Should James Wan be in charge of shaping the DCEU?

[writer0327]

I can't tell you how excited I was leaving the theater this past weekend. After seeing that post-credit scene, I had a feeling that we are getting an amazing AQ sequel, but then I started getting excited about the next DCEU film on the horizon and beyond that. It was the exact same feeling I had after watching Captain America: Winter Soldier, which at that time I felt was the best film in the MCU. Now it has me thinking....that film was was helmed by the Russos, and now after this film has given me a similar excitement about the universe, I am wondering if this is a situation where Wan should step in and help guide the entire DCEU. Like the Russos have done with Marvel since then, doing Civil War and then Avengers IW and EG.

Wan has already either built or made major contributions to several film universes with Saw, F&F, Insidious, and the Conjuring. The guy clearly knows what he's doing, he is a trusted and gifted creator who hasn't made many missteps and the DCEU needs that sort of universe-building vision. I'm sure he will get the Aquaman sequel, but what about Justice League 2? Why not hand that to Wan as well and let him continue the rebuild?

 

[harlequinade]

Yes

*that image of Wan as religious icon*

 

[COCOS]

well first of all he need to direct aquaman Sequel, as for Justice league 2 there's no need for that,until we have that batman & Flash Movie

batman is a crucial menber off justice league & the whole ben affleck situation is a huge mess, i doubt reeve's care about following a franchise, he want his own take,his own batman

i mean this batman situation is a mess

 

[Juan1193]

James Wan and Patty Jenkins were gifts from the comic gods! I feel like we already have a sort of vision in place with Walter Hamada in charge. It seems like he's focusing on building the solo heroes (Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Shazam... Soon Flash/Batman) and establishing a strong brand with the GA in order to truly dive deep into the DCU (ie Blue Beetle, New Gods...etc).

 

[frankgutz]

God bless Hamada

 

[FunkMiller]

No.

Because they shouldn’t be bothering with a DCEU anymore.

Solo movies.

Concentrate on them.

 

[kguillou]

Have to agree with @m1ll3r, focus on solo movies with their own creative visions.

But.

IF they give JL 2 another go in the near future, give that movie to Wan. He'd go to town on it.

 

[Mindreaper21]

While I love what he did for Aquaman, I have to say no. Just give me Aquaman 2, The Batman, the Harley Quinn movie and end the DCEU. I honestly loved a lot of the things that Zack was doing with the DCEU, but the biggest problem for me is that he had too many ideas to fit in such a small time frame. So for James to just come in and mold it into his Universe just make matters worse.
I especially don't want James to touch Superman, because I'm pretty sure he'll just mold Cavill's Superman into some Donner rehash along with the underwear in some form judging by his approach to comic films. I'm a bit nervous about anyone touching Cavill's Superman again because of what was done to him in JL.
What I would want is a new universe with James producing where major characters get their own films and interconnects only by easter eggs and cameos. I'll still be down for Green Lantern then reboot The Flash and Superman (hopefully with some unique material) to start. I'll even take a Martian Manhunter movie.
The next time a JL movie is even considered, I'd rather it be an animated cinematic film.

 

[Greenlite]

To be fair we should give Johns and Berg some credits, saw their names on the screen, they were in charge when Wan went through the production smoothly.

I'd have Wan do some of his little pet projects before returning to Aquaman 2, this could take 4-5 years to happen.

I wrote this in the Henry Cavill thread, ?maybe at the box office thread here as well? For JL2 to happen, they've got WW and AM sorted, they will get a Shazam and hopefully good, and he can bring The Rock with him when JL2 finally happens in a few years, they will get a great Batman soon, they've basically got to get Flash, GLC, Sup and Cyborg right.

They still have directors for Flash, hopefully AM gives WB the confidence to greenlight that finally, I'd personally add Cyborg in there, so you get a new IP with bi-cultural chemistry, buddy dynamic, and you could have time-travel + whatever Cyborg does (space? internet Tron style? etc) and GA obviously ate that up with AM (new IP/big scale/fresh takes/don't mind JL members from 2017).

Also you get a chance to build goodwill like AM did, for both characters, and give Ray a chance for a spin off and tell his story.

Then you could get GLC going, AM should encourage them to go for it, in fact they've already got Johns on the script, after Tom Cruise requested a rewrite (coincidence?). With a team of diversity and real space opera, and a movie star that will make you bank in Asia, they should really work hard to get this right.

Then WB will probably make that Supergirl movie, and you get Superman as a support, with Cavill or not, then you have the whole JL ready.

It really only takes 3 films - Flash, GLC, Supergirl, you probably would have had AM2 by then (Shazam/Bat already released), you could probably have SS2 and some Harley movies out already, and hopefully the brand is positive again, then you make that Supervillain team vs superheroes, the film should be a fun and successful one IF they build it right

Imagine if you have a string of nice hits like AM, Shazam, Joker, BOP, WW84, Batman, New Gods, Flash, SS2, GLC, Supergirl etc taking you through to 2023? 5+ years of goodwill, if you market it right and make a good film, GA will come.

So ya, I'd get Wan to be a consultant or producer for at least Flash and GLC, he's already pal with Hamada anyway.

I'd give Patty the gig after WW84 and her own pet projects, and give Wan the 3rd JL film way down the line if he wants to do something different. Or he can take the JL2 if things work out, that'd be longer maybe in 6-7 years time

 

[Primal Slayer]

What happened to Patty being in charge of the DCEU?

