Timeline of shared universe

[Thundercrack85]

A lot has been said for the idea of a shared DC universe. So, a natural question follows, if they started a shared universe (one not necessarily incorporating the existing film franchises) what would the timeline look like? In such a universe, who, which hero would come first? Or would superheroes be old news?

 

[Rockstar]

Such a thing is impossible with the way things are right now at WB.


The most I'm hoping for it's a Batman/Superman film someday, since Batman and Superman are WB/DC's only superhero film franchises.

 

[ЯɘvlveR]

I'd like to see the end of tdkr first. I'm of the opinion that superman arrives after whatever happens to gotham and bruce happens.

maybe you could even included Gl in the sense that what happen to coast city happened around the time that gotham is being turned to ashes ( if it is to be turned into ashes) showing that the world is changing for the worse, with the hero's showing up for the better.

 

[Thundercrack85]

I don't know if you could incorporate Nolan's Batman universe. I suppose you could. I certainly hope they wouldn't incorporate the Green Lantern film they've made. Much rather pretend that never happened.

I should clarify, I meant in a shared universe period, not necessarily in a shared universe using the two existing film franchises (if you could call Green Lantern a film franchise).

 

[jmc]

As Rockstar mentioned the set up at WB means such a plan is more or less impossible to execute. In a perfect world DC has their own production company.

 

[The Guard]

Ideally?

Batman and Superman movies come out the same year. They're the first two heroes to show up.

Flash and Green Lantern movies come out the same year.

Wonder Woman and Aquaman movies come out the same year.

The Justice League movie comes out the next year, along with Batman and Superman sequels.

 

[ЯɘvlveR]

I don't know if you could incorporate Nolan's Batman universe. I suppose you could. I certainly hope they wouldn't incorporate the Green Lantern film they've made. Much rather pretend that never happened.

I should clarify, I meant in a shared universe period, not necessarily in a shared universe using the two existing film franchises (if you could call Green Lantern a film franchise).

which is why i think nolan's bats needs to be seen like the first superhero. the nolanverse can make sense if it existed prior to anyone knowing about all of the other characters.

as far as green lantern, you won't get a dispute from me that it was terrible, but i still think you can incorporate it much like TIH was included in the avengers. it happened, just move on from it. if you want to recast Hal, that'd be fine too.

 

[metaphysician]

I wouldn't tie in a shared universe with any existing movies. The Nolan Bat films are too hard to fit by this point, Green Lantern sucked, and the rest are too old.

Starting from scratch, I'd probably have Superman as the first super hero of the modern era, with Batman predating him by a short while ( a year or two ), but more or less entirely within the shadows. After that, the deluge.

 

[ЯɘvlveR]

while staying true to the comics, superman existing before makes batman unnecessary in a world with a superman on the big screen imo. he's got super speed, super strength x-ray vision, heat vision, freeze breath. he can do anything. the only way it works on screen is if bats is the mentor, default general. the guy who's been there because, he really doesn't offer much by comparison to the other heroes.


i think they have a great opportunity to make it all work.

i prefer that they leave bats indisposed.

have him show up in a world's finest, then have kal-el go on in search of remnants of krypton/kryptonians, whatever. give him a vacation from earth. he shows up in a JL film.

have the next GL film set in space as well.

Let the flash supplant bats as the terrestrial guardian, "knight" of central city.

introduce wondy and aquaman in a WW VS Aquaman film. have wondy be an ambassador, and have aquaman be the villain fighting from an environmentalist angle. maybe have bats help her out in someway. they settle their differences, become allies and the **** hits the fan for a JL film.

 

[Thundercrack85]

Not necessarily. Superman may be very powerful, but he's only one person. And how likely is he to deal with things such as police corruption, urban decay, petty crime, etc? Superman is the guy who deals with major threats to the entire world. Small time stuff for him is saving airplanes, and foiling terrorist plots. Batman, at least, early in his career, deals with more mundane issues.

 

[ЯɘvlveR]

and that's why, in a world with an impending global threat like we would imagine in a JL film, he seems unnecessary.

 

[Thundercrack85]

No, he's necessary. In fact, he could be a response to heroes like Superman. The unsung hero who deals with problems they can't, don't, or won't.

 

[ЯɘvlveR]

superman wasn't the reason he became a hero.

i think you're missing the point. this is about the bigger picture.

I'm talking about a world with the JL. this isn't about starting from scratch and bruce becoming batman. if that's what they'd want, then that's what they'll do.

my point is, that on a team of superheroes, his super power, is experience. that's what would make him necessary. that's what he would have over the super strong, super fast, flying heroes. otherwise, what does he have to add to the party if superman and wondy etc are just as seasoned as he is?

 

[Thundercrack85]

No, but in a shared universe with other heroes, having him be that character (which he already is), and empathize him being the normal human, concerned with human affairs, would make sense.

As for what he brings to the table, resources, information, his own mind. This the guy who carries kryptonite around in his belt. He's useful.

 

[ЯɘvlveR]

all of the heroes are concerned with human affairs. the fact that he's human does not give him a premium or some sort of seniority when dealing with as big the threats that the JL deals with are.

i can't buy that approach on screen. to me, he needs to be the veteran for me to believe that he has a reason to be around all of these superpowered superheroes.

 

[Thundercrack85]

He can be a veteran, sure. But he can't be the first hero. Unless Clark Kent did nothing heroic until after college.

 

[ЯɘvlveR]

why can't he be the first hero? because he showed up a year after superman did in the comics? i think that's a ridiculous thought to be honest. the supes lore could just as simply be seen as myth until it isn't, and the world knows him as superman. the films don't have to be strickly based on the source material either. i don't know why that would be such a turn off.

 

[Thundercrack85]

Assuming they're around the same age? I guess it depends on what you want to do with the character. But it's rather hard to believe that Clark Kent would go most of his life without making the news (though not necessarily as the hero named Superman). Especially in his teen years. Even as a kid he had all his superpowers, something most heroes don't.

 

[ЯɘvlveR]

who's to say they wouldn't have found out who he is then? i mean if we're gonna go based on that, were just gonna pretend that the army wouldn't have been searching for some kid saving people from tornadoes and such? he would have been on their radar, and they would hve been searching hell and high water for him. regardless of his powers, i would have a hard time believe they wouldn't have found out he was clark.

either way I'm basing all this on my assumption (or wish if you must) that the nolan, bale and the nolan verse is retained within the bigger JL verse. its what's happened. before superman, wondy the flash, so it seems more plausible that those characters exist after the advent of batman.

 

[Thundercrack85]

I'd have to see the next film to tell. But I'm very doubtful that they would use Nolan's Batman franchise, especially since Nolan is opposed to it. And that's assuming Bale would even be up for it. Not to mention the Superman film...

But yeah, it doesn't have to be too involved. It could be something as simple as showing a collection of newspaper clippings on strange sightings of a boy / young adult saving people. I would actually like to see a movie focusing on Clark Kent's childhood. But for just a straight movie focusing on adult Superman, the League, etc, it doesn't have to be too detailed.

Or indeed just that, have some high ranking government / military official (or someone like Waller) comment on how many years they spent trying to track down said super-powered individual, and speculate that he and Superman are one in the same.

 

[ЯɘvlveR]

i don't expect nolan to be involved in any JL film, that was just my optimistic point of view, and my take on how i think it works best.

 

[Rockstar]

I think what Nolan said works best.


Keep the characters separate, in their own worlds.


No shared universe. It's too late for WB/DC to do one now. Ship has sailed.