great work stannis!
My DCEU is basically built around a huge filmed all at once trilogy of Crisis on Infinite Earths. I think my strategy, if they gave me the reigns now, would be a flock of mid-market films for spring and winter with only one or two tentpoles and a gaggle of TV shows.
Crisis on Infinite Earths: Secert Origins - Summer Year 1
- This would basically be all worldbuilding, as heroes from all over are pulled together and introduced to become our 'Fellowship.'
- The current DCEU, Flarrow/Supergirl.
- Starter League: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Cyborg, Aquaman, Flashes (make the second Flash stuck in time or something), Green Arrow, Firestorm, Hawkgirl, Martian Manhunter. Not a bad setup at all.
- Inspired by New World Order. Replace the Hyperclan with The Elite. The Justice League is the response.
- Reveal Starro as the ultimate Sauron-like enemy conquering multiple realities as the main thread, the foe, and how it takes over their loved ones is the thing that draws everyone together.
Crisis on Infinite Earths: Secret Crisis - Winter Year 1
- Add the DCUA-verse to the cast, via George Newbern, Kevin Conroy, Will Friedle and Phil LaMar reprising their Batman beyond characters.
- Add a John Stewart with a costume from the 2011 film. Perhaps, as comic relief.
- Add in Michael Keaton as a The Dark Knight Returns-inspired Bruce Wayne
- Add in Zatanna, Dr. Fate and Hawkman from Smallville verse.
- Add in The Watchmen, so that Starro's power is established by taking Dr. Manhattan
- One thread inspired by Tower of Babel perhaps with Keaton in the Ra's Role
- Another thread inspired by Identity Crisis, trying to suss out the who the traitor/killer is.
- Another thread trying to deal with the army of entralled Starro-ed people, heroes and villains
- Obvious nods to COIE, including Flash (pick one) running himself into oblivion and death of Supergirl/Wonder Woman.
Crisis on Infinite Earths: Dividid We Fall - Summer Year 2
- Everyone gets to shine, all the many threads set up in previous films payoff
- Climax is a team of Supermen which includes Smallville, Lois and Clark, Superman Returns, Man of Steel, Supergirl, DC"A"U, getting knocked off one by one until the main Superman emerges, perhaps a fusion of all of them. He has discovered the secret to destroy Starro once and for all, by merging all of the universes Starro has touched into one.
From there, I would split franchises between 1) shot-all-at-once trilogies for 2-3 tentpoles (say, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and a wildcard.) 2) mid-market spring/winter films (Cyborg, Aquaman, Shazam, Suicide Squad) 3) Television shows, whether network, cable or online.
So in my DCEU:
'Batman' is a show on Fox that combines the action of Arrow and the drama of Gotham, replacing both shows. Covers the whole of Batman mythos. Big Bads include: Hugo Strange, Joker, Ra's Al Ghul, Bane, Professor Pyg, Court of Owls, Prometheus and the like.
'Flash' is a show on the CW that combines the action of Flash with the drama of Arrow/Flash/LoT, replacing all those shows. Big Bads include: Reverse Flash, The Rogue War, Earth 3 Johnny Quick, Abra Kadabra, Cobalt Blue and the like.
'Zatanna' is a show on the CW that combines the action of Constantine with the drama of Lucifer, replacing both shows. Big Bads include: Eclipso, Klarion, Teth Adam, Morgaine La Fey and the like.
'Vixen' is a show on CW seed, except it has thirteen 22-minute episodes instead of six 4 minute episodes. Big Bads include Anansi, Shining Man, Antagon and the like.
'Justice Society of America' is basically NCIS: Superheroes, replacing Supergirl there. No big bads, per se, but some notable recurring cases such as Obsidian or Hath-Set.
I'd seriously consider doing Superman as a Network Original show, or on Hulu, perhaps only 13 episodes. Superman putting Hulu at Netflix numbers would be a powerful show of force, so to speak.
I'd also seriously consider using a property as a canon Telltale Game. Telltale's Maritan Manhunter would be really awesome, I think.
I feel as though superheroes, especially DC ones, are best done episodically. My approach would reflect that. After 10+ years of this kind of awesomeness (that's around 25 tentpole films and 25 mid-tier films), do another big giant trilogy, perhaps called Final Crisis with Darkseid really just ransacking the planet Earth and all the other planets and verses discussed so far, and just really making the New Gods a mind numbing, almost Cthulu-esque threat. This is not a foe you get to punch out. Kill off anyone who's actor doesn't want to do this forever. Then start fresh with your new 52/Rebirth.
