DC Films The DC Studios News and Discussion Thread

[flickchick85]

Supergirl is her own character (my favorite female DC hero in fact), so I’m BEYOND thrilled to be getting her outta the gate on this one. That was wildly unexpected in the best way for me. Especially since they’re adapting the best comic she’s ever had. If it weren’t for the mid director choice, that would be my #1 most-anticipated project in this whole venture. It’s still pretty high up there though.

 

[flickchick85]

This. The Marvel equivalent of what Gunn is doing now would have been Marvel Studios starting out their cinematic Universe with Morbius, Madame Web and Kraven.

Sorry but this is hyperbolic nonsense.

 

[TheGDBatman]

MCU didnt have a choice. And they were "A-list" Marvel characters in the comics as being part of that little known group known as Avengers. Clayface, Creatures Commando are not the same as Captain America, Iron Man, or Thor.

Sure, but I'm talking about familiarity for the general audience. A-list for Marvel means basically nothing if 90% of non-comic book people don't know who the characters are.

 

[Comicbookguy339]

Sorry but this is hyperbolic nonsense.

I'm not so much referring to the quality but how obscure the characters are, especially to the general audience.

 

[flickchick85]

I'm not so much referring to the quality but how obscure the characters are, especially to the general audience.

Superman, Supergirl and the Lanterns are not as obscure as D-List Spider-Man villains, no. The only one I could see tracking on that is Clayface, and if we get an awesome and likely successful horror flick out of it, who cares?

 

[Comicbookguy339]

Superman, Supergirl and the Lanterns are not as obscure as D-List Spider-Man villains, no. The only one I could see tracking on that is Clayface, and if we get an awesome and likely successful horror flick out of it, who cares?

But Clayface (as you said), Sgt. Rock, Swamp Thing and The Authority are.
And while Bane and Deathstroke are known Batman villains, I hardly think they need their own movie(s).

 

[flickchick85]

But Clayface (as you said), Sgt. Rock, Swamp Thing and The Authority are.
And while Bane and Deathstroke are known Batman villains, I hardly think they need their own movie(s).

Swamp Thing definitely not. He’s had movies and shows in the past. Sgt Rock, sure, but again, look at the actor/director combo. On a modest budget there’s no reason NOT to make what is almost guaranteed to be super interesting flick.

Bane and Deathstroke will do fine, together or separate. They are very popular villains with a lot of material to draw from.

The Authority’s an animated thing so obviously they won’t be breaking the bank on that. Those kinds of things have their audience. Look at Invincible.

 

[Comicbookguy339]

Swamp Thing definitely not. He’s had movies and shows in the past. Sgt Rock, sure, but again, look at the actor/director combo. On a modest budget there’s no reason NOT to make what is almost guaranteed to be super interesting flick.

Bane and Deathstroke will do fine, together or separate. They are very popular villains with a lot of material to draw from.

The Authority’s an animated thing so obviously they won’t be breaking the bank on that. Those kinds of things have their audience. Look at Invincible.

Since when? They even have one of the characters showing up in Superman.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

An important distinction is also that Sony's movies were terrible and these hopefully won't be. You'll note that the Venom series (who, admittedly, is actually an enormously popular character which people severely underestimated in the build up to the first movie), movies that have a huge fandom regardless of how you may feel about them and were clearly the best of the SUMC by a huge margin, were substantial successes.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

Furthermore, are we really pretending that doing the big names would be guaranteed successes? We can argue 'til the cows come home about how much superhero fatigue is real or not but the landscape is unarguably different now. It's far harder to predict what will and won't be a success. Superman, one of the biggest names out there, could be a mega hit or a complete disaster and neither would be surprising. Let alone the other big DC names who - apart from Batman and Wonder Woman - are more famous for name/costume recognition than actually beloved icons.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

An important distinction is also that Sony's movies were terrible and these hopefully won't be. You'll note that the Venom series (who, admittedly, is actually an enormously popular character which people severely underestimated in the build up to the first movie), movies that have a huge fandom regardless of how you may feel about them and were clearly the best of the SUMC by a huge margin, were substantial successes.

Yeah, I expect a lot of these to be good. All except Supergirl really. Whether they are financial success is another matter, though smaller budgets help that. Honestly wonder how much of this is a Zaslav mandate. Smaller budgets, so Gunn is going to the characters that don't need massive budgets. Their biggest domestic financial success of the year, almost didn't happen do to Zaslav squeezing the budget.

 

[flickchick85]

Since when? They even have one of the characters showing up in Superman.

The DCU leaks guy (literally the only scooper I personally trust) said so a few weeks ago. And yeah, the DCU characters are in animation and live-action, as Gunn keeps emphasizing even though I wish he wouldn’t.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

Yeah, I expect a lot of these to be good. All except Supergirl really. Whether they are financial success is another matter, though smaller budgets help that. Honestly wonder how much of this is a Zaslav mandate. Smaller budgets, so Gunn is going to the characters that don't need massive budgets. Their biggest domestic financial success of the year, almost didn't happen do to Zaslav squeezing the budget.

I'm sure there's plenty of Zaslav chicanery BTS regarding the DCU but the slate really does feel like Gunn's natural inclination to me. Reducing budgets and shooting shots like doing the classic low risk high reward horror budget with Clayface is genuinely a sensible strategy.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

The DCU leaks guy (literally the only scooper I personally trust) said so a few weeks ago. And yeah, the DCU characters are in animation and live-action, as Gunn keeps emphasizing even though I wish he wouldn’t.

"Everything is gonna have it's own unique flavour so creatives can do what they like but also everything is my idea and is going to be exactly the same" - James Gunn, possibly uncharitably paraphased.

 

[flickchick85]

"Everything is gonna have it's own unique flavour so creatives can do what they like but also everything is my idea and is going to be exactly the same" - James Gunn, possibly uncharitably paraphased.