But in all seriousness, I'd probably use him to consult on the look of the DCEU and make things more practical just as I'd use Patty to consult on the overall story, Snyder on the mythology, etc

 

[writer0327]

What happened to Patty being in charge of the DCEU?

But in all seriousness, I'd probably use him to consult on the look of the DCEU and make things more practical just as I'd use Patty to consult on the overall story, Snyder on the mythology, etc

Snyder won't touch this thing any longer, I think the ideas he had were good but just badly executed. Besides the fact that he is just a hell of a film maker, I feel Wan has a solid grasp on how to flesh out a universe and understands character development. He should oversee the franchise. I like Patty as well but Wan's resume is just better.

 

[frankgutz]

He was really good with the Insidious/The Conjuring franchise so i would probably be pleased but he doesnt seem like he wants to tbh

 

[writer0327]

He was really good with the Insidious/The Conjuring franchise so i would probably be pleased but he doesnt seem like he wants to tbh

So I have heard. But you know the old saying....money talks.

 

[frankgutz]

So I have heard. But you know the old saying....money talks.

oh well, i would be pleased with at least 2 more AQ films if he doesnt want to do that, one thing im sure is WB wont let him go

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

I have full faith that if Wan took on the role he'd do a great job. But I don't believe that would increase the chances of us seeing a JL2 until at least ten years after the last one.

 

[Mysteryman]

His job was to direct Aquaman.
He was very successful in that effort.
Wan doesn't have to do anything else.

 

[Mysteryman]

I have full faith that if Wan took on the role he'd do a great job. But I don't believe that would increase the chances of us seeing a JL2 until at least ten years after the last one.

Ten years sounds like a good idea to me.

 

[frankgutz]

Ten years sounds like a good idea to me.

same, there's a lot of shuperheroe origins/sequels they can do first

 

[Greenlite]

I think the fact Wan’s pal is running the DCEU kinda helps his chances of involving in this universe more.

Like he is already helping out Swamp things. He seems like a fanboy excited for these kinda things.

If he doesn’t end up with team up films later, maybe we will get a copy of the conjuring universe - spin offs called AnnaBrine, AnnaTrench, The Fisherman king prequel just for Visionvision....=P

Maybe he is expressing reservation about the sequel and other projects because...that’s how you negotiate for better deals...he almost walked out of AM when ZS’ movie was hacked.

I could see him choosing to produce AM 2 or 3 and do another cheaper project, say JL Dark or SS...less headache with CGI.....

 

[Micromind]

I think many film directors would be wary of taking up responsibility of overseeing an integrated cohesive DCEU, it a full time job, directors don't usually want to be Producers for 10 movies that will be released over a period of 5 years.

If Wan is willing to direct/ Produce Aquaman sequels and one or two other DC franchises, then it might be manageable, I don't see him taking up a Fiege like position at WB alone. He is more of a Director than a Producer. Same for Patty Jenkins.

Ideally a core team of consisting of creative heads and people who have experience producing movies and couple of directors together should be taking up this responsibility, instead of just one person.

I think team of Hamada, Wan (if he is willing) and Geoff Johns can work, at least for next few DC movies, they can add / remove some people as they go ahead.

 

[Poppy]

Nope he shouldn't. Making a movie let alone a trilogy must be hard enough, I don't think one man or woman, no matter how good their solo films are, can handle this responsability.
I know people will say "Feige did it" but the Marvel flicks end up all looking and sounding the same, which makes their universe less appealing imo.

The writers, when doing a solo flick, must be careful not to add or take out a major plot point. They have to be careful about what the other heroes are doing generally. But that's about it.

 

[JOE]

So far DC's greatest success financial and critically, post Nolan, have been WW and AM... Both have little to no world-building. They've found their niche, need to stick with it. A JL2 movie isn't out of the question, but they need to establish more characters with solid origin stories first. I think Shazam will be a hit, seems like a very enjoyable fun movie.

 

[rebellion]

So far DC's greatest success financial and critically, post Nolan, have been WW and AM... Both have little to no world-building. They've found their niche, need to stick with it. A JL2 movie isn't out of the question, but they need to establish more characters with solid origin stories first. I think Shazam will be a hit, seems like a very enjoyable fun movie.

AM has little to no worldbuilding? :/

 

[Iceman]

I have full faith that if Wan took on the role he'd do a great job. But I don't believe that would increase the chances of us seeing a JL2 until at least ten years after the last one.

10 years, wow! That is a hell of a long time lol. The length of the entire MCU to date.

The only issue with that is that some of those who would be good for it like Gadot and Momoa would have already had a decade where they could have been involved and will be that much older by the time it and its sequels come around. I would hope 5-7 years is realistic if we get a string of hits with the next few films, particularly in the solo films of other Leaguers.

 

[Iceman]

So far DC's greatest success financial and critically, post Nolan, have been WW and AM... Both have little to no world-building. They've found their niche, need to stick with it. A JL2 movie isn't out of the question, but they need to establish more characters with solid origin stories first. I think Shazam will be a hit, seems like a very enjoyable fun movie.

I think you mean little to no crossing-over (a throwaway JL reference in AM, a reference to Bruce Wayne and the photo in WW), as they have plenty of world-building.