Official Justice League Status Update Thread

[jmc]

I feel like I have to reiterate some stuff already:

If BB3 doesn't happen, Bale is still contracted for a third movie (which could also be an ensemble pic). If Nolan declines to return for a third, Warners can easily use that third film option on Bale for JL:M if they're reworking it into the Nolanverse continuity.

Bale won't like it, but if he doesn't do it WB will likely sue him. Unless there was a contract proviso that he can only work with Nolan on a third Bat-film...

Contracts aren't worth the paper they are written on, if Bale doesn't want to come back, he won't, there's always a loophole.

 

[Crook]

Yeah but if BB3 doesn't happen... according to the latest reports from WB/DC, the studio WILL NOT move forward with other solo projects like Superman/Flash/WW/JLA. WB doesn't want to move from franchise A to B to C... they want to do everything at the same time and tie their characters into the same universe like Marvel is doing. So more than likely you'd be asking Bale to play Batman the fourth time and it would be in something completely different. I mean Johnny Depp is making 56 freaking MILLION for POTC4... you wonder what Bale's salary would be for a Justice League film. You'd be looking at 100 million for the cast alone.

That'll never happen. Salaries fluctuate based on the project, and it's certainly standardized with ensemble pictures. Not only is it highly doubtful that Bale would ever get anywhere near 50 million for the first JL film, but neither will any of his other castmates. They're not on that level.

The Ocean series managed to nab 2 big Hollywood stars, yet still had a budget well below 150 million.

 

[FaT_tONle]

That'll never happen. Salaries fluctuate based on the project, and it's certainly standardized with ensemble pictures. Not only is it highly doubtful that Bale would ever get anywhere near 50 million for the first JL film, but neither will any of his other castmates. They're not on that level.

The Ocean series managed to nab 2 big Hollywood stars, yet still had a budget well below 150 million.

I see your point... but if I am Bale I am demanding a couple of million just to have a sit down with WB... why would he not make that powerplay? WB needs Bale/Batman. Otherwise JLA would pale in comparison to an Avengers movie... it would be like replacing Robert Downey Jr. as Stark. I am demanding nothing less than 30 million if I am Bale. WB has to pay it or they have nothing... even with actors like Routh and Gosling... it won't be enough to carry the film if you have a scrub in there for Bruce Wayne. I just don't see Bale doing this movie under any circumstances regardless of how much money is involved.

 

[I Am The Knight]

I see your point... but if I am Bale I am demanding a couple of million just to have a sit down with WB... why would he not make that powerplay? WB needs Bale/Batman. Otherwise JLA would pale in comparison to an Avengers movie... it would be like replacing Robert Downey Jr. as Stark. I am demanding nothing less than 30 million if I am Bale. WB has to pay it or they have nothing... even with actors like Routh and Gosling... it won't be enough to carry the film if you have a scrub in there for Bruce Wayne. I just don't see Bale doing this movie under any circumstances regardless of how much money is involved.

You are overestimating Bale's appeal. He's not Ledger's wonderful perfomance in TDK. He's not Depp's...Popular performance in POTC. He's not Robert Downey Jr's charismatic leading man performance in Iron Man. Thanks to TDK, more people see him as Batman now, sure...But the most he would get for a JLA film would be $10 million, IMO.

And now we are going back into the whole "But only X person can play Y character" argument from last year...

 

[Crook]

We'll see. I don't see him doing a JL film in it's current state, but with the project apparently getting an overhaul, it could easily change his mindset. This is the same guy that is starring in a film made by the director of Charlie's Angels after all. Nothing is out of the realm of possibility given the direction and script takes to his liking.

The point is moot now however with JL being on hold. Plus it seems like he'd only consider the ensemble pic after the third is out.

 

[FaT_tONle]

You are overestimating Bale's appeal. He's not Ledger's wonderful perfomance in TDK. He's not Depp's...Popular performance in POTC. He's not Robert Downey Jr's charismatic leading man performance in Iron Man. Thanks to TDK, more people see him as Batman now, sure...But the most he would get for a JLA film would be $10 million, IMO.

