Official Justice League Status Update Thread

[Antonello Blueberry]

not anymore. after SR i belive that nothing is safe. a JL movie now is like any other movie.

After SR?
Come on, are you one of those who considers a movie that made 400 millions worldwide a flop?
What should WB do to the Wachowski bros after the Speed Racer flop? Shoot them in the head? Instead they produced another movie from them and are willing to produce others....

 

[GreenKToo]

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.

But couldnt you say the same thing about all films in general? If the downturn in the economy plays a factor in the C.B. genre dying down, why wouldnt it also for all films?
I see no evidence of that. If anything, people are going to the theater more for escapism and hope.

As for the cost to make these kinds of films, all films are costing more now, not just C.B. films. Just look at how much PoTc 3 cost.

 

[BATZARRO WWD]

Here's what we do know. THE DARK KNIGHT is the highest grossing comic book/super hero movie ever. It will most likely be the second highest grossing movie of all time. So those guys did SOMETHING right.



Not if a JL movie messes up the Batman sequel, when Batman is right now the proven money-making brand, and doing JL risks messing that up. That's another frakkin' point.



I read this paragraph several times and it makes no sense at all.

Here's something I'm not going to bow to at all. Making another series of Batman movies at the same time as another is freaking STUPID.

It is not another series of Batman movies. It is the Justice League. It will be easilly distinguishable from the Nolan films because of the sci fi/fantasy elements. Justice League is a brand itself. Exactly how is making a different movie WITH Batman mess up a third Nolan film? There are far too many assumptions in your arguments.

 

[Evil Twin]

All hypothetical below and I'm in no way predicting that JL will move forward.

Unless JL is an out and out stinker I have a hard time seeing it doing less than $400 million worldwide. Superman, Batman, WW, and the three of them fighting is a strong hook to get audiences interested. I doubt we'd have seen anything less than first class special effects either. It would also be a merchandising machine as well. Superman Returns type of box office return isn't bad by any means if you can bring the film in on a reasonable budget.

Being a critical success on the other hand...

I think the Sascha Baron Cohen and Robert Downey Jr. upcoming Sherlock Holmes projects are a likely example on how two interpretations of the same character could exist. Clear differentiation in tone, but with equally credible actors as the character.

As an aside, I've seen no reason that WB NEEDS to commit any more fully to superhero movies than they have already. Although there are no flops this year, you really can only point to three out of five superhero movies as true successes. Yeah, they'll need to replace Harry Potter on the slate eventually, but it's just as likely with a different family friendly fantasy series as it is with a superhero franchise. Less diversity in terms of genre might not be a good long term strategy for a company like WB which prefers to maintain a diverse back catalog of material.

 

[dnno1]

Here's what we do know. THE DARK KNIGHT is the highest grossing comic book/super hero movie ever. It will most likely be the second highest grossing movie of all time. So those guys did SOMETHING right.

The Dark Knight has only made $406 million at the time of this posting. What are you talking about. You should wait until the cycle is over and the dust clears before you insert your foot in your mouth.

 

[dnno1]

But couldnt you say the same thing about all films in general? If the downturn in the economy plays a factor in the C.B. genre dying down, why wouldnt it also for all films?
I see no evidence of that. If anything, people are going to the theater more for escapism and hope.

As for the cost to make these kinds of films, all films are costing more now, not just C.B. films. Just look at how much PoTc 3 cost.

To answer your question, in general, no. A good number of comedies, dramas and horror films cost much less than these types of films and can some times yield a better profit margin. If you are talking about action/adventure flicks that are SfX intensive then yes. It is difficult to keep them under $180 million, which seems to be the magic number that some studios would like to keep their pictures under.

 

[hippie_hunter]

It is not another series of Batman movies. It is the Justice League. It will be easilly distinguishable from the Nolan films because of the sci fi/fantasy elements. Justice League is a brand itself. Exactly how is making a different movie WITH Batman mess up a third Nolan film? There are far too many assumptions in your arguments.

