Official Justice League Status Update Thread

[Hunter Rider]

Because Justice League is one of the most successful franchises in DC's line-up -- more so than than the individual parts outside of Superman and (maybe) Batman. It has had the longest running cartoon series in the "Super Friends" running 13 years and the characters are well known by many generations of viewers. Furthermore George Miller is a good director. He has made great films like those in the Mad Max series, "Lorenzo's Oil", "The Witches of Eastwick", and most recently, "Babe: Pig in the City" and "Happy Feet". The one distinction that can be made about him is that he has done well with very little money and talent. That is why I don't think people should knock the guy. We shouldn't let our selves be blinded by the Batman and Superman franchises, for they have proven that they can hold their own. So what if TDK is doing well and may get Heath Ledger an Oscar. Neither that film nor the Justice League franchise should have any bearing on each other (except for the hope that the presence of Batman may draw more fans to a Justice League film).

But why not just wait a bit longer ? There is no rush, let the Batman franchise run it's course and then do JL, casting some nobody in a role made popular with the current cinema going audiences, by one of the best actors in the world just makes no logical business sense.

 

[dnno1]

But why not just wait a bit longer ? There is no rush, let the Batman franchise run it's course and then do JL, casting some nobody in a role made popular with the current cinema going audiences, by one of the best actors in the world just makes no logical business sense.

$$$$

We don't know when this genre is going to die out (It has several times in the past). Some say as a result of the WGA strike and the stalled SAG negotiations, the genre may have reached a pinnacle and may be dying right now (there will only be two films released next year). Waiting longer and there may not be a market for the film. Not only that but it will be more expensive to produce. Doing it as soon as it is ready is a better approach for that reason. I don't feel that it can hurt the Batman franchise since nothing has.

 

[Hunter Rider]

$$$$

We don't know when this genre is going to die out (It has several times in the past). Some say as a result of the WGA strike and the stalled SAG negotiations, the genre may reached a pinnacle and may be dying right now (there will only be two films released next year). Waiting longer and there may not be a market for the film. Not only that but it will be more expensive to produce. Doing it as soon as it is ready is a better approach for that reason.

TDK is currently shattering records and Iron Man has done $300M domestic this year, I'd say the genre is in fine shape and is so b/c of quality product, the fact next year is not over saturated with comic book movies is not a bad thing.
To make a movie with this supposed cast is just pointless when they have treat Batman so well, I also have to question if you're just fine with any JL movie as long as there is one, do you not think it should be cast with the same eye on high calibre actors as the Batman franchise has been ?

 

[GreenKToo]

How is it dying when we just had the biggest B.O. EVER by a C.B. film?
If anything, it tells me the hunger for them is still there.

 

[Michael Corleone]

How is it dying when we just had the biggest B.O. EVER by a C.B. film?
If anything, it tells me the hunger for them is still there.

I would argue that it's not dying out. A lot of what is holding back the superhero genre is f/x. While it's easy to create a lot of this stuff digitally as of late, it's still quite expensive. The industry still has to catch up. It is, but it's at a steady pace. The genre isn't going to die out because as long as there is imagination there will be new stories to tell. Hollywood knew this genre was a money maker. Now they are finally seeing that serious and meaningful stories can be told. Superhero films are just coming into their own right now. We are literally in the infancy. Wait 20 years and see what we get.

 

[Showtime]

I agree, I actually think this past decade was just the foundation to what lies ahead.

 

[dnno1]

...To make a movie with this supposed cast is just pointless when they have treat Batman so well, I also have to question if you're just fine with any JL movie as long as there is one, do you not think it should be cast with the same eye on high calibre actors as the Batman franchise has been ?

We really don't know that, in fact, for all we know this could be a brilliant cast. Remember "Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope"? It could happen again.

Speaking of Batman, I thought this clip was funny:

[YT]NlLeCu63HCA[/YT]

 

[Hunter Rider]

We really don't know that, in fact, for all we know this could be a brilliant cast. Remember "Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope"? It could happen again.

I remember Harrison Ford..........But why bother when you already have a great Batman ? business is booming, JL in 2013 sounds just right.

 

[GreenKToo]

I still hope for a world's finest someday. Remember when Wolfgang Petersen was wanting to make S Vs. B? THAT would have been something.

 

[dnno1]

How is it dying when we just had the biggest B.O. EVER by a C.B. film?
If anything, it tells me the hunger for them is still there.

Well, as each year goes by, it cost more an more to make some of these films. "Spider-Man" cost $139 million to make in 2002 but cost $258 million to make "Spider-Man 3" in 2007 (some 5 years later). As it is right now the studios are wanting film makers to keep the budgets around $180 million which is a hard thing to do nowadays. While this is happening the average ticket price is not rising at the same rate (it has only risen 5% in the past two years whereas production cost have risen by almost 20% in the same time frame) and we are in an economic downturn right now. This could all serve to make the genre die down and is why I don't think it would not be wise to wait for a sequential release of solo films. Furthermore you also have the risk factor of films not doing well (like "The Incredible Hulk"). It makes it seem like you would be wasting your money that route.