And now we are going back into the whole "But only X person can play Y character" argument from last year...

Okay you want to say it won't be 30 million then fine... 10 million is, however, is completely laughable... the guy will be making 20 million plus with BB3 IMO. Look at TDK's gross. He is going to want the same amount for JLA. He isn't going to take a pay cut. He didn't sign on as Batman to star in a Justice League movie. The character appealed to him for different reasons, and now you are asking him to do something completely different... RDJ will probably make 10-15 million with IM2... I guarantee you his salary will be close to 30-35 million combined for both IM2/Avengers. Bale will probably want more because his movies gross slightly more. Plus it would be his fourth film... not his third. RDJ's fourth film (if there is one) will most likely be IM3 and his salary will be 40 million plus ALONE for that film... much like Depp's salary for POTC 4.

We'll see. I don't see him doing a JL film in it's current state, but with the project apparently getting an overhaul, it could easily change his mindset. This is the same guy that is starring in a film made by the director of Charlie's Angels after all. Nothing is out of the realm of possibility given the direction and script takes to his liking.

The point is moot now however with JL being on hold. Plus it seems like he'd only consider the ensemble pic after the third is out.

Well WB has already updated the slate...

GL 2010
BB3 2011
Supes 2012

If that current slate holds up they are obviously gearing for a 2013/2014 release for Justice League. With inflation and everything... the bugdet could EASILY surpass whatever budget Avengers/BB3 might be... hell it may be more than BOTH SM4/5 combined. You can't just make a George Miller Justice League film with a different cast. WB has made the comittment... now they have to follow through.

 

[Crook]

They don't have to follow through at all. Remember all the false Superman restarts?

6 years is an incredible amount of time. There's no way in hell you're gonna ask these guys to wait for you, much less tightly secure a defined crew that won't be set to work for half a decade. The Miller JL film could easily fall by the wayside, paving a way for a completely new team to take over.

 

[FaT_tONle]

They don't have to follow through at all. Remember all the false Superman restarts?

6 years is an incredible amount of time. There's no way in hell you're gonna ask these guys to wait for you, much less tightly secure a defined crew that won't be set to work for half a decade. The Miller JL film could easily fall by the wayside, paving a way for a completely new team to take over.

I am sorry but that makes no sense... WB has stated they are moving forward with another Superman film. That means JLA has to take a back seat... you guys hear from one camp that a JL: M movie or whatever the **** they are calling it is still fair game... then we hear from the other camp that the solo movies are fair game... Is WB ******ed? Are they going to have alternate cinematic universes for the the same characters? How people even thought (or still think) this was an option for WB is just mind boggling. I just can't buy any of it. You just can't have it both ways... I don't care what we have heard the past years plus. It has to be one or the other.

Don't get me wrong... that doesn't mean they won't do a JLA movie without Bale... they'd just recast... but you have to use the same Superman actor that starred in the reboot of course. Which version of GL they use is anyone's guess, but I am sure which ever version they end up using will be featured in the GL movie beforehand in some role. Of course Flash/WW may not even get films prior to JLA. But at the very least they have to keep the same actor for Superman in both films. Of course the budget would not nearly be as high if that was your ONLY returning actor.

 

[Crook]

Was that a response to what I said, cause I don't see how it does.

It's more than obvious now that WB does want a unified universe ala Marvel. That's why I'm saying Miller's JL is pretty much dead. There's no possible way they can even maintain what their cast was, because the respective roles will be "recast" with the solo franchises.

 

[FaT_tONle]

When you said they don't have to follow through at all I thought you were saying they don't have to unite the movies into a unified DC universe... now what cast are you talking about? George Miller's cast being recasted for the solo films? Heck I agree with that... George Miller is a complete non factor... we both agree.. but WB has to follow through with the "Marvel way" of doing things... if you disagree with that then we just both disagree.