Actually with the way the script was, it wasn't at all easy to distinguish the Batman from the Nolan movies and the Batman from Justice League. The script was originally written with Bale in mind for the role and when they couldn't get him and said that he was a different Batman, they still had him going up against Talia for the death of Ra's al Ghul (who was killed in Batman Begins).

 

[Showtime]

The Dark Knight has only made $406 million at the time of this posting. What are you talking about. You should wait until the cycle is over and the dust clears before you insert your foot in your mouth.

Which makes it the highest grossing "Comic Book Adaptation" or "Superhero" movie of all time. Since you are using 406 Million as it's gross you are talking about domestic, Dark Knight is now #1 domestically in those categories. How is he putting his foot in his mouth?

 

[FlawlessVictory]

The Dark Knight has only made $406 million at the time of this posting. What are you talking about. You should wait until the cycle is over and the dust clears before you insert your foot in your mouth.

It's posts like these that make you look like a joke.

News

The Dark Knight Surpasses Spider-Man
Source: Media by Numbers
August 6, 2008


Warner Bros. Pictures' The Dark Knight climbed to 7th place on the all-time domestic blockbuster list on Tuesday, surpassing the first Spider-Man to become the biggest comic book movie of all-time in North America.

The Christopher Nolan-directed Batman Begins follow-up added $5.67 million on Tuesday to bring its massive total to $405.7 million after just 19 days. Spider-Man reached $403.7 million domestically during its entire run in 2002.

The movie will next target Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, which sits at #6 with $423.3 million.

http://www.superherohype.com/news/spider-mannews.php?id=7573


And I love how you write "has only made $406 mil". And do you think TDK's run at the BO is over? Guess what, news gets much worse for you, because it is predicted this film is headed towards $500 mil!

Your posts truly are a joke, first cookies and now trying to mouth off when you yourself don't know the facts.

 

[dnno1]

the question is what does money mean to you. why do you care if WB makes money with JL? they did enough with TDK already. and its not even finished yet.

so again if you like the characters and the idea ok. but why money?

Well, isn't that the point of this whole exercise? You don't do something for noting right. You might go to the theater and pay your $7 to see a film and you expect to either get some enjoyment from the film or a smooch from your significant other don't you? The same thing goes for the studio. They only make films in the intrest of making a profit from them (first and foremost). There are other goals as well but not as important as money making. People loose their jobs if that doesn't happen.

 

[BATZARRO WWD]

not anymore. after SR i belive that nothing is safe. a JL movie now is like any other movie.

Now, I believe Superman Returns was targeted at the wrong demographic. Superman is a character who is a hard sell for women, and this movie and it's marketing sort of ephasized a romantic kind of thing. I mean, of course, there IS romance in the Superman mythos, but it's should not be the center focus of the film like in SR. Wrong target audience = underwhelming box office.


Yes, I went off topic. But really, were all offtopic because we're talking about Dark Knight, when this is a board about Justice League. Whatever money Dark Knight has earned, and the influence it may have on the Justice League film, if any, is a really flimsy topic. Because for those who are less enthusiastic about the film, it is a sure sign Justice League is dead. But that is, at least to this point, only speculation. You could also easily say making more money of the Superhero franchizes by making more (up to and including THIS Justice League) could be the only inmediate result of it.

"But Batzarro: Dark Knight made (quantity of money) that means Nolan owns them. They won't go thought with this, because they can't risk pissing him off!"

This thought line follows various unproven assumptions.

a) That Christopher Nolan cares so much about this, he's willing to walk away from "Dark Knight Sequel: Escape to Money Mountain".

b) That his first request in the next meeting with Warner will be "end the JL movie you're working on"t:

c) That this movie couldn't have been stalled for the writers strike, SaG negotiations, and Tax Rebate failiures at Australia. No, it was Cristopher Nolan, who's always busy stopping other movies when he's not doing his own.

d)That they can't just strike a deal they can all agree with. I mean, really? If he had a specific complaint(i.e. Thalia), do you think they wouldn't just sit down and talk about it. No, it's "kill the movie!". It's fun when you're opinion matches exactly what you believe will happen!

