Why Bale and Routh arent part of the Justice League

[Steelsheen]

Robert Sanchez over at the IESB forums answered a whole bunch of questions about the Justice League project today, but the most interesting part of that it his rundown of what lead to the decision of why Bale and Routh are not reprising their respective roles for the movie.

SHHers were speculating about this for months, and for the most part we seem to have guessed right. nonetheless here's what Robert had to say about that:

• Is Brandon Routh part of JLA?

Nope, he told me during the Scream Awards that he was never approached plus he also told me that the other comic book project, Dylan Dog, is not green lit either, just in case you guys care.

• Is Chris Nolan pissed off about JLA and not going to do Batman 3?

Not only is Chris Nolan pissed off but also producers Greg Silverman and Charles Roven, they have been pissed for months about the whole Talia / Ra‘s Al Ghul/ storyline.

JLA was written with Christian Bale and Brandon Routh in mind but once the Nolan camp made it clear that they wanted nothing to do with an ensemble film at this time WB had no other choice but realize that they were going to have to recast Batman. So their reasoning was if they need to recast Bats then they will also recast Supes.


Like I have said in the past, Jeff Robinov and Dan Lin are not a fans of Superman Returns and there was initial thought that if a Bale/Routh Justice League film was done it would help re-invigorate the Superman Franchise and set up a return of a Bryan Singer directed The Man of Steel.

There was interest from the WB people to use Bryan Singer since he signed his very lucrative deal to direct the sequel. If he gets fired from TMOS, WB will have to pay him a lot of money. If he quits from the TMOS then they don’t have to pay him squat.

Something else to think about, does WB really want to piss off Bryan Singer considering that he has been asked to testify in the Superman/Siegel/WB lawsuit? I think not.


So with Bale/Nolan out and knowing that you were going to use a new Bats in JLA that is where Tom Welling came in, for a better part of the last 4-5 years there has been talks at WB about doing a Smallville film but with Bryan Singer casting Routh for Superman Returns that made the possibility a long shot. But with Justice League on the table the idea came back of getting Tom to play Supes on the big screen.

you can read the complete post here: http://www.iesb.net/index.php?optio...&id=2910&catid=20&limit=6&limitstart=186#3135

 

[Maze]

Not really the subject , but as a ps ,just wan't to add that ,

#3138
Robert Sanchez (Admin)

Admin

Posts: 292

Re:Justice league rumor control 7 Hours, 23 Minutes ago Karma: 2
Nolan is contracted to do three films and so is Christian Bale, they don't have much of a choice over it.

feel free to edit your post

 

[jmc]

I find it interesting that it's saying Nolan and Co. wanted nothing to do with JL at this time. Hmm, interesting, that begs the question, why the need to fast track JL?

 

[Showtime]

Alot of good info from Robert, per usual.

 

[dark_b]

I find it interesting that it's saying Nolan and Co. wanted nothing to do with JL at this time. Hmm, interesting, that begs the question, why the need to fast track JL?

simple.
1. because they are idots.
2. they want to make money.

i get it that they want to make money. but to piss on nolan ? why that>?

 

[rdh007]

Didn't they want to fast track JL because they've got a huge property in DC that they're making nothing on, BB and SR included? They have something they can make money on, and they're going to try--not sure I blame them.

 

[Crook]

So judging from that response, are we to assume that Bale isn't in JL largely due to Nolan being pissed about JL?

I did find it weird that up until a few months ago, Bale had never completely shot down any type of ensemble film. In fact, it kinda sounded like he was more than up for it. Then once JL is greenlit, he suddenly had the position of "they should wait until Nolan's thing is over".

Real stupid if this is even remotely true. I'm already ticked that Ra's didn't get his due, but now I can't even see Bats with the other heroes because one director refuses to share? Bleh.

 

[Hunter Rider]

I find it interesting that it's saying Nolan and Co. wanted nothing to do with JL at this time. Hmm, interesting, that begs the question, why the need to fast track JL?