 

[Crook]

When you said they don't have to follow through at all I thought you were saying they don't have to unite the movies into a unified DC universe...

No, I'm saying they don't have to follow through with Miller's project.

now what cast are you talking about? George Miller's cast being recasted for the solo films? Heck I agree with that... George Miller is a complete non factor... we both agree.. but WB has to follow through with the "Marvel way" of doing things... if you disagree with that then we just both disagree.

No, I agree.

 

[solidsnake86]

I don't see why people think Bale being in this movie is out of the realm of possibility, the guy did reign of fire. He will probably get paid a ridiculous amount of money for maybe 30 minutes of screen time.

 

[FaT_tONle]

No, I'm saying they don't have to follow through with Miller's project.

Yeah but I was saying they can't do a Miller JLA with a different cast from the solo films... and they have to follow through the continuity of the solo films... so this was just a simple misunderstanding.

I don't see why people think Bale being in this movie is out of the realm of possibility, the guy did reign of fire. He will probably get paid a ridiculous amount of money for maybe 30 minutes of screen time.

Well I don't know how many people believe that with the many sc-fi elements introduced in TDK. As a said before... I think the Nolan films will continue to be less and less believable... so I think it could work. But to be honest I have little interest in seeing Bale's Batman in a JLA movie... I was never a big Justice League guy anyway so that's just me... but I am dying to see Batman/Superman together. These other characters are just a distraction/turnoff and I think a lot of general audiences who are only appealed to Batman (die hard Bat fans included) feel the exact same way. But that's another old debate that I don't think people want to rehash...

 

[I Am The Knight]

Okay you want to say it won't be 30 million then fine... 10 million is, however, is completely laughable... the guy will be making 20 million plus with BB3 IMO. Look at TDK's gross. He is going to want the same amount for JLA. He isn't going to take a pay cut. He didn't sign on as Batman to star in a Justice League movie. The character appealed to him for different reasons, and now you are asking him to do something completely different... RDJ will probably make 10-15 million with IM2... I guarantee you his salary will be close to 30-35 million combined for both IM2/Avengers. Bale will probably want more because his movies gross slightly more. Plus it would be his fourth film... not his third. RDJ's fourth film (if there is one) will most likely be IM3 and his salary will be 40 million plus ALONE for that film... much like Depp's salary for POTC 4.

Let's leave it at 20, for both movies. And he did sign on for an ensemble film, didn't he? Anyways, like I said, he's not that popular. He's not the reason TDK is a $500 million grosser. Ledger is. He IS one of the reasons though, so naturally WB will want him around. And for continuity's sake. But if they really had to make JLA, and, for whatever reason, he's not willing to do it, they will recast...It's especially easier with Batman, a hero with no "face", in the middle of an ensemble film.

 

[FaT_tONle]

Yeah but you need Bruce Wayne in there, so Bale is very much needed. Can't just have a different actor in tights the whole film. And how about we say 50 million for both BB3/JLA? That's what Tobey "fat and out of shape" Maguire is getting... not saying WB wouldn't ante up, but it's not pennies... but I already stated they'd recast so we agree.

 

[solidsnake86]

I just think its a misconception that people think bale wouldnt do it because he's somehow above the movie. If they have a good script and he makes a good chunk of cash I don't see why he wouldn't do it. Its an ensemble film so he doesn't have to spend that much time in the costume and it could be the stunt double for all we know. Nolan's films are already extending reality, but it doesn't mean there real, people take that to the next level. Its do-able but this is a movie that would be 7 or 8 years away with the current situation.

 

[Crook]

Well I don't know how many people believe that with the many sc-fi elements introduced in TDK.

That's because the story told doesn't lend itself to sci-fi elements. There are plenty of solo Batman stories that deal with the real and mundane. That same Batman also appears in a JL story that deals with the fantastical and out-of-this-world catastrophes. Same character.

As a said before... I think the Nolan films will continue to be less and less believable... so I think it could work.

