Official Justice League Status Update Thread

[BATZARRO WWD]

Mediocre compared to TDK?

Yep! I'll put my money on a Nolan directed Batman movie with Bale as Batman against a director who hasn't done a live action film in god knows how long with someone named Armie and Hammer as Batman.

Since TDK has become a BIG success with fans, critically AND with the Box Office...I am VERY confident that Millers JLA movie with Arm and Hammer and DJ Corona would not be able to compete with TDK.

And Watchmen has a guy called Billy Crudup. That doesn't mean proper marketing and hype can't outdo funny/unknown names and propell a movie to a new B.O record.

 

[Showtime]

Nor does it mean it will though, the argument works two ways. You're challenging the detractors, but it is totally unknown that the film will do well. It is the same difference if you ask me. A lot of you are like, yeah you put Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and some other characters together and it is a hit. That isn't necessarily true. One of the execs said the same thing about Superman Returns, look what happened.

 

[KBX]

Mediocre compared to TDK?

Yep! I'll put my money on a Nolan directed Batman movie with Bale as Batman against a director who hasn't done a live action film in god knows how long with someone named Armie and Hammer as Batman.

Since TDK has become a BIG success with fans, critically AND with the Box Office...I am VERY confident that Millers JLA movie with Arm and Hammer and DJ Corona would not be able to compete with TDK.

If a JL film has yet to come out, how do you know its going to be mediocre???

I am not comparing TDK to a possible JL film. I don't get where people are getting this. There is no competition here, and never will be between the two movies. When one ends the other one will start. Give or take a year.

Many people were confident that Jackmans Wolverine and Tobeys Spiderman weren't going to compete with anyone, and looked how that turned out. For all we know Hammer/Cotrona even though they are not my choices, could do a very good job. Clooney I think can be a better bats than Bale if he had Nolan.

Look, I loved TDK, but its not the end-all be-all, of comicbook movies, nor it will ever be.

 

[solidsnake86]

Well I think whoever mentioned the part about Gl's bosses being little blue men has a point and I think that is why they are being a bit more cautious. I know people say GL could be their Iron Man but I don't really think so. Iron Man is more marvel's batman if anything. I think a good comparison would be thor to GL. With green latern they have to decide how far out their they want the movie to be, either keep it contained on earth for a first movie with glimpses of whats out their or go full out space epic.

The flash also has some problems, namely which character do you use, wally west or barry allen. Barry allen has the whole CSI angle which is extremely popular whereas wally has the personality that it seems most (or few depending on who you talk to)enjoy. Just as a side note their bringing him (barry allen) back in the comics for those that don't
know.

Wonder woman has the problem of being a female heroine with movies like elektra that don't bode well for her character. To make it work I would use a smaller budget like hellboy that way their expectation aren't overblown and if it doesn't do well they will not have lost so much money.

I guess each of these characters is a problem in their own right and I can see why making a JL movie is on their minds because you gloss over the problems each character has if their in an individual series.

 

[dnno1]

I'm suspicious that dnno1 could perhaps be Baghdad Uncle Bingo Bob back from the dead.

Sorry, I have read his stuff, but I don't even know the guy.

 

[The Major]

Well I think whoever mentioned the part about Gl's bosses being little blue men has a point and I think that is why they are being a bit more cautious.

Having aliens didn't stop Star Wars from being a hit.

It's all about the execution and whether they can make it relatable. There is enough material there to do this for GL.

I know people say GL could be their Iron Man but I don't really think so. Iron Man is more marvel's batman if anything. I think a good comparison would be thor to GL. With green latern they have to decide how far out their they want the movie to be, either keep it contained on earth for a first movie with glimpses of whats out their or go full out space epic.

Personally, I think they should keep the first movie on Earth and avoid having to much alien stuff stuff in it immediately but set it up for sequels.

They should definitely use Sinestro as the first bad guy.

The flash also has some problems, namely which character do you use, wally west or barry allen. Barry allen has the whole CSI angle which is extremely popular whereas wally has the personality that it seems most (or few depending on who you talk to)enjoy. Just as a side note their bringing him (barry allen) back in the comics for those that don't
know.

Yup.

Wonder woman has the problem of being a female heroine with movies like elektra that don't bode well for her character.

WB really needs to think beyond the gender issue. Being the same sex of the character in a failed movie which was critically panned and which didn't show the potential of the franchise it's adapting doesn't work.

To make it work I would use a smaller budget like hellboy that way their expectation aren't overblown and if it doesn't do well they will not have lost so much money.

Agreed.