Because WB want a franchise that can match numbers with Transformers and Spidey, plus this way they can introduce a lot of their characters in one go and create spin off movie revenue.

Real stupid if this is even remotely true. I'm already ticked that Ra's didn't get his due, but now I can't even see Bats with the other heroes because one director refuses to share? Bleh.

Bats will be in the movie just not Bale's bats, which i can live with.

 

[chamber-music]

I thought WB was rushing JLA into production before the whole Hollywood Strike everyone is taking.

Isn't Nolan and Bale contracted for 3 movies with the one of the 3 optioned as either a Batman and Superman team up or JLA movie.

I just think Nolan wants to tell his Batman story. He isn't really intrested in the other superheroes. Batman more suits his type of filmmaking. As for Bale he probabley wouldn't make a movie if the script wasn't good enough or he needed the money. Also he said he would only make Batman films if Nolan was there. He probabley doesn't want to play Batman in a JLA movie unless Nolan directs and nolan isn't intrested.

 

[Etienne]

Not only is Chris Nolan pissed off but also producers Greg Silverman and Charles Roven, they have been pissed for months about the whole Talia / Ra‘s Al Ghul/ storyline.

So Jett was right all along. (not that I didn't believe him)

 

[Etienne]

plus this way they can introduce a lot of their characters in one go and create spin off movie revenue.

With all do respect, I do not see "spin offs" happening, if JL is as big of a success as WB expects it to be you can bet that they (WB) will make JL 2, and 3.

 

[unknowndarkness]

So judging from that response, are we to assume that Bale isn't in JL largely due to Nolan being pissed about JL?

And by the same token, thats why Routh was booted off the project too.

They could have had a great film if they just waited.

Bale has an ensemble picture option in his contract. They could have kept Nolan's contract intact and renegotiated Bale into this.


No wonder the storyline of this syncs up with Batman Begins so well.

 

[unknowndarkness]

With all do respect, I do not see "spin offs" happening, if JL is as big of a success as WB expects it to be you can bet that they (WB) will make JL 2, and 3.

Yeah. JL sequels are likely what they'll do.

However, they could have easily had Bale and Routh as Batman and Superman in the first JL film.

Then for the sequels, change the league roster, (removing Bats and Supes to their respective franchaises) and keep it going with new DC characters after JL1 made the characters popular.

 

[Showtime]

With maybe only cameos by Supes and Bats.

 

[Steelsheen]

So judging from that response, are we to assume that Bale isn't in JL largely due to Nolan being pissed about JL?

I find it interesting that it's saying Nolan and Co. wanted nothing to do with JL at this time. Hmm, interesting, that begs the question, why the need to fast track JL?

Robert addresses these in his post. one of JL's main purpose was to reinvigorate the Superman franchise (and it wouldnt have hurt the Batman franchise either). it would've worked too, since we now know that its a kick ass script and the writing was tailor suited to Bale & Routh. but the monkey wrench that broke the whole thing was Nolan and the producers getting upset about the involvement of the Al Guls. given that they washed their hands of the matter it places Bale in a very awkward position: should he please his director that he still wants to work with in the future or the studio that signs his cheques? given how Bale is first and foremost a man of his craft he, out of professional courtesy, declines to be involved in the JL movie. i was right when i detected regret in Bale in one of the interviews about JL, the man wanted to be part of it, but the professional in him decided otherwise.

truthfully, i cannot see how the Nolan and the Batman producers can get upset about this. its not like Ras Al Gul was gonna be in the movie, its simply alluding to it that it could be him. i thought if anything they should be flattered that part of JL is inspired from their efforts. unless of course this whole debacle was over Talia.....

Not really the subject , but as a ps ,just wan't to add that

feel free to edit your post

its cool man, you post was right below mine

 

[unknowndarkness]

Yeah, or mentions of them offscreen. You dont really need them after they help establish JL in the first film.