Not even that, it's really about hitting the same tone as Nolan. Which is to say that it's taken seriously, and none of the film's elements are taken lightly. It is more than possible for these characters to co-exist with each other. Personally I think it's a beautiful thing for one entire universe to fit so well.

 

[FaT_tONle]

I just think its a misconception that people think bale wouldnt do it because he's somehow above the movie. If they have a good script and he makes a good chunk of cash I don't see why he wouldn't do it. Its an ensemble film so he doesn't have to spend that much time in the costume and it could be the stunt double for all we know. Nolan's films are already extending reality, but it doesn't mean there real, people take that to the next level. Its do-able but this is a movie that would be 7 or 8 years away with the current situation.

Bale is above JLA... although I think he'd be opened to a similar script that the Mulroneys tossed around... something dark and somewhat realistic for DC universe standards. WB has their work cut out for them if they are going to sell this to actors like Bale/Gosling. Not saying it can't be done... WB's chances may hinge on the success of Avengers, so they should hope that film is a success.

 

[I Am The Knight]

A JLA film has the potential to be a lot more epic than The Avengers, I'd say. Plus, it has the advantage of having Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman under one movie. We are talking about Huge icons here. So in essence, a JLA film sells itself, really.

 

[Evil Twin]

It wouldn't exactly be surprising if the changes to the JLA script in response to TDK are mainly in response to the "cell phone sonar" bit in the end where Batman renounced the use of the surveillance equipment. Not so much because it's contradictory, but because it's redundant.

 

[Webhead2006]

Well yea but we do got to remember by the look of things now with wb wanting to go the solo path like marvel has been doing for the marvel made films jla isnt likely to be happening to atless 2014 the earliest after getting gl/batman 3/superman reboot/etc... out between 2010-2014 range. And then the whole copyright thing for superman is still an issue and in 2013 wb could lose him but we dont know for sure on that untill its closer to the date shuster's heir goes to court against wb/dc. So if they do lose superman and we dont get jla before hand we will likely not see supes in it.

 

[FaT_tONle]

Well yea but we do got to remember by the look of things now with wb wanting to go the solo path like marvel has been doing for the marvel made films jla isnt likely to be happening to atless 2014 the earliest after getting gl/batman 3/superman reboot/etc... out between 2010-2014 range. And then the whole copyright thing for superman is still an issue and in 2013 wb could lose him but we dont know for sure on that untill its closer to the date shuster's heir goes to court against wb/dc. So if they do lose superman and we dont get jla before hand we will likely not see supes in it.

Thank God I am a Marvel guy...

 

[The Major]

A JLA film has the potential to be a lot more epic than The Avengers, I'd say.

It does if it's set up well.

Hopefully WB will be trying to do this.

Plus, it has the advantage of having Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman under one movie. We are talking about Huge icons here.

One of those icons isn't given the same treatment as the others. Can you guess which one?

So in essence, a JLA film sells itself, really.

True.

 

[I Am The Knight]

One of those icons isn't given the same treatment as the others. Can you guess which one?

Aha. I wonder (pun intended) if WB is still trying to spinoff WW from the JLA film. So far they have GL, Bats, Superman, and according to Latino Review, also The Flash as their next comic adaptations. No mention of WW. Perhaps they still believe they should introduce her in JLA, as was apparently intended before?

Personally, I think she should be put ahead of The Flash as the next superhero movie after Superman in 2012. Hopefully not with the Galester in mind.

 

[The Major]

Aha. I wonder (pun intended) if WB is still trying to spinoff WW from the JLA film. So far they have GL, Bats, Superman, and according to Latino Review, also The Flash as their next comic adaptations. No mention of WW. Perhaps they still believe they should introduce her in JLA, as was apparently intended before?

Sadly, you're probably right.

Personally, I think she should be put ahead of The Flash as the next superhero movie after Superman in 2012. Hopefully not with the Galester in mind.

Agreed.