I guess each of these characters is a problem in their own right and I can see why making a JL movie is on their minds because you gloss over the problems each character has if their in an individual series.

All adaptions have problems. Some are easier to fix then others but if they get the right film makers in change who understand and respect what they're adapting these can be solved.

 

[solidsnake86]

I'm not to sure about using sinestro in the first one, wasn't he a green latern to begin with. I'm not very familiar with the characters origin so someone would have to fill me in. I know the basic about alien crash landing, ends up passing away and gives ring to hal, but thats pretty much it.

 

[The Major]

SS:

Sinestro being a Green Lantern is why it makes sense for him to be Hal's first villain.

Basically he was the GLC's best Lantern before Hal came along. He trained Hal in how to be a GL. The thing is Sinestro believes order matters above all else. He'll do whatever he needs to preserve the universe, unfortunately he's a controlling psychopath. At home he's secretly a dictator that's why it's so "peaceful" there. Once Hal discovered this he alerted the Guardians who exiled him. This lead to events where he created a yellow GL type ring, made him become Hal's arch-enemy, allowed him to set Hal up to be possessed by Parallax and form the Sinestro Corps.

In the comics he does this to prepare the universe against a prophecy called the Blackest Night. The Guardians want to stop it from occurring but Sinestro knows it is impossible to do, kinda like when Skynet turns against humanity in Terminator. His methods are brutal in order to manipulate the Guardians to force them into dealing with the prophecy on his terms.

Hal and Sinestro have since gotten into a Clarice/Hannibal Lecter relationship in Johns' run.

This has some more detailed information about him:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinestro

 

[solidsnake86]

Thanks Major, that sounds really interesting, and would make a great movie. I'm just wondering though, if sinestro was used in a sequel what other villains could be used in the first movie. I know they are doing the secret origin story that Johns is writing write now, I wanted to take a look at it. I wonder who the main villain in that story is, or if they do the whole sinestro story within the first one.

 

[The Major]

SS:

The main villain is Atrocitus, I guess. He's got a much more complicated back story then Sinestro. The story does have several villains in it in lesser roles like Hector Hammond and Black Hand.

At this point of the story Sinestro is Hal's partner and is his mentor. They're investigating Abin Sur's death together on Earth. Abin was murdered by Atrocitus and who gave Hal his ring.

Atrocious would fit a sequel, IMO. There is a lot of information the audience will need to know about for him to work.

Sinestro being the first villain doesn't mean he should be killed in the first movie, either. He should be like the GL franchise's Magneto.

I recommend getting the story arc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atrocitus

 

[solidsnake86]

I'm going to pick up the issues when action comics comes out next week as well. It sounds really interesting and I'm hoping the writers of the movie can do the character justice. In terms of sinestro I see your point of him being the magneto of the series. Thanks again for the synopsis.

 

[Dark Knight]

Having aliens didn't stop Star Wars from being a hit.

It's all about the execution and whether they can make it relatable. There is enough material there to do this for GL.



Personally, I think they should keep the first movie on Earth and avoid having to much alien stuff stuff in it immediately but set it up for sequels.

They should definitely use Sinestro as the first bad guy.



Yup.



WB really needs to think beyond the gender issue. Being the same sex of the character in a failed movie which was critically panned and which didn't show the potential of the franchise it's adapting doesn't work.




Agreed.



All adaptions have problems. Some are easier to fix then others but if they get the right film makers in change who understand and respect what they're adapting these can be solved.

Another movie of reference that can used besides Star Wars is perhaps Luc Bessons The Fifth Element....

 

[dark_b]

Another movie of reference that can used besides Star Wars is perhaps Luc Bessons The Fifth Element....

it was a light movie. if GL would have the same tone then it would work. if it would have the same tone everyone would complain IMO


its not so easie with aliens. star wars is something different. when it came out it was groudnbreaking.

 

[Antonello Blueberry]

Nor does it mean it will though, the argument works two ways. You're challenging the detractors, but it is totally unknown that the film will do well. It is the same difference if you ask me. A lot of you are like, yeah you put Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and some other characters together and it is a hit. That isn't necessarily true. One of the execs said the same thing about Superman Returns, look what happened.

It happened a movie, that with its flaws made 400 millions worldwide, more athn Batman begins and than most of the other comic book adaptations. Moreover in JL we were supposed to see Superman beating the crap out of Wonder Woman and Batman. They could have Michel Cera as Batman, Sarah Silverman as WW and jack Black as Supes and people will still flock the theaters to see it.