 

[TheVileOne]

The genre is not dying down because all Hollywood wants to do right now are remakes and comic book movies.

dnno1 is out of his element and does not know what he is talking about.

If this is all about money,

once again for the last time,

The Dark Knight = more money than Miller Justice League.

 

[dnno1]

I remember Harrison Ford..........But why bother when you already have a great Batman ? business is booming, JL in 2013 sounds just right.

Because Marvel has/had X-Men, Spider-Man, Iron-Man, The Hulk, and Fantastic Four and tent pole franchises to draw revenue from. Sure, Batman may make more than Spider-Man numbers this year but what about next year? If the WB had a string of comic book film franchises like Marvel does to serve as tent poles each year, you would be making this $500-$800 million each year instead of waiting two to 3 years between films. The Harry Potter franchise is a cash cow producing films every 1-2 years and netting almost Spider-Man like numbers. That's what they want to see every year and if they want to do that they need to start with something. Why not Justice League if it's ready now?

 

[dnno1]

The genre is not dying down because all Hollywood wants to do right now are remakes and comic book movies.

dnno1 is out of his element and does not know what he is talking about.

If this is all about money,

once again for the last time,

The Dark Knight = more money than Miller Justice League.

The truth of the matter is that there are only two films that I know of out of Marvel and the WB that will be released next year and Marvel Entertainment is going to have a lot to answer to share holders when they show lower revenues than in previous years. As far as TDK vs. JLM and revenue, that is left to be seen.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Because Marvel has/had X-Men, Spider-Man, Iron-Man, The Hulk, and Fantastic Four and tent pole franchises to draw revenue from. Sure, Batman may make more than Spider-Man numbers this year but what about next year? If the WB had a string of comic book film franchises like Marvel does to serve as tent poles each year, you would be making this $500-$800 million each year instead of waiting two to 3 years between films. The Harry Potter franchise is a cash cow producing films every 1-2 years and netting almost Spider-Man like numbers. That's what they want to see every year and if they want to do that they need to start with something. Why not Justice League if it's ready now?

B/c it is a decision based purely on money and as a fan i don't care about that, If they want what Marvel have then they should start putting together Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow and Flash movies.
Then when they are all done with top class actors, you do JL, instead of slapping it out there with the cast equivalent of Step up 2 the Streets.

 

[Evil Twin]

No doubt about it in regards to Happy Feet, but I'd be interested in who owns the rights to Happy Feet. He might have more clout then Singer, but Singer is still working with WB even if he isn't directing the sequel. See his upcoming projects.

I'd be surprised if Miller doesn't have the rights, or at least substantial control, for Happy Feet. He created the property, he reportedly has the rights to Mad Max in totality and he's been making movies as Writer/Director/Producer for 30 years. It's hard to imagine he's incompetent at controlling the rights to his concepts.

Also, why wouldn't WB work with Singer? Superman Returns may have been a relative disappointment, but most indications are that it made money. Certainly it's not a Speed Racer level bomb. And his prior track record is full of money making movies and a very successful television series. Valkyrie might need a lot of work, but it hasn't lost any money yet. The strike and a lack of big budget competition might even work in its favor financially.

To me, it seems like people are thinking in binary terms in terms of Nolan's involvement in Batman and George Miller's involvement in JLA. It very well may be that the best case scenario for WB may be a third Batman movie from Nolan, Happy Feet 2 (and 3?) from Miller, and a successful JLA movie.

Also, I think it's probably more complicated than people make it out to be between Nolan and WB management. WB's management certainly believes in and has been supportive of Nolan and has been very hands off. Do you think he'd like to work at Fox better? Burning bridges with one of the most director friendly studios isn't necessarily a smart choice.

 

[TheVileOne]

The truth of the matter is that there are only two films that I know of out of Marvel and the WB that will be released next year and Marvel Entertainment is going to have a lot to answer to share holders when they show lower revenues than in previous years. As far as TDK vs. JLM and revenue, that is left to be seen.

Dude. The fact of the matter is that TDK is raking in the revenue that you feel is the sole importance.

Last year and this year there was an industry halting work stoppage called the WGA strike. That means no new scripts being written. Bad movies being rushed to production to have stuff out during the year. Currently another union body, the SAG are working off an expired deal. They have no new deal in place, and while they are avoiding it, they could strike at any moment. That means another huge work stoppage.

Marvel Studios did so well this year they are already talking about opening up their own studio lot. And they've set up a plan for the next several years of what they want to do.

Comic book movies are not WB or Time Warner's sole source of revenue either. But a huge part of that this year is going to be because of The Dark Knight, which the movie of the year. And you seem to be in denial of why.

