right now. The plan was for solo films at the earliest a year after JL opened.

No, it is very much opinion and not fact at all. For the solo films to come a year after Justice League they could easily sign people to start developing them now, and it seems this is exactly what they've done.

I can tell you right now; Dobkin is red hot. He wouldnt be doing this if he thought it wouldnt be out until 2010 and niether would W.B.

Yes, they indeed could do exactly that. But Dobkin may well direct another film before he gets to The Flash.

Anybody else think Justice League may be in trouble?

No.

 

[TheVileOne]

We heard casting for that stupid Batman/Superman movie that never happened as well.

I'd be very relieved if this project fell through.

 

[GL's Light]

We heard casting for that stupid Batman/Superman movie that never happened as well.

They never got as far as signing anyone for the cast of Superman vs Batman, so if it's announced that a cast has actually been signed for Justice League the film will be unlikely to fall apart after that point (although it wouldn't be an absolute impossibility though, as Superman Lives was of course canceled after Nic Cage had signed).

 

[X-Maniac]

No, it's not coming unravelled.

Rather like the LoTR trilogy, with each movie made for low costs and coming out soon after each other, it makes business sense to develop Justice League, Flash and Green Lantern together. It gives a cohesion to the movies, saves loads of money on costs, and allows the release to be more controlled (and sooner than the usual three-year gap between sequels).

By thinking of all three movies at the same time, a lot of time and money will no doubt be saved. Which is why LOTR: RoTK only cost $94million to make despite being the action-packed epic climax.

I'd rather more movies were developed in clusters than the usual fragmented and random process which has caused problematic productions (X-Men being a case in point).

 

[hippie_hunter]

I'm thinking that even though Justice League will happen, Warner Bros is setting this up to go the route of both a spin-off film or it can be it's own solo effort if Justice League does indeed fall apart, Green Lantern especially.

 

[Johnichi Chiba]

Justice League is and was always meant to be a big commercial advertising WB's future franchises. The new spin-offs being greenlit only confirms this more.

 

[Excel]

They never got as far as signing anyone for the cast of Superman vs Batman, so if it's announced that a cast has actually been signed for Justice League the film will be unlikely to fall apart after that point (although it wouldn't be an absolute impossibility though, as Superman Lives was of course canceled after Nic Cage had signed).

They offered roles to Jude Law and Collin Farrel. Superman Fly by had sets built and frasor signed on.

It didnt happen because not everyone behind it; therefore when push came to shove; it was deemed too risky.

JL doesnt have universal backing either; so until cameras role it is always gonna have the shot to fall through.

Batman Begins and Superman Returns didnt have universal backing either; but they happened. Thats partially why I think JL is on the verge of collapse:

Its preproduction has been a lot more like FLYBY or BVS then Begisn of Returns.

or I could be totally wrong and we get casting tomorrow.