 

[thcapedcrusader]

i think i speak of all of us, and i am sure it's been stated already but...i hope they don't screw this up.

 

[Showtime]

It happened a movie, that with its flaws made 400 millions worldwide, more athn Batman begins and than most of the other comic book adaptations. Moreover in JL we were supposed to see Superman beating the crap out of Wonder Woman and Batman. They could have Michel Cera as Batman, Sarah Silverman as WW and jack Black as Supes and people will still flock the theaters to see it.

It performed below studio and analysts projections and Batman Begins made more domestically, in other words, where it counts. I'm not saying it was a failure at all, but it wasn't what it should have or what it was supposed to be.

In regards to Justice League, you can't be serious. For you to think they can just put any version of these characters on screen and they will accept it is pretty bold.

See Batman & Robin and Catwoman.

 

[dnno1]

Nolan's Batman movies weren't only successful because Batman was [in] it. That was just one piece of the puzzle. Once they notice which tactics worked then they can duplicate it with versions which fit other non-Batman films. Studio execs taking over just to exploit short term lowest common denominator plans will just revert whatever progress Nolan's made with Batman. The money train will end and they'll have only themselves to blame.

I think they already knew what would work. This artilce from WebTVWire.com explains part of it all. Another strategy was the (premeditated) viral marketing campaign that was run a year prior. This is not to mention the fact that Batman already has a avid fan base that belived in the the director and the direction the film was going in.

 

[Antonello Blueberry]

It performed below studio and analysts projections and Batman Begins made more domestically, in other words, where it counts. I'm not saying it was a failure at all, but it wasn't what it should have or what it was supposed to be.

When Warner distributes the movie itself in every nation, domestic or foreign has the same weight.

In regards to Justice League, you can't be serious. For you to think they can just put any version of these characters on screen and they will accept it is pretty bold.

See Batman & Robin and Catwoman.

I'm serious. We're talking of three of the most widely known superheroes worldwide, not only in the same movie but fighting each other. It's something never before seen.
Batman & Robin was the campy version of Batman forever, had some really crappy trailers, but still opened at 42 million $ with an average per screen of $14,612, more than the average of the opening of BB.
It was killed by word of mouth because it was really terrible.
I won't even bother writing about Catwoman which had failure written all over it since it was announced and I feel sorry for Pitof for killing his career by making it.

 

[GreenKToo]

If he is correct here, the casting was one of the reasons J.L. got delayed. Can you imagine the outrage if they went with even worse casting?

http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/B/Baruchel_Jay/2008/07/25/6265051-sun.html

Baruchel -- who won't reveal what role he'd signed for, although rumours had him pegged as one of the villains -- was in Australia last December rehearsing when Warner Bros. unceremoniously banished the production to a purgatorial phantom zone. Among probable reasons why? The toxic buzz the League movie -- despite being helmed by The Road Warrior's legendary George Miller -- was generating online.
With neither big-screen Batman Christian Bale nor Superman Brandon Routh on-board, fanboys balked at the decision to recast young unknowns as those spandex-clad icons. "Everyone on the Internet was hating our movie," Baruchel says. "But you know us cast members were psyched that everybody was gunning for us because it would have only meant people would have been blown away that much more. We knew the bulk of the detractors would have been silenced."

 

[Showtime]

When Warner distributes the movie itself in every nation, domestic or foreign has the same weight.

Which means they are the ones flipping the bill for everything; foreign advertising in all countries, foreign prints, foreign taxes, currency conversion, and foreign trade associations.

It is far from an advantage to distribute the film alone. So although it might carry the same weight if a studio is a lone distributor, it also puts a bigger burden on the lone distributor.

I'm serious. We're talking of three of the most widely known superheroes worldwide, not only in the same movie but fighting each other. It's something never before seen.

That's disappointing, I thought you were a "movie guy", you're saying throw anybody in the suits and it will make money?

 

[Antonello Blueberry]

Which means they are the ones flipping the bill for everything; foreign advertising in all countries, foreign prints, foreign taxes, currency conversion, and foreign trade associations.

It is far from an advantage to distribute the film alone. So although it might carry the same weight if a studio is a lone distributor, it also puts a bigger burden on the lone distributor.

Ever heard of globalization? Warner Bros spending millions of dollars in advertising in USA means that all the newspapers in the world will talk about that movie. The marketing campaign are thought globally, with some minor local adjustment.
For example WB didn't spend that much in Italy for the launch of "The Dark Knight" because they knew that Batman movies do not make great money here and the summer releases don't either. So they didn't invest that much here hoping the press and word of mouth coming from the USA will sell the movie.
It's making Iron Man numbers, half the "I am legend" money.