And Showtime, I am a christian man, so I know saying something is happening "soon" is a nice way of saying it may or may not happen. Especially in yes or no situations. As I see it, there are only two possible outcomes for this movie: It gets cancelled, or it gets done. You could(not accusing you, of course) easily say one of the two possible outcomes is happening "real soon" and you'd have 50% probability chance of success in your prediction. Regardless of wether you actually know anything or not.

I guess the question is: Are they announcing it "Jesus" soon, or real soon?

 

[dnno1]

It's posts like these that make you look like a joke.



http://www.superherohype.com/news/spider-mannews.php?id=7573


And I love how you write "has only made $406 mil". And do you think TDK's run at the BO is over? Guess what, news gets much worse for you, because it is predicted this film is headed towards $500 mil!

Your posts truly are a joke, first cookies and now trying to mouth off when you yourself don't know the facts.

I'm sorry, I meant $609 million. The film hasn't made more than any of the Spider-Man films yet so it is premature to say that it is the highest grosing film of all time.

 

[dark_b]

After SR?
Come on, are you one of those who considers a movie that made 400 millions worldwide a flop?
What should WB do to the Wachowski bros after the Speed Racer flop? Shoot them in the head? Instead they produced another movie from them and are willing to produce others....

SR is not a flop. the budget was to hight and the movie was not for the masses.
so no MOS 2 years after.

 

[dark_b]

After SR?
Come on, are you one of those who considers a movie that made 400 millions worldwide a flop?
What should WB do to the Wachowski bros after the Speed Racer flop? Shoot them in the head? Instead they produced another movie from them and are willing to produce others....

SR is not a flop. the budget was to hight and the movie was not for the masses.
so no MOS 2 years after.

 

[GreenKToo]

I'm sorry, I meant $609 million. The film hasn't made more than any of the Spider-Man films yet so it is premature to say that it is the highest grosing film of all time.

Their talking about TDk making the most ever Dom. and it will prolly, IMVHO, end up around 850/900 mill W.W.

 

[Showtime]

And Showtime, I am a christian man, so I know saying something is happening "soon" is a nice way of saying it may or may not happen. Especially in yes or no situations. As I see it, there are only two possible outcomes for this movie: It gets cancelled, or it gets done. You could(not accusing you, of course) easily say one of the two possible outcomes is happening "real soon" and you'd have 50% probability chance of success in your prediction. Regardless of wether you actually know anything or not.

I guess the question is: Are they announcing it "Jesus" soon, or real soon?

I already not so subtlely alluded to the movie being canceled in post after post. So why you're questioning that part of it makes no sense.

In regards to what exactly is happening, I can't say, but I have posted it on these boards already and I will just quote it or link to it when and if this news does indeed drop. In addition I have already told some posters that post in this very section, so it really is pretty clear.

 

[Michael Corleone]

I'm sorry, I meant $609 million. The film hasn't made more than any of the Spider-Man films yet so it is premature to say that it is the highest grosing film of all time.

It's surpassed all three Spider-man films in the U.S. That's what people are talking about. Read their posts before you jump on them. TDK has not opened in many of the markets that those films did their best foreign numbers in either. Please check your numbers before you make such statements. When this film leaves theaters this summer, you will also have to wait and see because of the OSCARs. If Ledger does get a nomination and if there are even more noms for the film, make no mistake this film will be re-released in the theaters. That will add even more to the numbers.

But enough of that. This is a Justice League thread. Not a Dark Knight B.O. thread.

 

[Evil Twin]

a) That Christopher Nolan cares so much about this, he's willing to walk away from "Dark Knight Sequel: Escape to Money Mountain".

Yeah, I don't really get why it's even an issue to him. WB is likely to schedule the next Batman movie for 2011 with a free hand to Nolan for production, scripting, etc. Nolan's movie will likely be well into production before Justice League even debuts and there's no indication that WB is inclined to interfere. So, he gets a pile of money, the cast he wants, no interference, and whether JL interferes with the box office on that movie or not is on WB, not him.

