What can DC/WB do now to move forward? Is there hope? - Part 1

[BH/HHH]

well, yes. wait a couple of years. make use of the time to plan the whole thing through. think about the goals they want to accomplish (asside from making tons of money), settle on a tone and a vision. map out how to get from A to B, what is needed, what is to be avoided. learn from what they did wrong (which is a lot). and when (if) they have figured that out, then get talent on board that share the vision, share a love for the characters (without the need to deconstruct them) and start new. have a concept first.

So you'd stick with a shared universe? I would too but I think if WBs did give up on the DCEU they'd end up making Batman solos again and probably wait a bit longer for another crack at Superman. Although I imagine they'd probably green light a Superman TV show cause they've always been succesful for WBs. They'd return to the norm which would be disapointing although a Superman solo series would be the best thing for me as I think Superheroes work better on TV.

 

[Dasher10]

Looks like Ben Affleck doesn't want to be associated with a flop. Both Flash directors have quit despite the release date not being affected. I'm hearing terrible rumors about Wonder Woman and Justice League. DC have no idea what they're doing and need to take a few years off just so they can refocus. I think that Aquaman is the only one that looks like it'll be any good.

 

[BH/HHH]

Rumours which are that rumours.

Also I doubt an Affleck solo Batman would flop. Regardless of what you think of the DCEU financially none of the films have flopped.

 

[The Joker]

well, yes. wait a couple of years. make use of the time to plan the whole thing through. think about the goals they want to accomplish (asside from making tons of money), settle on a tone and a vision. map out how to get from A to B, what is needed, what is to be avoided. learn from what they did wrong (which is a lot). and when (if) they have figured that out, then get talent on board that share the vision, share a love for the characters (without the need to deconstruct them) and start new. have a concept first.

This. Build up the universe with solo movies like the MCU did. Make audiences care about the characters before shoving a bunch of them together into one movie.

Looks like Ben Affleck doesn't want to be associated with a flop. Both Flash directors have quit despite the release date not being affected. I'm hearing terrible rumors about Wonder Woman and Justice League. DC have no idea what they're doing and need to take a few years off just so they can refocus. I think that Aquaman is the only one that looks like it'll be any good.

At this stage I wouldn't even bet on Aquaman. People thought David Ayer and SS looked promising, and that turned out to be muck.

 

[Osiris-Rex]

So you'd stick with a shared universe? I would too but I think if WBs did give up on the DCEU they'd end up making Batman solos again and probably wait a bit longer for another crack at Superman. Although I imagine they'd probably green light a Superman TV show cause they've always been succesful for WBs. They'd return to the norm which would be disapointing although a Superman solo series would be the best thing for me as I think Superheroes work better on TV.

WB already has a TV show with Superman characters airing on the CW. I doubt they would want to have two on at the same time.

 

[ohiostate124]

It's to late for this to work now imo but I would really like it if DC started the cinematic universe with a Justice League movie. Have them all come together for the first time to face whatever threat. Preferably repeling Darkseid but not actually beating him. Similar to JL War. Then you could break off into solo films.

 

[2kt09]

This. Build up the universe with solo movies like the MCU did. Make audiences care about the characters before shoving a bunch of them together into one movie.

IM -> MoS (prefer IM)
IM2 -> BvS (prefer BvS, watches IM2 for the action bits)
GOTG -> Skwad (prefer Deadpool)
Thor & TFA -> WW
The Avengers -> Justice League

At this stage I wouldn't even bet on Aquaman. People thought David Ayer and SS looked promising, and that turned out to be muck.

Spoiler

Accurate representation of the troubled Aquaman production wait

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

At this stage I wouldn't even bet on Aquaman. People thought David Ayer and SS looked promising, and that turned out to be muck.

At this point nobody should assume that a particular DCEU movie is going to be good. They have to prove themselves first.

 

[MbJ]

Imo the Snyders are fully aware why BVS was panned....however it's unlikely you'll get a lot of directors admit publically 'Hey I made a **** movie'.

I think they seem to be at least superficially aware. You had Irons claiming the script for Justice League is way more linear and coherent than BVS' and of course everyone promising up and down that Justice League will not be as bleak as BVS.

The movie being disjointed and confusing and being too dark were only part of the problem and I still doubt this will make for a good film, but it does seem like they get at least some of what went wrong, they just aren't gonna publically come out and say it.

 

[2kt09]

I think they seem to be at least superficially aware. You had Irons claiming the script for Justice League is way more linear and coherent than BVS' and of course everyone promising up and down that Justice League will not be as bleak as BVS.

The movie being disjointed and confusing and being too dark were only part of the problem and I still doubt this will make for a good film, but it does seem like they get at least some of what went wrong,

That's about all of that went wrong according to the majority.
As soon as they start addressing specifics, it'll be BvS all over again with a different coat of paint. Heck, Skwad is testament enough to that.

they just aren't gonna publically come out and say it.