That's disappointing, I thought you were a "movie guy", you're saying throw anybody in the suits and it will make money?

Well, I work in a production company. I used to be a critic, so maybe I am a "movie" guy.
I think the concept (and the storyline they choosed to adapt) is so strong that it could be a success, no matter the actors.
The Miller version was going to be visually interesting, with Semler, Patterson and WETA on board, and with those elements a trailer at least would have been great looking. That would have shut all the bad buzz about the Teen League.
Sure they could have been more clever in casting the big two, so avoiding most of the bad buzz.
See how many people were won over by the Watchmen trailer just because it looks good.

 

[BATZARRO WWD]

Ever heard of globalization? Warner Bros spending millions of dollars in advertising in USA means that all the newspapers in the world will talk about that movie. The marketing campaign are thought globally, with some minor local adjustment.
For example WB didn't spend that much in Italy for the launch of "The Dark Knight" because they knew that Batman movies do not make great money here and the summer releases don't either. So they didn't invest that much here hoping the press and word of mouth coming from the USA will sell the movie.
It's making Iron Man numbers, half the "I am legend" money.


Well, I work in a production company. I used to be a critic, so maybe I am a "movie" guy.
I think the concept (and the storyline they choosed to adapt) is so strong that it could be a success, no matter the actors.
The Miller version was going to be visually interesting, with Semler, Patterson and WETA on board, and with those elements a trailer at least would have been great looking. That would have shut all the bad buzz about the Teen League.
Sure they could have been more clever in casting the big two, so avoiding most of the bad buzz.
See how many people were won over by the Watchmen trailer just because it looks good.

Yeah, I've only read about Watchmen, and the trailer says little about the actuall plot, but just showing the thing does wonders. Off course casting matters, but concept also matters.

Here's an example:

Actors:Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones
Concept: Secret Alien alien conspiracy action + Buddy movie

Actors: Will Smith, Matt Damon
Concept: Golf teaching ghost

Guess wich one did better at the box office? In the case of "Bagger Vance" the concept was enought to overpower a strong, known cast. Even word of mouth couldn't save it.

However, I think we should agree the concept of Justice League would at least warrant a pretty good level of attention. Now, the hardly known/young cast is less than an issue that it apears to be if they'd chosen certain celebrities that actually bring movies down.

 

[The Major]

I think they already knew what would work. This artilce from WebTVWire.com explains part of it all. Another strategy was the (premeditated) viral marketing campaign that was run a year prior.

As I said Batman is only one reason why it worked.

They need to apply the same or similar ideas to fit the other franchises they're adapting when they get their own solo films.

This is not to mention the fact that Batman already has a avid fan base that belived in the the director and the direction the film was going in.

WB needs to use their resources to allow their lesser comic franchises to have the same build in support. They definitely need to show why Hollywood should be interested in adapting their own comic franchises.

 

[The Major]

I'm serious. We're talking of three of the most widely known superheroes worldwide, not only in the same movie but fighting each other. It's something never before seen.

Yet they've only been interested in making cartoons, tv shows (with one exception 30 years ago) and movies about 2 of them.

Batman & Robin was the campy version of Batman forever, had some really crappy trailers, but still opened at 42 million $ with an average per screen of $14,612, more than the average of the opening of BB.

Just imagine how much more successful it could have been if WB had bothered making a good movie which positively elevated the Batman franchise.

All that potential profit down the tubes because WB wanted to see Adam West with nipples on the silver screen.

It was killed by word of mouth because it was really terrible.

Yup.

I won't even bother writing about Catwoman which had failure written all over it since it was announced and I feel sorry for Pitof for killing his career by making it.

A better reason would be that the movie was in no way, shape or form related to Catwoman aside from the title.

 

[The Major]

They could have Michel Cera as Batman, Sarah Silverman as WW and jack Black as Supes and people will still flock the theaters to see it.

Isn't it good business sense to get the most potential out of a product not the least?

A JLA movie like that would only damage WW's image for another generation, it'll distort how the public sees her furthur and the lesser characters killing any interest in solo franchises and make it that much tougher for WB to sell them in serious solo movies in the future. Right now none of them have even got a solo movie green lighted yet.

The only ones immune for that are Superman and Batman because unlike the others WB actually spend time educating the public about their mythos and gave them enough good works for people to care.

If the others had that support a parody movie would be fine since they the audience would realize that's not how the characters are supposed to act.