What does he possibly get out of spiking JL, on his say so, except a reputation for not playing well with others and possibly being a control freak?

If I were going to lay odds, I'd say that JL is not going to go forward and Miller is eventually going to move on to Mad Max and Happy Feet 2. But I'd say that "appeasing Nolan" will be a very, very minor reason why that happens.

 

[TheVileOne]

dnno1 has proven with his posts that he's a divisive troll.

I'm tired of this whole too realistic/sci-fi fantasy crap as well. I imagine a Justice League movie would NOT look like Sin City, 300, or the Spirit because that would be ridiculous for that material.

The Dark Knight still had the sonar system, which was most definitely SCIENCE FICTION. Also Two-Face which really treaded the line. Two-face wasn't exactly a guy in make-up or Liam Neeson.

 

[I Am The Knight]

Yeah, I don't really get why it's even an issue to him. WB is likely to schedule the next Batman movie for 2011 with a free hand to Nolan for production, scripting, etc. Nolan's movie will likely be well into production before Justice League even debuts and there's no indication that WB is inclined to interfere. So, he gets a pile of money, the cast he wants, no interference, and whether JL interferes with the box office on that movie or not is on WB, not him.

What does he possibly get out of spiking JL, on his say so, except a reputation for not playing well with others and possibly being a control freak?

If I were going to lay odds, I'd say that JL is not going to go forward and Miller is eventually going to move on to Mad Max and Happy Feet 2. But I'd say that "appeasing Nolan" will be a very, very minor reason why that happens.

Yeah, it doesn't adds up...But anyway, talented people = (Control) freaks

 

[TheVileOne]

Nolan's right for not wanting two sets of Batman movies released so close together.

But for you people to insult Nolan in this way means you believe he had something to do with halting the production and it wasn't just the script or the tax rebate.

 

[dnno1]

It's surpassed all three Spider-man films in the U.S. That's what people are talking about. Read their posts before you jump on them. TDK has not opened in many of the markets that those films did their best foreign numbers in either. Please check your numbers before you make such statements. When this film leaves theaters this summer, you will also have to wait and see because of the OSCARs. If Ledger does get a nomination and if there are even more noms for the film, make no mistake this film will be re-released in the theaters. That will add even more to the numbers.

But enough of that. This is a Justice League thread. Not a Dark Knight B.O. thread.

My comment was addressing the one made by TheVileOne where he said the TDK was the highest grossing film of all time. He said nothing about it being domestic or world wide. It is still too premature to say that.

 

[TheVileOne]

I said highest comic book super hero movie ever. And I'm right about that. It just surpassed Spider-man. And I'm not talking about worldwide. Domestically its beaten everything before. And it will quite possibly do it worldwide as well.

It will be on tap to probably be the second highest grossing movie ever behind Titanic.

And for mr. troll dnno1 who's only talking about how WB only cares about money and pleasing their shareholders . . . it's called THE DARK KNIGHT which is their biggest cash cow of the year and recent memory.

The movie's barely been out three weeks and could still be in theatres another three months. And its already made about $410 million.

 

[The Major]

Less diversity in terms of genre might not be a good long term strategy for a company like WB which prefers to maintain a diverse back catalog of material.

The super-hero genre has many sub-genres within it including fantasy, politics, espionage, noir, sci-fi, space opera, horror, comedy, satire and more. There is diversity there.

 

[Michael Corleone]

My comment was addressing the one made by TheVileOne where he said the TDK was the highest grossing film of all time. He said nothing about it being domestic or world wide. It is still too premature to say that.

I believe what was said was "It will most likely be the second highest grossing movie of all time."

As for it being premature to say if will be the second highest grossing film of all time? Perhaps, but that hasn't stopped almost every major industry publication, print and web, to say it as well.

Edit: But like I said, this is a thread about the Justice League film. If you really want to talk about this, why don't you go to The Dark Knight forum.