Theres a whole universe of other DC characters to use, most of which will never get solo films and JL is their best chance to shine.

 

[Hunter Rider]

With all do respect, I do not see "spin offs" happening, if JL is as big of a success as WB expects it to be you can bet that they (WB) will make JL 2, and 3.

Oh yeah there'll be sequels but they are creating the awareness for the spin offs with the JLA franchise coming out first.

 

[Etienne]

A BOF Poster's Post

The fact THAT character appears in JL will connect it to BB, because of the character's history. It doesn't matter if the character interpretation is different, the general audience will associate BB (and TDK) with JL (which is what WB need to avoid). As over-used a character he may be, Lex Luthor would be an acceptable antagonist if you want a 'new' continuity.

 

[Steelsheen]

And by the same token, thats why Routh was booted off the project too.
They could have had a great film if they just waited.

Bale has an ensemble picture option in his contract. They could have kept Nolan's contract intact and renegotiated Bale into this.

i had this knot in my stomach for years that everthing hinges on Bale, that if for some reason Bale is unable to reprise Batman for any kind of ensemble movie, we could kiss Routh goodbye as well. for a long time i thought the biggest chance of that happening is that Bale would get bored and would simply say no (being a longtime fan i could kinda predict his temperament), so imagine my pleasant surprise when it looks like he was actually eager to do this ensemble piece.

i know that things dont always go according to plan, but this is one time that if they actually stuck to the plan, or made extra efforts to make it work, it would be like the stars aligning. ah well

 

[jmc]

I think I should have worded my post a little better, dah, of course they're doing it for money. t:

 

[ultimatefan]

if this stuff is true, just one more reason why I feel no excitement about this movie so far. I agree with Nolan, this is NOT the time to do an ensamble with Bats and Supes.

 

[Crook]

Bats will be in the movie just not Bale's bats, which i can live with.

Oh, I know. I just badly wanted to see Bale with the other heroes, since so for the most part, he's nailed the character. And the possibility that we'd have to settle with someone that's not as good as Bale, because of one selfish person, well that's just ridiculous.

Bale has an ensemble picture option in his contract. They could have kept Nolan's contract intact and renegotiated Bale into this.

Bale and Nolan have formed a bond, that I think overcame this all. It's clear Bale respects Nolan, and more than likely Nolan made his voice heard about the entire thing while the 2 were working together. Damn shame.

truthfully, i cannot see how the Nolan and the Batman producers can get upset about this. its not like Ras Al Gul was gonna be in the movie, its simply alluding to it that it could be him. i thought if anything they should be flattered that part of JL is inspired from their efforts. unless of course this whole debacle was over Talia.....

I don't even think it's that. I honestly do believe Nolan has something against Batman being surrounded by the supernatural. So by having Bats in the JL, it somehow dilutes Nolan's interpretation because everything has to be explained scientifically and whatnot.

Like I said, if it's true, it reeks of egocentric bullsh1t.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Oh, I know. I just badly wanted to see Bale with the other heroes, since so for the most part, he's nailed the character. And the possibility that we'd have to settle with someone that's not as good as Bale, because of one selfish person, well that's just ridiculous.

I'm looking at it like reading TLH and Trinity at the same time, two different arcs and two different Batman's, existing in two different worlds, one the crime noir world of the character and the other the superhero world.

 

[The Batman]

Dosent suprise me about Nolan. Nolan fanboys are selfish about Bats being in a JL film even though bats has been a mainstay in the JL longer than said fanboys have been alive...dosent surprise me nolan himself would be the same way

 

[Crook]

I'm looking at it like reading TLH and Trinity at the same time, two different arcs and two different Batman's, existing in two different worlds, one the crime noir world of the character and the other the superhero world.

I've got no problem with that, but they have the ideal actor already signed to them. So why even look any further? It's like knowing this perfect girl is ready to be your girlfriend, and you're forced to settle for someone else because your idiot best friend likes to be a cockblocker.







That's right. Nolan is a cockblocker.