The reason Justice League is not in front of the cameras as we speak is because it wasn't ready. That's a ton of money to just throw something into, and WB was not ready to make that kind of investment. And they still aren't. This is why 7 months later, after all the reports about JL going back in front of the cameras for April or the summer, nothing is happening.

 

[I Am The Knight]

This thread certainly has picked up since I left, LOL.

 

[Dark Knight]

WB's should just let Miller concentrate on doing Happy Feet 2 and Miller should also start work on Mad Max 4....WITH Mel Gibson! If no Gibson as an older Max, then forget it. A big NO to the ridiculous Miller JLA that takes place in an silly alternate universe and would disrespect everything that Nolan has done so far.

 

[Dark Knight]

This thread certainly has picked up since I left, LOL.

This thread should be moved to the DC Comics Film Forum under the General Movies section actually.

 

[Dark Knight]

The truth of the matter is that there are only two films that I know of out of Marvel and the WB that will be released next year and Marvel Entertainment is going to have a lot to answer to share holders when they show lower revenues than in previous years. As far as TDK vs. JLM and revenue, that is left to be seen.

The truth of the matter is your kinda delusional....no offense....but seriously are you that desperate to see a mediocre JLA movie in 2010, that will step on the toes of a film like TDK that will be #2 in the all time Domestic Box Office rankings??

 

[I Am The Knight]

WB's should just let Miller concentrate on doing Happy Feet 2 and Miller should also start work on Mad Max 4....WITH Mel Gibson! If no Gibson as an older Max, then forget it. A big NO to the ridiculous Miller JLA that takes place in an silly alternate universe and would disrespect everything that Nolan has done so far.

Well it seems like Gibson might return to his "other" franchise first.

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=47707

 

[Evil Twin]

If the WB had a string of comic book film franchises like Marvel does to serve as tent poles each year, you would be making this $500-$800 million each year instead of waiting two to 3 years between films. The Harry Potter franchise is a cash cow producing films every 1-2 years and netting almost Spider-Man like numbers. That's what they want to see every year and if they want to do that they need to start with something.

Harry Potter makes MORE than Spider-Man numbers when you figure in worldwide gross. The Harry Potter franchise is more successful than the Spider-Man and X-Men franchises combined, without even considering that the Harry Potter films are substantially lower budgeted as well. WB definitely could do more with their comic book properties, but they're hardly lacking in box office. Heck, purely based on gross vs. budget, Time-Warner's Sex and the City movie probably is more successful than both Hulk films combined. Get Smart might be too. Happy Feet outperformed a lot of Marvel's films as well on a smaller budget than most of them. 300 and I Am Legend were substantial hits. The Departed and Million Dollar Baby were very profitable and as Best Picture winners will continue to rake in money for years. Just a hunch, but The Hobbit might make a little money for WB as well.

While we're concerned with comic book movies, obviously, it's grossly insulting to the size and scope of WB, including feature films AND television, to really compare them to Marvel Studios. What's Marvel's 2009 schedule again? WB's already having a better year than Marvel, albeit with one flop on their plate. It's quite possible that Happy Feet 2 and Terminator will prove to be every bit as profitable, if not moreso, than Thor and Captain America.

 

[biolumen]

Well it seems like Gibson might return to his "other" franchise first.

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=47707

If he's willing to return for Lethal Weapon 5, he'd probably be fine with returning for another Mad Max movie as well. He said some time ago that he wasn't interested in these movies any more, but I guess his run in with the law has changed his thinking.

 

[solidsnake86]

Well with the success of TDK it might mean that they will remove batman from a justice league movie or not do it at all. From the sounds of it green latern is the only property that may be realized for 2010.

They might feel that investing money in a green latern movie instead of investing in a JLA movie is not sound. Personally I think a Justice league movie that is half decent would rake in the cash and if they manage to beat marvel to the punch it would do just that. Once the batman franchise is done (most likely in 2011) a sequel to a justice league movie with batman in it would provide the anticipation for the fans and general audience to make a lot of money (theoretically of course).

Either way their silence on the situation is curious. Than again were only in august, when would a movie have to be announced if it was comming out in 2010

 

[biolumen]

The reason Justice League is not in front of the cameras as we speak is because it wasn't ready. That's a ton of money to just throw something into, and WB was not ready to make that kind of investment.

Incorrect. A little script polishing aside, the initial incarnation of the movie was ready to be made. Warners was willing to spend that kind of money because they were counting on getting 40% of the budget back via the Australian producer offset. When they were told that at most they'd get only 15% back via the location offset, Warners decided it was too expensive a movie to make down there, and perhaps too expensive to make anywhere. Subsequent rewrites were probably done to pare the budget down to make it feasable to film elsewhere. Whether they ever got the right combination of script and budget nailed down is anybody's guess.