Obviously...even David Ayer couldn't delve further or risk his working relationship with the studio let alone his career elsewhere.

 

[TheVileOne]

David Ayer did the right thing for his career. Even with all the bad reviews. He didn't go rogue like Josh Trank.

 

[Erzengel]

This. Build up the universe with solo movies like the MCU did. Make audiences care about the characters before shoving a bunch of them together into one movie.

As long as the solo movies aren't rehashed origin movies, I'd be fine with that.

 

[Limonade]

At this point nobody should assume that a particular DCEU movie is going to be good. They have to prove themselves first.

Yup. I feel that they're essentially back at the starting line 3 movies in.

"Forget MoS, SS, and BvS... WW and JL are the true start of the DCEU!"

 

[Zarex]

At this stage I wouldn't even bet on Aquaman.

They've got the right director, but I am concerned about the lack of proven BO stars, Aquaman's poor reputation among the GA and the potential for budget overruns. Recreating underwater action sequences ain't going to be cheap.

 

[Boom]

It won't happen, but WB management needs to have serious discussions about setting up a proper DCEU subdivision.

 

[BH/HHH]

WB already has a TV show with Superman characters airing on the CW. I doubt they would want to have two on at the same time.

I'm talking in a few years, Superman and TV has been majorly successful for WBs over the years.

 

[2kt09]

It won't happen, but WB management needs to have serious discussions about setting up a proper DCEU subdivision.

DC Films headed by Johns and Berg is already a thing. erected in the spring of 2016.

 

[Boom]

DC Films headed by Johns and Berg is already a thing. erected in the spring of 2016.

It is actually a full-blown subdivision though? My understanding was that he was hired to oversee the DC film projects at WB, but that there isn't a studio specifically dedicated to those films.

 

[Frodo]

As someone who's been following the development of these WB/DC products since 1997, this recent bit of drama over the projects actually doesn't surprise me. Whether it be Superman lives, The original BvS Asylum , Batman Year one, Superman fly by , JLA Mortal, The original WW scripts etc, this sort of stop and starting musical chairs stuff is classic WB.

Nolan was an aberration as opposed to the norm . I guess i'm not freaking out as alot of other fanboys are because this is sort of what they, WB, does. If anything it was bit out of character for them to greenlight a bunch of projects and put them into production instead of having the success of one film determine the fate of others.

Superman vs Hollywood and Holy Franchise Batman are two good books pretty much devoted to the troubles WB has had the past 20 years getting these projects off the ground.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

They've got the right director, but I am concerned about the lack of proven BO stars, Aquaman's poor reputation among the GA and the potential for budget overruns. Recreating underwater action sequences ain't going to be cheap.

The lack of proven stars doesn't really concern me, as much as that Jason Momoa isn't a very good actor. Watching him on Frontier sure didn't do anything to change my mind that he can be an effective lead. As a supporting character in an ensemble he could probably do okay, but I have no confidence in him carrying his own solo film.

 

[2kt09]

It is actually a full-blown subdivision though? My understanding was that they were hired to oversee the DC film projects at WB, but that there isn't a studio specifically dedicated to those films.

giving oversight of the feature projects to a pair of executives and creating a dedicated division for the films.

It's billed as a separate unit, wherein those two report back to their respective presidents (Berg with WB and Johns with DC). They'll have the most producer credit on the upcoming slate, not to mention Johns's other role as screenwriter on some of them.

 

[dodong27]

People are going crazy for no reason at all.
Either for attention or just to drag.. weird.

 

[Limonade]

As someone who's been following the development of these WB/DC products since 1997, this recent bit of drama over the projects actually doesn't surprise me. Whether it be Superman lives, The original BvS Asylum , Batman Year one, Superman fly by , JLA Mortal, The original WW scripts etc, this sort of stop and starting musical chairs stuff is classic WB.

Nolan was an aberration as opposed to the norm . I guess i'm not freaking out as alot of other fanboys are because this is sort of what they, WB, does. If anything it was bit out of character for them to greenlight a bunch of projects and put them into production instead of having the success of one film determine the fate of others.

Superman vs Hollywood and Holy Franchise Batman are two good books pretty much devoted to the troubles WB has had the past 20 years getting these projects off the ground.

Cool. I find this stuff fascinating as well. I'll check out your recommendations. Thanks!

 

[BH/HHH]

Cool. I find this stuff fascinating as well. I'll check out your recommendations. Thanks!

Superman vs Hollywood is fantastic would recommend it to anyone.

 

[CaptainWagner]

David Ayer did the right thing for his career. Even with all the bad reviews. He didn't go rogue like Josh Trank.

Which makes it so frustrating to see people trashing him and holding his comments at face value. But unfortuantely WB doesn't seem to be changing their attitude with Directors...