I mean to be fair it seems like he’s greenlighting pitches from other filmmakers doing their own thing though. That’s 100% what Clayface and Sgt. Rock are. And probably the Bane/Deathstroke thing too. I think part of his job when hired (and would have been the job of WHOEVER was hired) was to have a handful of his own projects ready to pitch so of course they would fall in line with his sensibilities.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I'm sure there's plenty of Zaslav chicanery BTS regarding the DCU but the slate really does feel like Gunn's natural inclination to me. Reducing budgets and shooting shots like doing the classic low risk high reward horror budget with Clayface is genuinely a sensible strategy.

Oh, I think Gunn is cool with this. I just think the slate being so full of it, reeks of keep the budget down and this is a lot better way of keeping the budget down then making cheap looking Flash or Wonder Woman.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

I mean to be fair it seems like he’s greenlighting pitches from other filmmakers doing their own thing though. That’s 100% what Clayface and Sgt. Rock are. And probably the Bane/Deathstroke thing too. I think part of his job when hired (and would have been the job of WHOEVER was hired) was to have a handful of his own projects ready to pitch so of course they would fall in line with his sensibilities.

Oh, for sure. I actually don't have any issue with Gunn's choices of projects on paper.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

Oh, I think Gunn is cool with this. I just think the slate being so full of it, reeks of keep the budget down and this is a lot better way of keeping the budget down then making cheap looking Flash or Wonder Woman.

Are you excited for the Wonder Woman reboot as directed by a man??? But it's okay, maybe it'll be a man who normally makes movies about women so that's almost as good.

(Yes, I'm still mad about Supergirl)

 

[Snow Queen]

He says the right things when it comes to creative freedom. We'll see how it plays out. The creatives involved are a mixed bag of sorts. I think pitching the DCU on not just being live action movies and live action shows, but animated movies, animated shows, and video games is exceptionally funny. The production cycle of a video game in particular will likely extend past WB's next merger.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Are you excited for the Wonder Woman reboot as directed by a man??? But it's okay, maybe it'll be a man who normally makes movies about women so that's almost as good.

(Yes, I'm still mad about Supergirl)

Being told it's a me probably is going to result me eventually be banned. I'm okay with it.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

He says the right things when it comes to creative freedom. We'll see how it plays out. The creatives involved are a mixed bag of sorts. I think pitching the DCU on not just being live action movies and live action shows, but animated movies, animated shows, and video games is exceptionally funny. The production cycle of a video game in particular will likely extend past WB's next merger.

I think we will get some very creative led projects. How many of those exist? We'll see. I guess it depends on how the first 18 months go. I'm curious how audience react to this.

 

[J.Drangal]

I think what many imagine as the DCU, that shared universe with films that directly complement each other is, in the end, mainly Gunn's projects like Superman, Supergirl, Peacemaker, etc. The way I see it, he's more or less continuing his little corner he already had under the DCEU but with now a way bigger sandbox.
And alongside this, there are the more filmmaker-oriented films that, while not totally separate, don't need to be specifically referenced by each other.

And I think it's fine.

Like @flickchick85, I don't need all these films to be in a continuity, I just want them to be unique and good. And for that, it needs filmmakers with passion projects and/or the freedom to put their own stamp on them.
If, eventually, someone wants to do the crossover later, let them work out the artistic concessions to be made for this event film.

------

On the audience side, apart from fan communities, I sincerely don't think there's a gigantic expectation of seeing Flash, Aquaman, the Justice League or even Superman (that may be an unpopular take but I assume ) coming back to the screen. The public's attention isn't automatic, it's something you have to grab. And like many non-licensed, 100% original films, clear concepts like Clayface are perfectly prone to attracting attention, regardless of whether these characters are popular or not.

In the end, the DCU slate of films only seems random if you're watching it through Marvel Studios lenses.
I think this could lead to multiple fresh films, which are what the genre desperately needs... Ironically, and speaking more subjectively, all my favorite CBMs predate the “golden age” led by the Nolan Batman trilogy and the MCU, so I have no problem going back to an approach that could lead to films like Batman Returns, Spider-Man, MIB, V for Vendetta, Constantine, etc.

Anyway, just my two cents.

 

[dhandler01]

This universe is DOA if instead of establishing the big players they just throw out all these obscure and disparate characters.

And you know this how?

He has said he isn't making this episodic like the MCU...and I highly doubt the films are being greenlit only cause of his specific tastes. The things greenlit are the things ready to go. They also tend to be cheaper. (Outside Superman obviously)

 

[dhandler01]

Yeah it does not excite me one bit.

DCEU gave us our first WW film, our first Aquaman film, our first SS film, our Flash film....yes most of them lacked but they were characters that excited me and now they seem like "they've had their chance and if you arent a Bat or Super....we'll go with the oddball"

Paradise Lost was announced when this verse was "announced" and its still "in development".....with no other WW projects coming out anytime soon.

At least give me a Black Canary/Birds of Prey proper film. Or a Vixen film/series. Or a Catwoman film



Batman has a whole other universe film so of course he isnt required right outta the gate.

So...you want films that aren't ready to be forced to be ready on your timetable so you are more excited? And you don't think that will turn out badly?

Wasn't the reason we were told the former universe didn't work was because it was rushed and the studio forced projects that weren't ready yet? Seems like you are advocating for that...

 

[Sawyer]

So...you want films that aren't ready to be forced to be ready on your timetable so you are more excited? And you don't think that will turn out badly?

Wasn't the reason we were told the former universe didn't work was because it was rushed and the studio forced projects that weren't ready yet? Seems like you are advocating for that...

Finally, someone in this thread who isn’t letting their cynicism cloud everything else.